According to Census data, the official poverty rate in 2021 was over 11%, with almost 38 mil­lion people in poverty. Neither the rate nor the number in pov­erty was significantly different from 2020.

Recent data shows, almost half the world — over three billion people — live on less than $2.50 a day.

Robin Rohrbaugh, president of the Community Progress Council joined us on Tuesday's Smart Talk to discuss the poverty crises and resources to support families on their path toward self-sufficiency.

Rohrbaugh said people experiencing poverty face challenges with employment, income, housing, transportation, health insurance, education, childcare, and food and nutrition.

To combat these challenges the Community Progress Council offers a Self-Sufficiency program, which aims to empower and coach low-income families to attain a family sustaining wage in order to achieve and maintain economic self-sufficiency and live free of public assistance.

Rohrbaugh said she doesn't believe poverty is too large of an issue to try to eliminate.

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For more information about the Self-Sufficiency program visit yorkcpc.org/self-sufficiency-program.

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