Good News on Child Poverty in the U.S. - But We Need to Make it Permanent

The recent Child Trends and Census reports on child poverty in the U.S. delivered very good news: we experienced an astounding decline in the child poverty rate – 30% in 2021 alone. The decline, which was the result of pandemic-related child tax credits authorized for 2021, is definitive proof that the social safety net, when targeted properly, actually works.

But here’s the bad news:  Congress refused to make the child tax credits permanent.  As a result, the monthly child poverty rate jumped right away in January of this year, from 12.1% to 17%, the highest rate since the end of 2020. 

Child poverty also disproportionately impacts children of color. 25.4% of Black children and 23.9% of Latino children live in poverty. This is hugely important because poverty is a definitive predictor of child outcomes: it affects health, literacy, educational attainment and – ultimately – whether that child continues to live in poverty as an adult.

And there are bigger threats before us. The Supreme Court Dobbs decision. The expiration of pandemic-era free school meals for all children. The failure of Congress to implement paid family and medical leave, raise the federal minimum wage, and solidify Medicaid expansion.

We’re wasting generations of children, who are our country’s biggest asset. Imagine LA is laser-focused on putting a stop to this, by walking alongside families to break the cycle of family poverty and homelessness. If you agree that we’re not doing enough as a nation to end the cycle, help us by donating. And also reach out to your local and Congressional representatives to ask them to take definitive action. As a nation, we should all be standing #TogetherForFamilies.