Page 12 - Vulnerable Populations

Across a Lifespan…

• Teenage women who
are poor and who have
Childbearing below-average skills,
regardless of their race,
Women are 5.5 times more
likely to have children
than nonpoor teenage
women.

Children Elderly

• The rate of poverty has decreased for the elderly
• One in five American children under age 18 population in the last 20 years.
and one in four children under age 6 are poor. • As of 1993, the U.S. Bureau of the Census
As of 1993, the U.S. Bureau of the Census reported that 3.8 million Americans aged 65 and
reported that 15.7 million children (or 22.7% over live in poverty.
live in poverty) • This decrease is primarily a result of improvements in
• Poor teenagers are four times likely than Social Security and the Supplemental Security Income
nonpoor teens to have below-average
Program.
academic skills.
• It is estimated that 35% of the homeless elderly
persons are eligible for Social Security benefits,
but only 4% access them.