According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 14.4 percent of persons in Michigan were living below the poverty line in 2008, which is above the national average.

Michigan's overall child poverty rate was 19.3 percent in 2007, up from 18.3 percent in 2005, according to the latest Kids Count report. Analysts project that those numbers have likely increased over the last three years, since economic contributers to poverty, such as unemployment rates, haven't improved across the state in that time.

Nationally, CAAs are a primary source of direct support for the more than 34.5 million people who live in poverty in the United States. The majority of CAA program participants are extremely poor, with incomes below 75 percent of the federal poverty threshold, or $9,735 for a family of three (the average family size for the client population).

Breakdown of poverty rate data, poverty studies, and other infomation about poor and low-income residents by region or city

• Detroit - City-Data.com's compilation of data and graphs comparing Detroit's poverty rates to the statewide statistics
• Oakland, Livingston - Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency fast facts 2009. For more information, visit OLHSA's website.
• Jackson, Lenawee & Hillsdale Counties - 2009 Poverty Report for Jackson, Lenawee & Hillsdale Counties, prepared by the Community Action Agency serving that area

Government Resources

• Michigan Department of Technology, Management, and Budget Overview and Analysis of 2007 Income and Poverty Data
• Poverty in Michigan - state and national statistics
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - FAQ related to poverty guidelines and poverty