Poverty Statement

NJ Bishops' Statement on Poverty

The U.S Census Bureau recently confirmed that over 49 million Americans, or 16% of the population, live in poverty. Similarly, the Legal Services of New Jersey Poverty Research Institute has documented the alarming depth and breadth of poverty in New Jersey – a state that is frequently ranked as the second or third richest state in the country. In 2009, over 799,000 New Jersey residents had incomes lower than the official poverty rate - incomes so low that they were unable to make ends meet and required food stamps to survive.

Click here to read the full statement (pdf).

Spanish: Una Declaración Sobre La Pobreza en Nueva Jersey por Los Obispos Católicos de Nueva Jersey (pdf)

Source: NJ Catholic Conference