A new poverty report released Wednesday sheds light on how many Utahns were already struggling before the recent economic downturn.
"The biggest thing we see in the report is the falling of the middle class into poverty," said Heather Tritten, the executive director of the Utah Community Action Partnership Association.
The 2009 Annual Report on Poverty in Utah combines data such as the unemployment rate, food stamp growth and insurance gaps, using statistics from the past several years.
It analyzes poverty needs in every Utah county.
Overall, the Utah poverty rate in 2007 was 10.3 percent, lower than the national number of 13.3 percent.
In Salt Lake County, it was lower yet, 9 percent. But in San Juan County, residents had a poverty rate of 31.6 percent the same year.
To view the report, go to www.utahcap.org. An explanation of the state's approaches to solving homelessness, low-income housing and other issues also are provided.
The report is funded by the state and compiled by the association and other groups. It aims to educate Utah lawmakers about the extent and causes of poverty in the state.
This spring, a survey of the community action programs statewide showed that 61 percent of clients were looking for help for the first time in the past year.
"If we want to stop their situation from getting worse we want to provide them services now," Tritten said.
Another report, released Thursday by Voices for Utah Children, finds the state spends three times more money on juvenile justice programs than those in early childhood such as Head Start, an education program for low-income children and families.
"A fiscally conservative approach would entail greater investment in the development of young children," said Janis Dubno, a senior policy analyst at Voices, in a statement. "This would save the state money on intervention and welfare dependency down the road."
The report analyzes state and federal funding for children across state agencies. It found the majority of state spending on children is geared toward children age 6 and older.
To read the report, go to www.utahchildren.org.
