FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 17, 2024
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Ashlee Niedospial
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CT Voices Releases New Report on Poverty in the U.S. and Connecticut, Calls for State-Level Child Tax Credit to Combat Rising Child Poverty
28.4 Percent of Children Lived in Poverty or Near-Poverty in 2022, Based on the Supplemental Poverty Measure (ACS SPM)
New Haven, CT [October 17, 2024] - Connecticut Voices for Children, today, released a new report Poverty in the U.S. and Connecticut, 2019-2023, which offers an in-depth analysis of poverty data, highlights gaps in state-level information, and presents policy solutions to reduce poverty, particularly for children.
“On our path to economic justice, there is a dual goal of eradicating child poverty and advancing family economic security. While the state has enacted a number of policies over the years that have helped and will contribute to future reductions in poverty, more can be done to sustain progress,” said Emily Byrne CT Voices Executive Director. “The Supplemental Poverty Measure, although not without its limitations, provides a more accurate understanding of the challenges families experience and gives policymakers a clearer picture of what Connecticut children and families need to thrive. It’s not the only way to measure poverty, however, when considering federal automatic stabilizers and safety net programs, but it’s an important measure.”
A pivotal 2019 report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found that children raised in poverty face worse outcomes across nearly every aspect of life compared to those from wealthier families. These challenges include poorer physical and mental health, lower educational achievement, reduced success in the job market, and increased engagement in risky behaviors and delinquency. The report emphasized that income poverty itself directly contributes to these negative outcomes, especially when it begins early in life or persists for much of a child's upbringing.
Considering the importance of child poverty and existing gaps in state-level data, the CT Voices report has three primary objectives.
Explain the different data sources available for measuring poverty, the distinctions between the OPM and SPM, and the lack of state-level SPM-based poverty estimates to date.
Provide an extensive empirical overview of poverty in Connecticut, building on the annual national analysis that the Census Bureau provides. This information is essential for policymakers addressing issues such as income security, fair taxation, safe and affordable child care, health care, and more.
Present detailed policy options to reduce poverty in Connecticut, especially for children, through the establishment of a Connecticut Child Tax Credit.
In 2022, child poverty in Connecticut rose to 11.6 percent, a significant increase from 6.8 percent in 2021, according to the report (based on ACS SPM data). The findings use the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM), which offers a more accurate picture of economic hardship by factoring in both living costs and public benefits.
The report also shows that 16.8 percent of children were living in near poverty, bringing the combined total of children living in poverty or near poverty to 28.4 percent, or roughly 206,880 children, in 2022 (based on ACS SPM data).
“Poverty is a persistent and systemic issue that undermines the future success of children in the state,” said Dr. Patrick O’Brien, Research and Policy Director and the report author. “We cannot allow the cycle of poverty to persist, especially when we have the means to break it. Establishing a Connecticut Child Tax Credit is not just an economic imperative—it's a moral one.”
Policy Options to Reduce Poverty in Connecticut
As demonstrated within the report, many federal and state programs—such as Social Security, tax credits, food assistance, and housing subsidies—play a critical role in reducing poverty. While policymakers could expand or improve any of these programs to reduce poverty in Connecticut, the report focuses specifically on policy options for establishing a Connecticut Child Tax Credit (CT CTC).
To provide the most support for families and children in poverty and near poverty, a CT CTC would include the following key design features: full refundability, no income floor, no income-based phase-in, and no cap on the number of children.
The most well-designed of the three CT CTC options discussed in the report would provide support for up to 591,480 children (81.2 percent) and 1.3 million people in total (36.8 percent), including up to 84,440 children in poverty (100 percent) and 122,440 children in near poverty (100 percent).
View the full report and executive summary.
Report author, Dr. Patrick O’Brien will be available for comment on Friday, October 18th. Please contact ashlee@narrative-project.com for interview requests.
ABOUT CONNECTICUT VOICES FOR CHILDREN
Connecticut Voices for Children is a “think and do” tank working to ensure that Connecticut is a thriving and equitable state where all children achieve their full potential. In furtherance of its vision, we work in the state and nationally to advance economic justice systems change through research and policy development as well as power building and legislative advocacy.
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