IT’S NOT EASY BEING POOR IN FAIRFIELD COUNTY

Southwestern Connecticut is home to 14 billionaires, but it is also the home for a growing population of the working poor in the nation's biggest income gap. One of every 10 families is struggling near the poverty line. Fairfield County has 25% of the state's higher-educated, low-income workers, and more than half of those attended college or earned degrees. A study by Feeding America found 11.7%, or 107,110 of Fairfield County residents are food insecure. Half of them do not qualify for federal aid. They would each need $19.12 per week, more than $62 million, to become food secure. The Greenwich food pantry serves 1,000 residents each month, up 55% since 2008. "More Greenwich families likely are eligible for free food but haven't sought out help due to a perceived stigma of needing the service," Nancy Coughlin, executive director of Neighbor to Neighbor, said.

 

Source: Connecticut Post, 4/28/14, Fairfield Poverty