Census data shows Kentucky families continue to struggle to meet basic needs

By Mark Richardson
Public News Service

More Kentucky households struggled to meet their basic needs last year, according to new Census data.

Kentucky has the sixth-highest children’s poverty rate , at more than 21%. The federal poverty threshold in Kentucky is just over $31,000 a year for a family of four.

Rebecca Riddell, senior policy lead for economic and racial justice with the nonprofit Oxfam America, said while poverty rates have increased, they remain below pre-pandemic levels, revealing the effectiveness of programs like the expanded Child Tax Credit.

“These kinds of supports,” said Riddell, “which are really part of a well-functioning social safety net, really make a difference for families, especially low-income families.”

Riddell said the tax credit helped cut child poverty in half during the pandemic. But when Congress allowed it to expire in 2022, child poverty doubled to more than 12%.

It’s estimated that a return of the Child Tax Credit would benefit thousands of low-income families in Kentucky.

The loss of stimulus payments and anti-poverty programs outweighed a rise in incomes statewide, as inflation continued to affect families’ ability to buy groceries or pay their rent.

Household income was up 4% last year compared to 2022 – but for Black, Asian and Hispanic households, incomes held steady.

Riddell said it should be a goal of policymakers to reverse any trends in income inequality.

“It’s alarming that instead of these inequalities improving,” said Riddell, “we actually see that there could be more divergences, with incomes of groups that have been historically marginalized and discriminated against falling behind the incomes of white families.”

Riddell said raising taxes on America’s wealthiest households, reinvesting in anti-poverty tax credits, and raising the minimum wage would provide critical support for families in need.

A recent report found that while the number of Kentucky children living in poverty has declined, pandemic-related trauma and learning loss continue to impact their overall well-being.

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