Alexandria, Va. – Islamic Relief USA, a nonprofit humanitarian and advocacy organization, is pleased to learn about the substantial decline in overall child poverty over a nearly three-decade period, as shown by a joint analysis between the New York Times and Child Trends, a nonpartisan research group.
Between 1993 and 2019, a year before the pandemic, child poverty plummeted 59%. In 1993, some 28% of children were poor. By 2019, that figure dropped to 11%. The analysis noted that while several factors contributed to the decline-–higher labor participation rate among single mothers, minimum wage hikes at the state level, relatively strong economies–the major factor was an expansion and greater eligibility of government safety net programs. These include tax credit programs (Earned Income Tax Credit, for example), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, among others.
IRUSA works extensively to curb poverty in more than 40 countries around the world, including the United States. Currently, the organization is conducting its annual Day of Dignity campaign through the fall, working in more than two dozen locations to provide access to valuable resources and programs to individuals seeking assistance.
“This analysis makes clear that effective government programs can go a long way toward reducing child poverty, helping set our next generation toward a promising and prosperous future,” said Sharif Aly, Chief Executive Officer of Islamic Relief USA. “While individual responsibility certainly plays a major factor, having access to government programs that can provide temporary assistance can make all the difference between making ends meet or slipping into downward spirals. Islamic Relief USA will continue to engage policy makers and other major stakeholders to continually support these programs.”
The analysis’s other findings include:
*Safety net programs cult child poverty by 9% in 1993: by 2019, they cut child poverty by 44%. That means some 6.5 million were removed from poverty.
*Safety net programs provided some $16,000 in benefits;
*Minimum wages went up an average of 23% due to state government action.
MEDIA CONTACT
Syed M. Hassan
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Islamic Relief USA, based in Alexandria, Va., is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) humanitarian organization. Its mission is to provide relief and development in a dignified manner regardless of gender, race, or religion, and works to empower individuals in their communities and give them a voice in the world. Its programs benefit millions of people each year in more than 40 countries around the world, including in the United States.
Islamic Relief USA meets all of the Standards for Charity Accountability of the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, a national charity monitoring group affiliated with the Better Business Bureau system. Islamic Relief USA is on the U.S. government’s Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) charity list, and it is also a signatory to the code of conduct of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.