Jewish groups have called on the U.S. government to increase poverty assistance in the wake of a sharp rise in the number of Americans living at poverty levels.
The Census Bureau released estimates Sept. 16 showing that the number of Americans living at poverty levels increased from 39.8 million in 2008 to 43.6 million in 2009 — one in seven Americans, and the largest number since the government started tracking poverty levels 51 years ago.
The Jewish Council for Public Affairs called for passage of the 2010 Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act, with improvements. The Jewish Federations of North America called for increased assistance for the program, which provides supplemental assistance to nonprofits that provide emergency food and shelter. And the National Council for Jewish Women called the rising rate of poverty a “national disaster.” — jta