Many Tennessee children living in poverty

[Judi Lynn]

Many Tennessee children living in poverty
BY CHRIS JONES
The Associated Press
Dec 8 2004

NASHVILLE - About 18 percent of Tennessee children are being raised in poverty, according to a new report from the state Commission on Children and Youth.

The Kids Count study released Wednesday found one in five children in rural areas live in poor families that lack a telephone or car and must use more than 30 percent of their income for housing.
(snip)

Memphis, Tennessee's largest city, has the highest level of children in poverty with 30 percent, while 20 percent of Nashville's children live in poverty. But the number of poor kids in the state's rural areas surpasses both major cities combined.
(snip)

Reelfoot Ministries offers several services for poor families, including daily child care and food distribution. Blake said his ministry even has volunteers who do home repairs. He's seen families in severe conditions, living in houses with dirt floors and needing clothes and food.

''We have a food bank, people come to us daily who need food,'' Blake said. ''Winter months, more people come in for food because they cannot meet all of their needs. There's not much industry in this area, which is why there's so much poverty.''
(snip/...)

http://miva.jacksonsun.com/miva/cgi-bin/miva?NEWS/news_storyV2.mv+link=200412086746848

[demosincebirth]

1. family values is more inportant than children and families living in

poverty.

[Immad2]

2. With two repug senators and a red state in the last election---

it figures!

[Bono71]

3. I thought I knew what poverty was until I went to east Tennessee

on business. It reaaly is close to third world down there.

[shrike]

4. But I thought Tennessee was paradise

Land of many jobs. Sorry to be sarcastic, but there was a fellow on this board the other, TNDEM, who was rhapsodizing about Tennessee opportunities and advising all jobless folk to move down there.

The state was awash in cash, he said. No wonder.

[sam sarrha]

5. a lot of Poor moms and dads too.. not just the kids..

[0007]

6. 3.5 Million poor people in the state of Texas

[420inTN]

7. As a resident of Memphis...

I wasn't surprised with how we rated. There a lot of single parent families, the majority of these are led by single moms. Too many deadbeat dads and "baby's daddy"s not supporting their children.

[Benhurst]

8. Not to worry. I'm sure the Compasionate Conservate

will take care of them.

[scarlett1]

9. Well, you know Republicans believe

life begins at conception and ends at birth.

Why else in a Country of Plenty why would there be so many children and families living in poverty.

[hadrons]

10. future Republicans ....

:eyes: