Project finds many poor people still suffering in Georgia

https://www.apnews.com/0c0c1bfd0b994fc7bd9826591ce2a58a

June 22, 2019

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — A University of Georgia researcher says life has gotten worse for people who remain in poverty in Clarke County.

Grace Bagwell Adams, a professor in UGA’s School of Public Health, said the recent economic expansion helped some people in the county to escape poverty. And more people are employed now than two years ago. But, she said more people lack health insurance now than two years ago.

Adams is partnering with the local school district, government and other agencies on the Athens Wellbeing Project, The Athens Banner-Herald reported .

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Poor people bear a number of burdens: limited access to health care, limited access to quality child care, and for most of the poor, housing costs that strain family budgets, Adams told Athens-Clarke County commissioners.

Many in Athens are extremely impoverished, Adams said. Half of them have incomes less than half the federal poverty level.

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