February 19, 2015

LANSING, Mich. – Nearly one-in-four Michigan children is growing up in poverty, an increase of 35 percent over the past six years, according to the latest Kids Count in Michigan report.

The 2015 report finds that the economic recovery is not reaching the state's youngest and most vulnerable residents.

Jane Zehnder-Merrell, Kids Count Michigan project director with the Michigan League for Public Policy, says despite unemployment being down, 35 percent of young children in the state now qualify for food assistance, and nearly half of Michigan school children now are eligible for free and reduced priced lunches.

- See more at: http://www.publicnewsservice.org/2015-02-19/budget-policy-and-priorities/report-1-in-4-michigan-kids-now-lives-in-poverty/a44603-1#sthash.J4GwGV2d.dpuf