|
The federal poverty level is a relic set in the 1960s based predominantly on food costs. It does not take into account other costs such as housing, child care, and health care. Policy makers agree that in the absence of an updated federal poverty line, we need to adopt a measure that reflects local living costs.
Recently updated poverty information for Arlington indicates that about 24,300 people, or about 10,000 households in Arlington, make under 30% of the area median income (AMI), or $42,690 for a family of four. This is a more accurate reflection of poverty in our community, as current data shows that living costs for such a household in Arlington average three times that.
| 
