LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The latest report on poverty from the US Census shows the toll the recession has had on residents around the nation, with new approaches to Census data showing millions more people are finding their income has fallen below the poverty line.

The US Census Bureau released its official poverty measure report in September, but followed up earlier this month with a supplemental report drawing on additional research, assistance with the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and findings from other agencies and experts taking part in an interagency technical working group.

The new research is meant to complement, not replace, the official measure – in use since 1969 – and “is intended to better reflect contemporary social and economic realities and government policy effects and thus provide a further understanding of economic conditions and trends,” the US Census Bureau reported.

The September report put the 2010 official poverty rate for the United States at 15.1 percent, or 46.2 million people in poverty, up from 14.3 percent in 2009. That increase of 0.8 percent amounted to 2.6 million additional people in poverty in 2010.

The November supplemental report, however, put the 2010 poverty rate higher, at 16 percent, or 49.1 million people.

The official report showed that black Americans were the group with the highest overall poverty rate, 27.5 percent, followed by Hispanics, 26.7 percent; Asians, 12.1 percent; and whites who are not Hispanic, 10.1 percent.

However, the supplemental measure had Hispanics as the group with the greatest number in poverty, 28.2 percent, followed by blacks, 25.4 percent; Asians, 16.7 percent; and white, 11.1 percent.

The supplemental Census poverty report did not break out specific numbers for states or communities.

However, a Lake County News review of Lake County's poverty numbers for 1997 through 2009 showed a growth rate in the number of those people of all ages living in poverty.

For 2009, the peak year, 22.1 percent or 14,185 Lake County residents were listed as living in poverty, above the national average of 14.3 percent for that same year, according to Census data. Numbers for 2010 were not yet available.

Gloria Flaherty, executive director of Lake Family Resource Center, called local poverty rates “horrific.”

Even so, she believes that the actual numbers may be higher. “There's a lot of people who aren't counted,” she said, just as many people aren't reflected in unemployment numbers.

“The need is so great and these communities have been hit so hard by the economic downturn,” said Patty Bruder, director of community action for North Coast Opportunities, which is taking over community action agency responsibilities in Lake County.

More people are falling into poverty as a result of the struggling economy, said Bruder.

Wes Winter, North Coast Opportunities' executive director, added, “We’re seeing that everywhere that we’re working.”

Flaherty said Lake Family Resource Center has waiting lists to help families in need.

While younger families struggle to make ends meet and cover child care expenses, seniors are challenged by the growing cost of health care and living expenses, Flaherty said. Many people are moving in together in order to pool their resources and make it through the tough times.

Flaherty said Lake Family Resource Center has seen “dramatically” increased need as a result of the economic downturn.

While some programs can only serve a limited number of people and so they don't have waiting lists, “In other programs we're paddling as fast as we can” because funding is decreasing, she said.

“Because of state budget cuts we lost quite a bit of funding,” she said, noting the organization is trying to serve more families with less.

Flaherty said families also are seeking services that Lake Family Resource Center hasn't provided historically, including food pantries and help during times of homelessness.

Such services, Flaherty added, are sparse in Lake County, although she credited Lake County Hunger Task Force for its efforts to meet the need.

Flaherty said they are seeing families that are in desperate need of food and pantry staples – “just the basics of life that we're missing.”

As part of its increased presence in Lake County, North Coast Opportunities said it will offer a food pantry and is working as part of an area food hub in order to meet the need, Bruder said.

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