By: Kali Nicole
knicole@klkntv.com
The poverty rate for children in Lincoln has gone up 25 percent. It's got at least one local group working to get lawmakers involved.
Walking around a warehouse, shopping out of charity boxes, it's not the way Iraqi refugee, Sabah, saw himself supporting his family. "It's difficult when you don't have enough income to buy stuff for your kids like the most expensive thing is formula," said Sabah Qasim.
But Sabah's children aren't alone. The Center for People in Need has been busier than ever this year, giving away groceries and back to school supplies.
No surprise, hearing the latest statistics show 16 percent of Lincoln's population lives in poverty, and 22 percent of children. That's a 25 percent increase just over the last year.
"There are repercussions for that. There's more violence, there's more stress. Think about not having the money to pay your utilities around the holidays when everything is in full force. That's a lot of stress," said Beatty Brasch, Executive Director for the Center for People In Need.
Brasch says while she is surprised by the major increase, she says she has seen a large decrease in adequate services for the poor. "You get $368 a month for a family of three. That hasn't increased since 1986. We've had inflations, but we haven't seen their income go up consistently," said Brasch.
It's why she and other staff say they have to take the newest census stats to lawmakers so people like Sabah can have a better outlook on American living.
"When you see your kids and you see they need something and you don't have money to buy for them, you feel sorry because you live in one of the greatest countries in the world and before you came here you think it's as they say, it's the land of opportunity," said Sabah.
Beatty Brasch says she's hoping she can help push new legislation to help decrease the poverty levels as early as this coming season.
