Report shows high unemployment/poverty numbers for Illinois minorities

By Ryne Turke on February 11, 2016 at 8:24am

A new report shows poverty rates in Illinois are as much as three times higher for minorities than for whites.

The 44-page study, conducted by Heartland Alliance, examined the impact of racism on poverty across the state.

According to the report, 57 of the 102 Illinois counties are listed as “vulnerable to poverty.”  Those counties reported negative conditions when it came to unemployment and teen births.

Eric Robinson, President of the Jacksonville NAACP, says poverty is definitely a problem in central Illinois.

“We have a lot of programs for the kids and take food to the shelters. Poverty is here in Jacksonville for the black community.”

Those unemployment rates are often twice as high for minorities compared to whites in Illinois, says the survey. Robinson says this trend has made its way to Jacksonville.

“You go into the post office and fire department and you don’t see an African-American face in those places. It is a trend of a lack of equality. If you don’t have anybody to stand up for you then you are liable to get nothing here if you are an African-American.”

Heartland Alliance describes itself as the leading anti-poverty organization in the Midwest.

To review the report click here.