South Dakota Sees Increase in People Living in Poverty

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Census Bureau estimates show that South Dakota was one of 15 states that saw increases in the number of people living in poverty between 2012 and 2013.

Bureau figures show that more than 115,400 people in South Dakota were living below the poverty line in 2013, ors 14.2 percent of the state's population. That's an increase of more than 7.600 people from the previous year.

Twenty-one other states had a lower percentage of their population living in poverty.

Tamera Jerke-Liesinger, executive director for The Banquet, which serves food to the poor, tells the Sioux Falls Argus Leader (http://argusne.ws/Xu736t) that she's not surprised by the estimates.

Jerke-Liesinger says The Banquet has served 132,492 meals so far this year, compared to 110,686 meals in the same time period a year ago.

Source: South Dakota Sees Increase in People Living in Poverty

Filed Under: Sioux Falls