Despite Deep Recession and High Unemployment, Government Efforts — Including the Recovery Act — Prevented Poverty from Rising in 2009, New Census Data Show

From the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, this news report discusses Census data that show, despite the economic recession, government efforts prevented an increase in poverty in 2009. Specifically, existing programs, such as unemployment insurance, assistance programs for low-income households, and tax credits for low-income working families, provided an important safety net. The Recovery Act’s programs and increased funding to existing programs kept more than 4.5 million people out of poverty in 2009.