Your Guide to
  Poverty Data

Poverty is a complex issue. The Missouri Poverty Report is designed to give you a comprehensive resource for learning about and understanding the issues that contribute to poverty.  Our report discusses five key elements of poverty include economic and family security, education, food and    nutrition, health, and housing and energy. Download the free report today to start learning about poverty in Missouri and across the county.

What’s in the Report

Nationwide Poverty Data

It’s called the Missouri Poverty Report, but many data sets included in this report show national comparisons. National trends provide additional insights into the realities of poverty and what can be done to help Americans thrive.

Missouri-Specific Poverty Data

In the report, you’ll find poverty rate by county for the state of Missouri. Throughout the 32 pages of the report, we’ve listed additional insights for the five counties with the highest poverty rates and five counties with the lowest poverty rates. This and other state-specific data show the nuances of poverty across the Show-Me state.

The Five Elements of Poverty

The report is organized by the five elements of poverty: economic and family security, education, food and nutrition, health, and housing and energy. These are interconnected areas of life. When there are challenges in element, Missourians can struggle. See how these five elements of poverty are interconnected in this report.

Urban and Rural Poverty

Poverty looks different in rural and urban places. From food access to food security, access to medical care to lack of transportation, people in rural and urban places face different challenges that contribute to poverty.

Programs that Work

Poverty data can be disheartening, but there are programs in place making a difference every day in the lives of people with low incomes.  These programs such as housing programs and Medicaid often serve as a last defense when a family experiences housing insecurity or needs health insurance coverage for their children.

About Us

This publication was produced by Missouri Community Action Network We envision a just society of shared responsibility by individuals, communities, businesses, and government in which all individuals are respected, have opportunities to reach their full potential, and are embraced as participants in thriving, diverse, sustainable communities. We work toward this vision every day. 

This project/program is funded at 47% at $7,000 with federal funds received from the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS) provided by the Missouri Department of Social Services, Family Support Division.

Get Your Copy

Need a handy guide to the latest poverty data for Missouri and the United States? The Missouri Poverty Report has been that resource for thousands of readers each year. Download the report to access the full information for yourself.