The well-being of children in New Jersey could take a big hit as we emerge from the pandemic if steps aren’t taken to support those who have been hurt economically over the last year and a half.
That’s the conclusion of a study that shows that during 2020, housing was a worry for many New Jersey families. Alana Vega of Advocates for Children of New Jersey explains.
“Twenty-five percent of households with children reported slight confidence or no confidence in their ability to make their next housing payment,” she said. “That has improved as of March 2021 to 19% but that’s still a considerable proportion.”
The report also shows that in 2019, 12%, or roughly 235,000, of New Jersey’s children lived in households with income below the poverty line.
That percentage was higher in communities of color.
“Prior to the pandemic we were actually seeing improving numbers of childhood poverty rates,” Vega said, “but it’s likely that given the economic havoc that Covid-19 has wrought upon the state that that might change.”
Vega said housing costs sop up a big chunk of people’s paychecks in the state.
“Thirty-four percent of households in New Jersey in 2019 spent more than 30% of their income on housing,” she said.
Vega said that 30% level is critical because exceeding it means families don’t have enough left over to tend to many of the needs of children.