Poverty Impacting Trenton

Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK) A nonprofit organization designed to provide meals 5 days a week to those in need in and surrounding Trenton area. This organization also sets up life skills for the community to use.

Volunteers at Trenton Area Soup Kitchen ready to serve meals to those in need. Photo not taken by TySharia Hall

TASK manager of programs “feeds those who are hungry in the Trenton area and offers programs to encourage self-sufficiency and improve the quality of life of its patrons.” “to respond to the needs of hungry people in Trenton community by: (1) providing meals to all those who are hungry as a primary mission; (2) providing services to enable them to achieve self-sufficiency; (3) informing the wider community of the needs of the hungry; and (4) advocating for resources to meet those needs.” Jamie Parker TASK manager of programs

Elaine Williams A single mother relying on government assistance in order to provide for her family of three.

Elaine watches as her daughter, 1, plays with the items she finds around the house; including but not limited to the cable system.

27-year-old single mother of two “I don't make much money and I have to budget very carefully to provide the necessities for my children and I.” “The biggest challenge is struggling even with the little assistance if I work overtime more taxes are taken out and I receive less assistance. It's designed to keep you barely afloat. “Not worrying about how to provide food or insurance for my children takes away some stress.” Elaine Williams 27-year-old single mother of two

Asset Limited Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) Reports ALICE reports are a study of financial hardships throughout the country based on what the Federal Poverty Level declares poverty.

ALICE reports show how deep in poverty Mercer county citizens are based on FPL.

According to study of data “In 2014, households headed by someone under the age of 25 were by far the most likely to be in poverty (36 percent), with a poverty rate three times that of the other household groups.” For a family of four in New Jersey to maintain stability they would need to have an income of “$122,520 which is 85 percent higher” than the FPL. “The majority of government programs are intended to fill short-term needs, such as basic housing, food, clothing, healthcare, and education. By design, their goal is not to help households achieve long-term financial stability ALICE Reports According to study of data