ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — New numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau reveal that more Central Floridians are living in poverty than ever before.
The Orlando Sentinel reports 350,000 Central Floridians are currently living in poverty. The 16.2 percent poverty rate for the region is above the nation’s rate of 15.6 percent and higher than the 11.7 percent in the region just five years ago.
The data, which was released last week, also shows the number of kids and teens living in poverty grew to 14.2 percent.
The numbers were highest in Orange and Osceola counties, where at least one in four residents under 18 live in poverty.
