Assets
Asset poverty rate: 24.9%
Average college graduate debt: $23,855
Unbanked households: 14.8%
Economic well-being
Extreme poverty rate: 13%
Food insecurity: 15.5%
Minimum wage: No state minimum wage law (federal applies)
Number of Black or African American children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment: 178,000
Number of Hispanic or Latino children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment 22,000
Percent of individuals who are uninsured: 8.9%
Percent of jobs that are low-wage: 32.2%
Percent of working families under 200% of the poverty line: 37.7%
Poverty rate: 19%
Unemployment rate: 4.5%
Education
High school graduation rate: 81.4%
Percent of adult population with at least a high school degree: 84.2%
Percent of college graduates with debt: 51%
Percent of population over age 25 with at least a four year college degree: 24.3%
Percent of teens ages 16 to 19 not attending school and not working: 9%
Family
Children in foster care: 3,919
Number of households with grandparents responsible for grandchildren under age 18 108,938
Percent of children in immigrant families: 8%
Percent of children living in single parent families: 47%
Teen birth rate per 1,000 population ages 15-19: 27.8%
Housing
Home foreclosure rate: 1.34%
People experiencing homelessness: 3,173
Households paying more than 50% of income on housing: 172,200
Percent renters: 34%
Total housing units: 2,073,200
Justice System
Incarcerated persons per 100,000 residents: 680
Number of youth residing in juvenile justice and correctional facilities: 693
Participation in federal programs
Adults and children receiving welfare (TANF): 8,131
Children receiving food stamps (SNAP): 401,000
EITC recipients: 493,000
Families receiving child care subsidies: 10,600
Households receiving federal rental assistance: 96,000
Households receiving LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program): 72,035
Number of children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP: 772,505
Number of women and children receiving WIC (Women, Infants and Children supplemental nutrition program): 94,034
Participants in all Head Start programs: 20,819
Poverty by demographic
Child poverty rate: 27%
Number of Asian and Pacific Islander children below 200% poverty: N/A
Number of Black or African American children below 200% poverty: 260,000
Number of Hispanic or Latino children below 200% poverty: n/a
Percent of single-parent families with related children that are below poverty: 42%
Senior poverty rate: 13.2%
Women in poverty: 20.7%

State governments play a significant role in developing policies that help support low-income families. Below is a list of some key Louisiana policies and a link to an  organization that tracks the issue.

Tax & Asset-Building Policy

Family and Work Supports