Massachusetts

State Government

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Participation in federal programs
Adults and children receiving welfare (TANF): 53,406
Children receiving food stamps (SNAP): 338,138
EITC recipients: 382,000
Families receiving child care subsidies: 19,800
Households receiving federal rental assistance: 195,000
Households receiving LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program): 157,959
Number of children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP: 665,809
Number of women and children receiving WIC (Women, Infants and Children supplemental nutrition program): 108,593
Participants in all Head Start programs: 12,002
Assets
Asset poverty rate: 27.10%
Average college graduate debt: $31,939
Unbanked households: 2.60%
Poverty by demographic
Child poverty rate: 12.00%
Number of Asian and Pacific Islander children below 200% poverty: 22,000
Number of Black and Hispanic children below 200% poverty: 205,000
Number of Hispanic children below 200% poverty: 143,000
Percent of single-parent families with related children that are below poverty: 26%
Senior poverty rate: 9.00%
Women in poverty: 10.30%
Family
Children in foster care: 10,916
Number of households with grandparents responsible for grandchildren under age 18 120,470
Percent of children in immigrant families: 32%
Percent of children living in single parent families: 31%
Teen birth rate per 1,000 population ages 15-19: 8.10%
Economic well-being
Extreme poverty rate: 6.00%
Food insecurity: 9.00%
Minimum Wage: $12.75
Number of Black and Hispanic children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment: 160,000
Number of Hispanic children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment: 109,000
Percent of individuals who are uninsured: 2.80%
Percent of jobs that are low-wage: 4.80%
Percent of working families under 200% of the poverty line: 20.40%
Poverty rate: 10.50%
Unemployment rate: 3.00%
Education
High school graduation rate: 88.30%
Percent of adult population with at least a high school degree: 90.50%
Percent of college graduates with debt: 58%
Percent of population over age 25 with at least a four year college degree: 44.50%
Percent of teens ages 16 to 19 not attending school and not working: 5%
Housing
Home foreclosure rate: 0.92%
Homeless people: 19,608
Households paying more than 50% of income on housing: 247,900
Percent renters: 38%
Total households: 2,650,680
Justice System
Incarcerated persons per 100,000 residents 120
Number of youth residing in juvenile justice and correctional facilities: 309

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

Tax & Asset-Building Policy

Family and Work Supports

Education