New Mexico ranks worst in U.S. for poverty
21 percent of residents living in poverty
New Mexico has the most poverty according to new federal data.
More children go hungry in New Mexico than any other state, according to the organization Feeding America. The state is also near the bottom of the list for education.
Now, data from the U.S. Census Bureau said the state is number one in poverty. Over the last three years, an average of 21.4 percent of New Mexicans have been living below the poverty line.
"For a family of four, it would be an annual income of less than $24,000 a year," executive director of New Mexico Voices for Children Dr. Veronica Garcia said.
She said there’s no magic bullet for all of the state’s problems, but she believes one factor can have a big impact.
"The best investment to turn things around for any state, but especially New Mexico, is to invest in children and to invest early," Garcia said.
Garcia said educated children lead to an educated workforce that will be able to attract high-paying jobs and pull the population out of poverty.
It's a long-term plan, but this has been a long term problem. When the census bureau looked at poverty 10 years ago, New Mexico was second worst in the nation.
Action 7 News reached out to the governor’s office for comment. They have not called back.
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