41% Poverty in Santa Rosa County (02/04/2014)

A recent study conducted by United Way shows Santa Rosa County residents currently have a 41% poverty rate.  According to Kyle Holley, development director for United Way, the number comes from accumulation of data listing a number of household incomes within 200% range of the Federal poverty level. “What that means is 41% of the population of Santa Rosa County lives within these means of 200% of the poverty level,” he says.  “One illness, one job loss can wreck a family’s finances.” Dr. Karen Barber explains how lessons taught by Bridges Out of Poverty can help to reduce rampant poverty across Santa Rosa County.