Quick Facts

Things You Might Not Know About Dutchess County

Income

  • More than 20,000 people in Dutchess County live in poverty
    • Including over 5,500 children
  • Between 11,000 and 16,000 households could fall into the gap where they are not eligible for welfare but lack the income to cover housing, healthcare and other basic needs.
  • 18.6% of households/families in Dutchess lead by a single mother have incomes below the poverty level
    • In 2000, a single parent would have to earn $17.03 an hour to live in Dutchess County independent of local, state & federal benefit programs
  • According to federal poverty guidelines a family of 4 must earn less than $21,200 to be considered living in poverty
    • $21,200 / 365 days = $58.08 / 4 people = $14.52 per day per person

Food

  • Food programs and hot meal sites provided over a million meals to 24,500 Dutchess residents in 2006
  • 4,879 people in Dutchess County received food stamps in 2006
  • Every $1 invested in our Community Fund brings $10 worth of food to 25 food pantries across Dutchess County through our partnership with the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley

Childhood Development

  • In Dutchess County, there are an estimated 5,200 children who are suffering from an undiagnosed behavioral or developmental disorder
    • That’s an average of 400 in every school district
  • In 2006, 52% of all Dutchess County residents paid more than 30% of their income in housing
    • According to the federal government, housing that costs more than 30% of income is unaffordable
  • 46% of renters in Dutchess County were not able to afford a 2 bedroom apartment at fair market rates in 2008