Poll shows Americans see poverty increasing, fear becoming poor

Published: 2006-01-24

NEW ORLEANS (CNS) -- Nearly two-thirds of Americans are concerned that poverty will increase in the U.S. in 2006 and 63 percent are worried that they may become poor themselves, according to a new poll commissioned by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, the U.S. bishops' domestic anti-poverty program. Results of the national "Poverty Pulse" survey, commissioned annually by CCHD for the past six years, were made public Jan. 19 in New Orleans. More than seven in 10 (71 percent) said they think there are more poor people today than a year ago, and more than half (56 percent) had donated money to organizations that assist the poor. Asked how Congress should spend tax money, respondents ranked "helping the poor and needy" fourth (12 percent) behind health care (29 percent), education (27 percent) and national defense (13 percent). This year's survey was designed by the Market Research Bureau and was conducted by the Harris Interactive Service Bureau via online questioning. Participants in the poll were 1,131 members of the general adult population. The margin of error was plus or minus 3 percent.

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