Associated Press
October 17, 2008

CHICAGO – A new report says poor economic conditions could push more people in Illinois and across the nation into poverty.

• A d v e r t i s e m e n t

Some of the contributing factors are loss of jobs, decline in wages and not having a high school degree.

The Chicago-based Heartland Alliance Mid-America Institute on Poverty released the report on Friday.

It says about 20 percent of people enter poverty when the head of the household loses a job.

According to the report, many of the forces are outside of the control of individuals. Those include recessions, high unemployment and a decline in the manufacturing sector.

But researchers say a healthy economy doesn’t prevent all entries into poverty.

About 1.5 million, or roughly 12 percent, of Illinois’ 12.8 million residents live in poverty.