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Poverty in some historically poor counties has worsened since 2012

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Monday, Oct. 20, 2014

By Jamie Warren

PHOENIX – Arizona ranked eighth overall for the percentage of people living in poverty in 2013 and 11th for the poverty rate among children , according to new numbers from the Census Bureau. And the numbers show  that some counties that have traditionally had high poverty saw their rates worsen between 2012 and 2013. Advocates say it’s evidence that more Arizonans are still struggling to get back on their feet in the wake of the recession, people like Rachel Mata, a customer service representative who cares for six grandchildren and relies on her local food bank to help feed them and make ends meet.