The official U.S. government poverty line understates the number of Americans who live in poverty, a report by the Families USA Foundation says.
The report estimated that 45 million people live in "real life poverty" in the United States, significantly higher than the 32 million counted by the government.The report also said that by its standards, the poor are more likely to be white, older and better-educated than government figures would indicate.
The report is based on an analysis of 3,511 responses to four Gallup polls conducted between July and October 1989.
People were asked what income they would use as a poverty line for a family of four in their communities. The average response was $15,017 a year compared to the government's official poverty line of $12,092.
Ron Pollack, the foundation's president, contended the government poverty line is based on an arbitrary and outdated formula.
"The real life poverty line is rooted in the experience of America's consumers who know the real costs they have to pay to purchase the essential necessities of life," Pollack said.