Poverty on the rise in Haifa, report finds

One in three children and almost one in five families in Haifa is living in poverty.

By MIRIAM BULWAR DAVID-HAY (TRANSLATED)
One in three children and almost one in five families in Haifa is living in poverty, even before the effects of the current economic crisis are taken into account, reports www.mynet.co.il. According to the latest report by the National Insurance Institute (Mossad Lebituach Leumi), the number of people living in poverty in Haifa rose in the first half of 2008 from the second half of 2007, even before the global economic crisis began late last year. According to the report, 21.8 percent of Haifa residents were living in poverty in the first half of 2008, up from 20.7% the previous year. Some 34.2% of children and 18.6% of families were classified as poor in the first half of 2008, compared with 31.4% of children and 18.2% of families the previous year. No further details were reported.