Poverty line noun: a level of personal or family income below which one is classified as poor according to governmental standards – also called poverty level.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 10.4 percent of Delaware’s population lives below the poverty line, which for a family of four is below an annual income of $22,050. Of those living below the line, 14.6 percent are children under the age of 18, and 7.4 percent are over the age of 65.

Throughout the course of the semester, Review editors Ashley Biro, Samantha Brix, Elisa Lala and Maddie Thomas will be examining the local side of a growing national epidemic. We will be focusing on rural, suburban and urban elements of poverty in Delaware and the surrounding area, providing a first-hand account of a daily struggle for many.

For extended coverage including multimedia and ways to help combat these statistics, visit The Poverty Line’s Web site at www.udreview/povertyline. We hope you follow us every week throughout the semester as we bring The Poverty Line a little closer to home.