Nearly half of Hampton households cannot afford basic necessities, and most of them are making too much money to receive benefits, according to a new report from the city’s Economic Empowerment and Family Resiliency department.
The study looked at poverty, with 2023 Census data showing 13% of Hampton households fall below the federal poverty line — roughly 2% higher than national average. However, another 31% of the city’s households are classified as Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed (ALICE), meaning they earn above the federal poverty line, but not necessarily enough to afford necessities like health care, food or transportation.
The current federal poverty line for a single person is $15,650 and $32,150 for a family of four. Across Hampton Roads cities, the percentage of households living in poverty ranges from 9% in Virginia Beach to 19% in Portsmouth…