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Low-income households with children did not receive any or enough legal help for 90% of their civil legal problems in the past year.

The 2022 Justice Gap Measurement Survey showed that 83% of low-income households with children under 18 years old experienced at least one civil legal problem in the past year, and 52% experienced at least five. The most common types of problems related to consumer issues, education, and health care. Individuals from low-income households with children sought legal help for 24% of the problems that substantially affected them.

Scroll down for key findings related to low-income households with children or download a PDF infographic.

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Snapshot of Key Findings for:

Households with Children

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Today’s Low-income America

15.2 million children live in households with incomes below 125% of poverty.

Data source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 2021 Annual Social and Economic Supplement.

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The Prevalence of Civil Legal Problems

83% of low-income households with children had at least 1 civil legal problem in the past year.

52% had 5+ problems in past year.

30% had 10+ problems in past year.

Common problem areas:

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Consumer Issues (62%)

Red and white pie chart icon at 45%

Education (45%)*

Red and white pie chart icon at 44%

Health care (44%)

* Among those households with students

n = 889 households with children

Data source: 2021 Justice Gap Measurement Survey.

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Seeking and Receiving Legal Help

Sought legal help for 24% of substantial problems.

Did not receive any or enough legal help for 90% of substantial problems.

n = 1,500 substantial problems

Data source: 2021 Justice Gap Measurement Survey.

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Comparing Income Groups

At or below 125% of FPL (n=889):

  • 40% are confident they could find and afford a lawyer if they needed one to help resolve a serious civil legal problem.

Between 125% and 400% of FPL (n=918):

  • 53% are confident.

At or above 400% of FPL (n=252):

  • 70% are confident.

Data source: 2021 Justice Gap Measurement Survey.

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Reports from the Field

In 2021, LSC-funded organizations served households that included more than 730,000 children combined.

Data source: Preliminary analysis of LSC’s 2021 Grantee Activity Report (GAR) data.

Additional Information about Households with Children

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Brianna’s Story

Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago Brianna find her voice.

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Christina’s Story

Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago Today, Christina and her children are thriving.

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Diego

Legal Aid of Nebraska Diego, a child suffering from leukemia, and his family were living in an apartment infested with…

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