Low-income Americans in the Northeast did not receive any or enough legal help for 88% of their civil legal problems in the past year.
The 2021 Justice Gap Measurement Survey showed that 74% of low-income households in the Northeast experienced at least one civil legal problem in the past year, and 34% experienced at least five. The most common types of problems related to consumer issues, housing, income maintenance, and health care. Individuals from low-income households in the Northeast sought legal help for 29% of the problems that substantially affected them.
Scroll down for an infographic summarizing key findings related to low-income households in the Northeast or download a PDF of the infographic.
14% of the population in the Northeast is below 125% of poverty.
7.4 million children and adults in the Northeast have incomes below 125% of the poverty threshold.
Data source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 2021 Annual Social and Economic Supplement.
74% of low-income households with the Northeast had at least 1 civil legal problem in the past year.
34% had 5+ problems in past year.
15% had 10+ problems in past year.
Common problem areas:
Consumer Issues (45%)
Housing (37%)
Health care (33%)
Income maintenance (33%)
n = 257 households in the Northeast.
Data source: 2021 Justice Gap Measurement Survey.
Sought legal help for 29% of substantial problems.
Did not receive any or enough legal help for 88% of substantial problems.
n = 261 substantial problems
Data source: 2021 Justice Gap Measurement Survey.
At or below 125% of FPL (n=257):
- 52% 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=284):
- 60% are confident.
At or above 400% of FPL (n=177)*:
- 71% are confident.
* Small base size.
Data source: 2021 Justice Gap Measurement Survey.
Approximately 387,000 eligible problems brought to LSC-funded organizations in the Northeast annually.
They are unable to provide any or enough legal help for 72% of these problems.
Data source: LSC’s 2021 Intake Census.
