Low-income Southerners did not receive any or enough legal help for 92% of their civil legal problems in the past year.
The 2022 Justice Gap Measurement Survey showed that 75% of low-income households in the South experienced at least one civil legal problem in the past year, and 39% experienced at least five. The most common types of problems related to consumer issues, health care, and income maintenance. Individuals from low-income households in the South sought legal help for 21% of the problems that substantially affected them.
Scroll down for an infographic summarizing key findings related to low-income households in the South or download a PDF of the infographic.
18% of the population in the South is below 125% of poverty.
22.2 million children and adults in the South have incomes below 125% of the poverty threshold.
Data source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 2021 Annual Social and Economic Supplement.
75% of low-income households with the South had at least 1 civil legal problem in the past year.
39% had 5+ problems in past year.
21% had 10+ problems in past year.
Common problem areas:
Consumer Issues (53%)
Health care (41%)
Income maintenance (32%)
n = 810 households in the South.
Data source: 2021 Justice Gap Measurement Survey.
Sought legal help for 21% of substantial problems.
Did not receive any or enough legal help for 92% of substantial problems.
n = 1,103 substantial problems
Data source: 2021 Justice Gap Measurement Survey.
At or below 125% of FPL (n=810):
- 47% 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=947):
- 58% are confident.
At or above 400% of FPL (n=299):
- 74% are confident.
Data source: 2021 Justice Gap Measurement Survey.
Approximately 655,000 eligible problems brought to LSC-funded organizations in the South annually.
They are unable to provide any or enough legal help for 69% of these problems.
Data source: LSC’s 2021 Intake Census.
