Poverty and Public Assistance

Poverty in Hancock County is slightly below the state average.

The Maine economy weakened between 1992 and 1994, but has recovered in the late 1990’s.

Bucksport has been more reliant upon AFDC/TANF and food stamps than most of Hancock County.

AFDC Enrollment 239 persons in 87 families.
Food stamps 552 persons in 233 families.

31% of students received free or reduced price school lunches.

1993 Poverty Rate

Source: Maine Department of Human Services

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Notes:

Hancock County has a mix of wealth and poverty. The aggregate statistics show a pattern of generally low unemployment and poverty rates, wages comparable with the rest of the state, and a high percentage of income from investments relative to earnings.

The picture for Bucksport is similar to the County, though there is less impact from the coastal tourism economy and a much larger role of manufacturing employment.
Percent of Percent of
Bucksport Households Persons Households Population
AFDC 87 239 4.8% 5.0%
Food Stamps 233 552 12.7% 11.4%
Hancock County
AFDC 461 1,232 2.5% 2.6%
Food Stamps 1,607 3,433 8.8% 7.3%
(Source Maine Department of Human Resources, 1997)

The School lunch program provided free lunches for 341 or25% of students and reduced price lunches for 77 or 6% of students. (Communities for Children Report, )