Poverty is an increasing problem in Illinois, with a recent study showing one in three people in Illinois are living in or near poverty levels.

Amy Rynell, senior director for the Social IMPACT Research Center, said more than one in five children in Illinois are considered poor, and the situation is not getting better. The poverty study was released Jan. 16 by the Chicago-based Social IMPACT Research Center, which is a division of Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights.

“The situation has only gotten worse in recent years, with poverty among all ages rising from 11.9 percent in 2007 to 15.0 percent most recently,”  Rynell said.