Dels. Barnes and Valentino-Smith: Md.’s Temporary Cash Assistance Safety Net Needs Reform

On the surface, Maryland’s poverty rate is lower than many other states — approximately 9% of Marylanders live below the Federal Poverty Line (FPL), according to the Census. While this lower rate might be seen as a measure we are moving in the right direction, a deeper dive into the data shows there is an alarming trend that has existed in our state for years: Maryland has one of the highest rates of deep poverty in the entire country.