The U.S. Census Bureau defines poverty using annual income guidelines and thresholds that take age, household size and the number of people in a household into consideration.

For one person under the age of 65 with no children, the 2010 poverty threshold was set at $11,369. For a family of four with two children, the threshold was set at $22,162, according to the Census Bureau. Families whose income falls below the threshold are considered to be living in poverty.

Based on the Census Bureau's American Community Survey, which measured poverty levels between 2005 and 2009, the poverty range across the county was wide in 2009.

In Wake County as a whole, it was estimated 6.1 percent of families and 9.4 percent of individuals were living in poverty. In Cary, those figures were 2.9 percent for families, and 3.9 percent for individuals.

While Knightdale's poverty rates - 6.1 percent for families and 6.3 for individuals - were lower than the county estimates, Wendell and Zebulon estimates were significantly higher.

In Wendell, an estimated 17.8 percent of families reported incomes below the poverty line in 2009, and 18.3 percent for individuals. And in Zebulon, Census Bureau figures put 21.4 percent of families and 23 percent of all individuals below the poverty standard.

Addressing the issue

The Eastern Regional Center plays a key role in providing a remedy for poverty in the area and is located in Zebulon -- the area with the highest local poverty estimates.

The most recent caseload for the Eastern Regional Center showed there are 3,578 local residents accepting family and child Medicaid, 2,546 accepting food stamps, and 205 registered for Work First temporary assistance.

Through Work First, families can get a one-time cash installment, receive Medicaid, child care and food and nutrition Services if they qualify, but they must make an effort to find work and keep a job. The desired result is that the amount of time families are on Work First is shortened.

But the center doesn't just offer such services to those at or below the poverty line. Instead, those services are offered to families whose income is twice the poverty level, meaning a one-person household with no children would be eligible for government assistance with an income closer to $23,000.

Eastern Regional Center Director Darryl Blevins said 75-80 percent of the people the center serves are closer to 200 percent of poverty, while around 25 percent have no source of income other than what they get through government assistance.

"Most of them figure out a way to get by with less," Blevins said. "We, by no means, give folks enough benefits to get them out of poverty. That's why I believe most families rely on other sources to bridge the gap between our services and what they have to live off of. People use food banks, clothing drives and things at churches. More often than not they will rely on church services beyond social services," Blevins said.

Bar set low

Blevins said the government's measure of poverty is extreme. He notes a family of four is considered poor if they mak less than about $22,000 a year.

"That's not a lot of money for a single person," he said. "So when you look at them, they are, to me, pretty low."

The sour economy has added to the number of people who need help, but they often make just enough money not to qualify for help through social programs, Blevins said.

He said there are many people these days making less money than they need to live a good, productive life with some level of economic freedom. But they aren't eligible for benefits.

But Blevins said there are many families that are eligible who don't ask the government for help.

"If you just consider the poverty rate and the number of families we're serving, by no means are we serving every family that is eligible," Blevins said. "Some people are just not going to apply for assistance, whether its (a lack of) knowledge, pride or religion. There's a lot of people in eastern Wake that still don't know the regional center is here."

Blevins said family support is a big help for those the center serves, and that very few families don't have support from other sources.