Report: Colorado child poverty rate down but homelessness up

A new report says the number of children living in poverty in Colorado has dropped for the second straight year, falling to the same level as before the recession.

The Kids Count report released Monday by the Colorado Children’s Campaign found that 15 percent of children lived in households earning less than the federal poverty level in 2014, the most recent data available. That’s defined as those with an income of less than about $24,000 for a family of four.

In 2013, 17 percent of children were living in poverty.

The report also found that the number of homeless children more than doubled over the last six years. The Children’s Campaign says homelessness has increased in several school districts, including in Denver and Mesa County, as housing costs have increased.