The Basic Needs Coalition of Central Texas launched its second annual Poverty Awareness Month at Austin City Hall Wednesday. Mayor Will Winn and other city and county officials were on hand to proclaim January 2007 the 2nd annual Poverty Awareness Month.

The coalition's goal is to lower in Travis County what is one of the highest poverty rates in the country.

According to the Basic Needs Coalition, nearly 16 percent of Travis County residents are living in poverty. The group says 135,240 residents struggled to make ends meet in 2005.

Single parents and people with disabilities or mental illnesses are most likely to live below the poverty line.

The federal poverty guideline for a family of four is $20,000, but because of a higher cost of living in Travis County, that same family of four needs $43,584 per year to cover basic expenses.

"Travis County is one of the greatest places to live, but its poverty rate is higher than the national average. Thousands of our sisters and brothers languish in poverty," said Rhoda Montgomery, Episcopal Church of the Good Shepard.

Thirty-two public and private social service providers make up the Basic Needs Coalition. The group includes non-profit organizations, local governmental agencies, faith-based organizations and community advocates.