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[Tegna Media]
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<p>Texas has a lot to brag about: It’s a leader in job growth, energy production and building.</p>
<p>It’s also near the top of another list, but it’s not something you’ll likely see shared often on social media: child poverty.</p>
<p>Texas ranks 43rd in the country to be a kid, based on economic well-being, health and education, according to the Annie Casey Foundation, a private charitable watchdog organization.</p>
<p>In Travis County, U.S. Census numbers show child poverty has increased nearly each year since 2000.</p>
<p>In 2014, the county added an additional 9,860 children in poverty, totaling 64,000. About one in four children live in poverty in Texas—a staggering statistic that dates back to 1989. Today, that’s 1.7 million Texas children.</p>
<p>One of those children includes 13-year-old Paige Rogers, who lives in a group home run by the Foundation for the Homeless in north Austin. She has four siblings, ranging from 3 months old to 14 years old.</p>
<p>Just like many eighth graders, she has big dreams of becoming an artist or working with animals, but she talks a lot about getting a job for someone so young.</p>
<p>“I thought about working at, like, computer tech places and stuff,” Paige said, holding a crayon while coloring. “Let’s be honest, with a career, you get paid more rather than getting paid minimum wage at an ordinary job.”</p>
<p>Her mom, Kayla Dixon, works nights at a nursing home. Her dad, Jared Dixon, works during the day at a call center. They moved to Austin about six months ago from Lubbock in search of a better life.</p>
<p>“We probably bring together, like, $800 between the both of us,” said Dixon.</p>
<p>Before finding the group home, they slept in hotels and eventually their SUV.</p>
<p>“You keep on waiting on a time to get a place, but you know you don’t have a place to go to like everybody else does,” said Paige.</p>
<p>Most families, like Paige’s, move to Austin looking for a job. Unemployment is low in Texas and its lawmakers, especially its former governor, enjoy reminding the rest of the country.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.kens5.com/story/news/investigations/2015/12/13/state-our-children/76959510/">MORE>></a></p>
<p>It’s also near the top of another list, but it’s not something you’ll likely see shared often on social media: child poverty.</p>
<p>Texas ranks 43rd in the country to be a kid, based on economic well-being, health and education, according to the Annie Casey Foundation, a private charitable watchdog organization.</p>
<p>In Travis County, U.S. Census numbers show child poverty has increased nearly each year since 2000.</p>
<p>In 2014, the county added an additional 9,860 children in poverty, totaling 64,000. About one in four children live in poverty in Texas—a staggering statistic that dates back to 1989. Today, that’s 1.7 million Texas children.</p>
<p>One of those children includes 13-year-old Paige Rogers, who lives in a group home run by the Foundation for the Homeless in north Austin. She has four siblings, ranging from 3 months old to 14 years old.</p>
<p>Just like many eighth graders, she has big dreams of becoming an artist or working with animals, but she talks a lot about getting a job for someone so young.</p>
<p>“I thought about working at, like, computer tech places and stuff,” Paige said, holding a crayon while coloring. “Let’s be honest, with a career, you get paid more rather than getting paid minimum wage at an ordinary job.”</p>
<p>Her mom, Kayla Dixon, works nights at a nursing home. Her dad, Jared Dixon, works during the day at a call center. They moved to Austin about six months ago from Lubbock in search of a better life.</p>
<p>“We probably bring together, like, $800 between the both of us,” said Dixon.</p>
<p>Before finding the group home, they slept in hotels and eventually their SUV.</p>
<p>“You keep on waiting on a time to get a place, but you know you don’t have a place to go to like everybody else does,” said Paige.</p>
<p>Most families, like Paige’s, move to Austin looking for a job. Unemployment is low in Texas and its lawmakers, especially its former governor, enjoy reminding the rest of the country.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.kens5.com/story/news/investigations/2015/12/13/state-our-children/76959510/">MORE>></a></p>