The Census Bureau released figures this week about poverty in the United States.

The numbers are no surprise to groups that help families in need. The Census Bureau reports the poverty rate increased to 14.3 percent in 2009. More than 38 percent of the families living in poverty were female headed households.

The YWCA in Rochester provides crisis and support services to women and children. They've seen three times the number of families this year than they've seen in the past.

The YWCA expanded its homeless shelter last spring. The Y's president and CEO says if she could send a message to Congress, it would be to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act.

"After 50 years to be still at 70 cents on the dollar, there's something really wrong here," said Jean Carroll. "So, the Paycheck Fairness Act just levels the playing field a little bit more so that women and especially women of color that fair even worse in this economy so that they really get equity in their pay. It's passed the House. It hasn't passed the Senate, so I would be talking to the senators at the federal level to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act."

The YWCA’s fourth annual Empowering Women Luncheon is October 5 and features Jeannette Walls who is the author of the best seller "The Glass Castle." She'll be speaking first hand on living in poverty.

YWCA of Rochester