(RALEIGH) -- The economic struggles of the poor in North Carolina is the focus of a tour of the most poverty stricken areas in the state. The NC Justice Center is one of the groups involved and its Director Melinda Lawrence said the state has a lot of poor citizens.

"Nearly 20 percent in North Carolina right now fall below the incredibly low federal poverty standard, which itself is not a very accurate measure of hardship, but I think we've also not devoted that sort of focused attention and effort to the problem," said Lawrence.

State NAACP President William Barber said the tour won't solve poverty but will shine a light on the problem by bringing publicity to poor people.