Suburban poverty on the rise

[Slick Vik]

Within the nation’s 100 largest metro areas, the number of suburban neighborhoods where more than 20 percent of residents live below the federal poverty line more than doubled between 2000 and 2008-2012. Almost every major metro area saw suburban poverty not only grow during the 2000s but also become more concentrated in high-poverty neighborhoods. By 2008-2012, 38 percent of poor residents in the suburbs lived in neighborhoods with poverty rates of 20 percent or higher. For poor black residents in those communities, the figure was 53 percent.

 

http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/the-avenue/posts/2014/08/15-ferguson-suburban-poverty

 

According to a new report by the Brookings Institution, there are now 16.5 million souls in suburban America eking out an existence below the poverty line, compared to only 13.5 million in cities.

 

http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/25597-how-did-the-suburbs-become-the-zip-code-from-hell

 

The numbers of suburban poor are growing at a more rapid rate than those in urban areas. In 2012, there were 16.5 million Americans living below the poverty line in the suburbs compared with 13.5 million in cities. The number of suburban poor living in distressed neighborhoods grew by 139% since 2000, compared with a 50% jump in cities. Overall, the number of poor living in the suburbs has grown by 65% in the past 14 years—twice as much growth as in urban areas.

 

There are also few social programs to help the suburban poor ascend the economic ladder. In the counties surrounding the Denver and Colorado Springs area, for example, many charitable organizations and anti-poverty programs have historically been focused on urban cores and haven’t caught up to changing demographics.

 

http://time.com/3060122/poverty-america-suburbs-brookings/

[samagon]

How do you tie this in with traffic/transportation?

 

Those that live in poverty need mass transit other than the metro bus? The metro bus doesn't stretch far enough into the suburbs to accommodate this shifting demographic? More used car dealerships in the suburbs so the poor have access to personal transportation? More bicycle paths and free bikes for the poor?

[arche_757]

No kidding.  And urban/inner city neighborhoods have seen a steady increase in wealthy residents.  Odd that they're probably both related.

[august948]

How do you tie this in with traffic/transportation?

 

Tunnel vision is how it ties in.