Poverty shifts to U.S. suburbs

[modrepub]

2005 was the first time that more poor lived outside cities than in. The overall rate: 12.6%.

By Stephen Ohlemacher
Associated Press

WASHINGTON - As Americans flee the cities for the suburbs, many are failing to leave poverty behind.

The suburban poor outnumbered their inner-city counterparts for the first time last year, with more than 12 million suburban residents living in poverty, according to a study of the nation's 100 largest metropolitan areas to be released today.

"Economies are regional now," said Alan Berube, who cowrote the report for the Brookings Institution, a Washington think tank. "Where you see increases in city poverty, in almost every metropolitan area, you also see increases in suburban poverty."

Nationally, the poverty rate leveled off last year at 12.6 percent after increasing every year since the decade began. It was a period when the country went through a recession and an uneven recovery that is still sputtering in parts of the Northeast and Midwest.

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/business/16181292.htm

[liberal N proud]

1. It's not poverty - the people are just cash deficient

:sarcasm:

[tanyev]

5. I believe the correct term is "very low money security".

[AngryOldDem]

2. One reason is subsidized housing

As inner cities continue to decay, county and regional agencies are going beyond the city limits to find housing for their clients. Where I live there are many such units amid the affluence, and some agencies are expanding out into adjacent rural counties as well.

But the fact remains that as cities go, so go the suburbs. That is a hard lesson that many of those who "fled the city and its problems" will learn.

[valerief]

3. Now, don't complain about jobs being offshored. We're a service

economy, a global economy, and we need to make sacrifices. Look at Congress. They're thinking of increasing their work week to 4 days (although I'm sure they'll all be substantially compensated for the change), so that they can talk about raising the minimum wage. You can't get it raised until you've talked about it for a decade or more. Besides, if we pray, the Lord will provide. America isn't praying enough. That's why Americans are in the fix they're in.

Now, let's pull ourselves up by the bootstraps and think positive!

(I doubt this is necessary, but :sarcasm: )

[midnight]

7. Amen, You do seem to understand this crazy talk that

has been used to distract the sane from having their say.

[Dulcinea]

4. As cities become pricier, where are the poor supposed to live, anyway?

In Atlanta, at least, there's been a trend toward building intown high-rises & townhomes that cater to wealthy singles or couples without kids. "New condos from the low $400s!" That kind of thing.

So where are low-income families going to go?

[MGKrebs]

8. The interesting thing in Atlanta is that the burbs are

all trying to become independent cities (and even counties) of their own, presumably to seperate themselves from the perceived inner-city poverty and the (allegedly) higher taxes that go with it.

You can run, but you can't hide suburbia. The problem needs to be dealt with, not swept under the rug.

[classysassy]

6. The burbs

most of them vote republican,a few crock tears please.