Thursday, October 13, 2011

Soaring Suburban Poverty Catches Communities Unprepared

Soaring Suburban Poverty Catches Communities Unprepared
Though cities still have nearly double the rate of poverty as suburban areas, the number of people living in poverty in the suburbs of major metropolitan areas increased by 53 percent between 2000 and 2010, as compared to an increase of 23 percent among city-dwellers, according to a Brookings Institution analysis of recently released census data. In 16 metropolitan areas, including Atlanta, Dallas and Milwaukee, the suburban poor has more than doubled over the last decade.
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I have been saying for a long time that the stereotype of rich suburbanites is greatly exaggerated. Suburbia is much more diverse, ethnically and economically, than many urban dwellers realize. Cities at least have some support institutions for the poor--suburbs typically have none. You are on your own.

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