According to the U.S. Census Bureau, young children are most likely to deal with Chicago’s poverty.
The most recent poverty data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that 23.2% of Chicago children and 20.6% of Chicago ethnic groups live in poverty. Overall, 16.4% of the population lives in poverty, compared to 12.3% for the U.S. as a whole.
Self-noted that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. government has pumped “unprecedented” amounts of financial relief to American households to stave off potential economic disaster. From the expansions of social safety net programs such as unemployment insurance and food stamps to multiple rounds of direct payments.
Congress’s multiple relief packages over the last year have helped put many households on better financial footing. Early analysis of these policies indicates that one of the groups benefiting most from these relief efforts is America’s poor.
Researchers at Self-analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s “American Community Survey.” Researchers examined poverty rates for all cities with at least 100,000 residents and collected data on both the percentage and number of people living in poverty overall and for children and racial or ethnic communities.
The analysis found that 23.2% of Chicago children and 20.6% of the city’s population live in poverty, compared to 12.3% of the U.S.
what is poverty?
Poverty refers to the lack of financial resources such that individuals, households, and entire communities cannot subsist or acquire the necessities for a good life. This means being so poor as to struggle to obtain food, clothing, shelter, and medicines.
why are poverty rates so high?
Causes of poverty include unemployment, not owning property, limited education, inherited poverty, and the systematic exclusion of racial and ethnic communities from accessing education. Low-income families rarely earn enough to pay for clothing, transportation, and secure housing.
The unemployment rate is the main indicator of the state of the economy. In addition to measuring the strength of the economy, the unemployment rate also measures the overall well-being of citizens.
Long-term unemployment causes financial, emotional, and psychological ruin. People cannot provide for themselves and their families, pay their bills, and contribute to society.
Persistent hiring discrimination has caused long-term unemployment in many minority communities.
What is being done to fix these problems?
“We are ushering in a more dynamic, prosperous economy by giving people a guarantee that their lives have meaning,” Mayor Johnson said.
About 3,200 families are receiving direct payments in the first-ever Cook County Promise Guaranteed Income pilot program for low-earning households.
The nonprofit Equity and Transformation, called EAT, has a guaranteed-income program called the Chicago Future Fund. Providing more than 100 formerly incarcerated people, particularly on the West Side, $500 in cash for a year.
Additionally, $54 million was provided to the Chicago Recovery Plan grants. This will be invested in the well-being of people and communities. Also, investments to create a recovery for Chicago’s neighborhoods and communities.
During her run, former Mayor Lightfoot wanted to help with the problems with her Anti-Poverty Plan. Attempting to identify the main reasons for poverty and ways to address them.
Lightfoot and her team identified things like lowering city fines and fees, raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, and creating jobs as an immediate solution.
By Jamarion Thomas
Sources:
EatFutureFund: equity and transformation is giving $500/month…
WTTW: Chicago’s ambitious poverty plan
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First Inset Image Courtesy of John W. Iwanski’s Flickr post
Second Inset Image Courtesy of Prachatai’s Flickr Post
