The Poverty Shift --- The Urbanization of Suburbs

Do you know what I think?

I think it matters that we care about what happens next door to us as well as 30 miles from us and 3,000 miles from us. It is all connected.

For the first time in American history, the number of those living in poverty in suburbs outnumbers those living in the urban cores of America.

Fact: There are more individuals and families in America living in poverty in the suburbs now than in the central cities.

Fact: What is true for America is also true here in Southeastern Michigan.

Fact: More residents in the suburbs in the tri-county area ---- Oakland, Macomb and Wayne County ---- live at or below the poverty level than in the City of Detroit.

Fact: Over the past five years, the number of individuals living in poverty in the suburbs in Southeastern Michigan has grown by 35% ---- now over 270,000 residents.

Fact: During that time period, Macomb County has experienced 60% growth. Oakland---one of the wealthiest suburbs in America---20% growth. Out-Wayne county 35%.

Fact: Over that same time period, the number of individuals in poverty in the City of Detroit grew by 7% --- 261,000.

Fact: The number of residents in the tri-county area living in poverty would fill the "Big House" at U of M nearly five times. Of those residents in poverty, 35% are children.

As noted in a recent article in the Oakland Press:

"Economies are regional now," said Alan Berube, who co-wrote 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."

Kurt Metzger, research director for the United Way of Southeastern Michigan and a longtime advocate of regional economic development planning, said the findings come as no surprise, given Michigan's struggling economy.

"This is a clarion call to show people that we are all in this together. The suburbs are not going to survive if the cities do not survive," he said. "We either have to come back as a region or we're not going to come back at all."

Marc H. Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League, said social and economic problems such as struggling schools, rising crime and lowpaying jobs deserve the same attention in suburbs as they receive in cities.

"I call it the urbanization of the suburbs," he said. "I hope this says to people that the way to confront poverty is not to wall it off and concentrate it. You really need policies to eliminate it."

What are some of the driving forces:

Berube, research director at the Brookings Institution's Metropolitan Policy Program, said several factors are contributing to the trend:

1. Faster total population growth in suburbs than in cities.
2. Increasing presence of low-wage jobs in suburbs.
3. Growing presence of low-income immigrants in suburbs.

"Traditionally, cities have been viewed as home to poor populations, surrounded by middle- and upper-income suburbs," the report said. "This 'tipping' of poor populations to the suburbs represents a signal development that upends historical notions about who lives in cities and suburbs."

"Looking back at the 1970s, you would have seen cities suffering and suburbs staying the same," Berube said. "But the story is different today."

This is precisely why the direction the United Way Board adopted in December to focus on Financial Stability for families, Educational Preparedness of children and getting to the root cause of what is keeping individuals and families living in the safety net of society.

This is precisely why six key civic organizations formed One D to develop a regional capacity to address the complex issues facing and us ------ and to move from process to results.

No silver bullets are present, but with bold steps, clear goals and dedicated leadership, progress is possible. The continual trend described here ought not be our legacy to our children.

Rather, it ought to be how this generation turned the trend line. I believe its possible.

Thanks for reading. Pass it on.