Poverty in Rochester

Poverty seems to have been swept under the rug during the '08 election. While the crisis that is befalling the middle class is urgent, so too is the plight of the poor. With our economy in such dire straights the ranks of the poor will only swell. It behooves us to take a look at poverty here at home.

While many people look upon our fair city and see the glittering new buildings and the prosperity of one segment of our population, the inner city residential neighborhoods go unseen. Neighborhoods on the North East and North West portion of the city are in ruins. Abandoned houses are everywhere and all the problems that they draw are making many neighborhoods dangerous and nearly unlivable.

Rochester, NY, the “Flower City,” has the 10th highest poverty rate in the nation with nearly 30% of the population living below the poverty line. In the US 1 out of 8 people are living in poverty, in NY state the numbers are 1 out of 7, and in the City of Rochester it is a dismal 1 out of 4. In a city that brags of being so modern and prosperous this is a shame.

Additional Information: Foodlink Hunger Study | Poverty and Violence: Assault on Human Rights – Workshop/Conference Friday 10/17 | Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign | Social Welfare Action Alliance

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