Home › News ›

The Geography Of Poverty And Service Provision

Posted by: Chris Steins
Thanks to: Chris Steins
19 August 2004 - 5:00am

On average, poor populations in urban centers have greater spatial access to social services than poor populations living in suburban areas, according to a new Brookings report.

Greater proximity to social service providers is thought to increase the likelihood that eligible individuals in need will receive assistance. Using three cities-Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington-as examples, this paper by Scott Allard analyzes the shifting geography of concentrated poverty and its impact on access to social services.

Among the findings:

  • While spatial access to social service providers is greatest in central city areas, potential demand for services is also much greater in central city areas than in suburban areas.
  • The location of social service providers does not always match well to the changing demographic compositions of cities.
  • High poverty central city tracts with large percentages of Hispanics are located within the greatest proximity to service providers.

    • Full Story: Access to Social Services: The Changing Urban Geography of Poverty and Service Provision
    Source: The Brookings Institution, August 16, 2004
    »
    Bookmark and Share
    “
    The decision to abandon a property is a symptom of the loss of confidence. And while abandonment certainly affects confidence among surrounding homeowners, the most important question to answer is not "how do we deal with abandoned properties?" but "what is the most cost-effective way to restore market confidence, and how do abandoned properties fit into that picture?"
    ”