The diffuse structure of suburbs makes it more efficient, according to this Brooking Institution post, to invest in individuals rather than places to fight poverty.
Natalie Holmes and Alan Berube explains some of the implications of a shifting geography of poverty—from urban to suburban—and its connections to the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Now that the geography of poverty is shifting, according to the article, so too will the role of the EITC. Moreover, the article also explains "how expanding participation in the program and paying the credit differently could enhance its effectiveness as a local economic stabilizer."
The article establishes the historical context for the War on Poverty, dating back to 1964, when poverty was mostly urban and rural. Poverty in suburban settings, however, will make place-based initiatives harder to achieve. Therefore, direct investments in low-income individuals, such as the EITC, will become more important.
That's not to say that the EITC fails to benefit a broader definition of community, according to the post. California State University researchers cited in the article found evidence that "the credit creates local economic impacts equivalent to at least twice the amount of EITC dollars received" in California counties. Other examples of the community and multi-generational benefits of the EITC are included in the article.
The article concludes with additional recommendations for how to maximize the EITC as an anti-poverty tool in suburban settings.
FULL STORY: The Earned Income Tax Credit and Community Economic Stability

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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