Suburban Poverty

Cherry Creek

First Steps to Combat Homelessness in Denver Suburbs

Efforts are underway in several Denver suburbs to quantify and respond to growing homelessness.

September 17, 2019 - The Denver Post

Highway Interchange

Tools for Addressing the Suburbanization of Poverty

Suburban poverty is reading, here are a few ways to understand what that means.

November 13, 2018 - Build a Better Burb

Exurbs Black and White

Looking for the Causes of Suburban Poverty

Why is poverty increasing in the suburbs? It's not as simple as blaming the shifting demographics of the urban core.

June 14, 2018 - The Conversation

Suburban Sidewalk

Responses to the Suburbanization of Poverty in Short Supply

Low-income residents have scattered to the periphery, where social services are less accessible.

April 10, 2018 - The Washington Post

Arlington Virginia

Cities Suburbanize While Suburbs Urbanize

As the internet makes retail more widely accessible, and poverty and density move to suburbs, the difference between cities and suburbs is shrinking, narrowing lifestyle choices.

October 26, 2017 - Bloomberg

Homeless Services

New Poverty and Income Data Reveals a Tale of Two Types of Cities

While the country overall made progress, larger cities are making stronger gains against poverty.

September 19, 2017 - Brookings

Seattle & Mt. Rainier

CNU Report Combats Suburban Poverty

The Puget Sound region provides a case study for the spread of poverty to suburban areas, and some region-specific recommendations for how to combat the challenges that result.

September 11, 2017 - Public Square

Arizona Suburb

On Poverty's New Suburban Look

Author Scott Allard debunks lingering myths about how people experience poverty in cities. Poverty's suburbanization, he argues, has more to do with the loss of jobs than migration from "inner cities."

August 3, 2017 - CityLab

Denver Region

Suburban Poverty in the Denver Region Compares Favorably to National Averages

A more nuanced understanding of suburban poverty is available from an examination of the Denver region.

July 15, 2017 - The Denver Post

Atlanta Sprawl

Suburban Poverty Rising in Atlanta

Driven by economic and demographic trends, poverty in "outer ring" suburbs is on the rise. Since 2000, Atlanta's suburbs have seen the highest rate of change in poverty of any comparable metro region.

April 5, 2016 - WABE

On the Suburban South's Troubling Poverty

Land use and transportation planning decisions provide a framework on which other social policies have created particularly isolating and intractable poverty in the South.

January 5, 2016 - The Washington Post

Meals Programs Shifting Focus to Keep Up With Suburban Poverty

A case study of suburban poverty and the programs needed to help residents through tough times.

December 10, 2015 - StarTribune

For Economic Stabilization Amidst Suburban Poverty: Maximize the Earned Income Tax Credit

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.

November 25, 2015 - Brookings

High School Football

Op-Ed: Stop Attacking My Suburb!

A proud suburban resident defends her neighborhood from the criticisms of city-dwellers. It's not walkable, it's not perfect, but it's home.

September 22, 2015 - Star Tribune

Poverty Shifts to the Twin Cities Suburbs

A recent report finds that more people are living in poverty in suburban areas than in the more urban areas of the Twin Cities region.

July 25, 2015 - MPR News

Report Finds Doubled Concentrations of Poverty Since 1970

A new report from City Observatory analyzes urban poverty and gentrification using census data from 1970 to 2010.

December 7, 2014 - Next City

The Middle Class Fights for Survival in Lima, Ohio

An article surveys Lima, Ohio's long-term residents, politicians, and economy to weave a narrative tracing the ups and downs of the shrinking small town.

October 16, 2014 - Rolling Stone

Ferguson, Missouri

Ferguson Conflict Provides Lessons in Suburban Poverty

A post by Brookings explains how the racial tensions and violent clashes between police and protestors in the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson are a symptom of common contemporary archetype: the impoverished suburb.

August 18, 2014 - Brookings

Growing Concentrations of Poverty in American Suburbs

Updating the initial "Re-Emergence of Concentrated Poverty" Brookings report, Elizabeth Kneebone shows where concentrations of poverty have taken root during the Great Recession and subsequently slow recovery period.

August 1, 2014 - Brookings Institution

Suburban Poverty Case Study: Cobb County, Georgia

"We can’t understand what’s working in America’s cities unless we also look at what’s not working in the vast suburbs that surround them," writes Rebecca Burns.

May 12, 2014 - Politico Magazine

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.