A new Council MetroStats research report says there’s good news and bad when it comes to areas of the region where poverty is most concentrated; the poverty rate is down, but some concentrations of poverty continue to persist.
Concentrated poverty is known to have a negative influence on residents' economic mobility, health, and overall well-being. The Council’s annual analysis of Areas of Concentrated Poverty is intended to highlight "the place-based dimensions of disparities" in our region.
Findings
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The region’s poverty rate (those making at or below $45,442 for a family of four in 2016/$22,622 for a single person) has declined in recent years.
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Over the past decade, Areas of Concentrated Poverty have expanded in the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, as well as in the suburbs.
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There are ongoing signs that Areas of Concentrated Poverty have peaked and are receding. This is not true, however, for Areas of Concentrated Poverty where at least 50% of the residents are people of color.
The Council has tracked trends and geographic patterns of poverty in the Twin Cities region since 2014—in particular, concentrated poverty.
See the full METROSTATS report: Areas of Concentrated Poverty in 2016 (2 pages pdf)