Definition: Poverty Reduction is the process utilized to identify the root causes of poverty and to promote community environments where individuals are able to lift themselves out of poverty.
Challenges/Issues: According to the official measure from the US Census Bureau, Tucson’s poverty rate as of 2012 was the sixth highest among large metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) in the United States. Poverty in Tucson is highest among women, children, female-headed households where no husband is present, individuals living in nonfamily households, American Indians, Hispanics, those with less than a high school degree, the foreign-born, and persons who aren’t employed or who work less than full-time year-round. Of the census tracts that are fully or mostly within the City of Tucson, 15 had poverty rates above 40% between 2008 and 2012. There is a clustering with one at the northeastern city limits, one to the east, three in the south, and the remaining ten neighborhoods contiguously spanning downtown, the university area, and north of the university up Miracle Mile. One quarter of Tucson’s poor live in these neighborhoods characterized by concentrated poverty.
4Tucson Goal: Tucson residents successfully:
Bryan J. Benz
Poverty Reduction Taskforce Director
Office Phone: 520-745-4404
Email Address: bryan@4tucson.com
Description: The Poverty Reduction “Graduating High School” Transformation Team is designed to operationalize the policy recommendations of the Poverty Reduction Taskforce through the implementation and oversight of graduating high school programs and projects.
Description: The Poverty Reduction “Securing Employment” Transformation Team is designed to operationalize the policy recommendations of the Poverty Reduction Taskforce through the implementation and oversight of securing employment programs and projects.
Description: The Poverty Reduction “Waiting to Have Children Until After Marriage” Transformation Team is designed to operationalize the policy recommendations of the Poverty Reduction Taskforce through the implementation and oversight of Waiting to Have Children Until After Marriage programs and projects.
POVERTY REDUCTION Research Findings, Discussion, and Conclusions