Poverty Stats
Milwaukee has been noted as one of the most segregated cities in America, where poverty, drugs, and violence are escalating at an alarming rate.
The city of Milwaukee is in need of the hope of Christ. Milwaukee has been noted as one of the most segregated cities in America, where poverty, drugs, and violence are escalating at an alarming rate. Below are some statistics about our city:
Children remain the poorest age group in America.
Nearly 1 in 6 lived in poverty in 2018—nearly 11.9 million children. Children are considered poor if they live in a family with an annual income below the Federal Poverty Line of $25,701 for a family of four, which amounts to less than $2,142 a month, $494 a week or $70 a day.
In Wisconsin, children are nearly twice as likely to be poor as senior citizens – 14% compared to 7.9% respectively.
Poverty rates are higher for children of color compared to their white counterparts. 42% of African American children grow up in poverty, compared to 9% of white children.
In zip code 53233, where City on a Hill is located, the American Community Survey found that 71.2% of children under the age of 18 live below the poverty level, which is in the worst 25% of US Zip Codes.
About 90 % of Milwaukee students are of color, a number that has continued to rise over the past decade. Students with disabilities, Black students, and those from low-income households are most likely to attend low-quality schools. According to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, just 10% of Milwaukee’s high school graduates that are African American and 13% of Latino graduates will earn a two or four-year degree. According to the 2016 U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, Milwaukee has the lowest percentage of bachelor’s degree holders for African Americans in any large metropolitan at 12.7% with Milwaukee Latinos at 13.6%.
While there are differences in family structure and educational attainment, across and between races, the higher overall poverty rate found in Milwaukee County is largely explained by the greater concentration of people of color in poor areas of the city. There are large variations in poverty by area within the central city, especially in highly racially segregated areas.
Economic mobility data suggests that improving economic and social outcomes for individuals and families in Milwaukee, especially for black families, would reduce poverty rates within the county and overall, in the state. If we are to solve the poverty problem in our state, especially for people of color, now is the time to begin and central city Milwaukee should be a primary focal point in that effort.
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Milwaukee is the 5th poorest city in the US.
Sanburn, Josh. “This is the Poorest Big City in the U.S.” TIME Magazine 17 Sept. 2015; based on US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2014 data
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Of people in Milwaukee live in poverty
United States Census Bureau / American FactFinder. “S1701 Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months” 2009 – 2014 American Community Survey. U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey Office, 2014. Web. 7 March 2016
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Of children in Milwaukee live in poverty
United States Census Bureau / American FactFinder. “S1701 Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months” 2009 – 2014 American Community Survey. U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey Office, 2014. Web. 7 March 2016.
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Milwaukee Public schools’ graduation rate
Milwaukee Public Schools. MPS’ 4-year Graduation Rate up Slightly in 2014.MPS. N.p., 7 May 2015. Web.
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Of children in Milwaukee Public Schools qualify for free or reduced lunches
“Milwaukee Public Schools Annual Summary.” Milwaukee Public Schools.
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Wisconsin has the highest incarceration rate for African American men
Pawasarat, John, and Lois M. Quinn. Wisconsin’s Mass Incarceration of African American Males: Workforce Challenges for 2013. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Employment and Training Institute, 2013.
Milwaukee has the greatest segregation of the poor from everyone else than any other metro region.
Florida, Richard and Charlotta Melander. SEGREGATED CITY The Geography of Economic Segregation in America’s Metros. Toronto: Martin Prosperity Institute, Feb. 2015.Web. 7 Mar. 2016
Milwaukee is the most segregated city in the US.
Jacobs, Harrison, Andy Kiersz, and Gus Lubin. “The 25 Most Segregated Cities In America.” Business Insider. Business Insider, Inc, 22 Nov. 2013.