Poverty rate in San Diego increasing
CNS, CBS8 NEWS
Thursday, January 14, 2016
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However, the number of impoverished residents in San Diego, the region's largest city, decreased from 63.5 percent to 51.2 percent, the NUSIPR found.
"Highly concentrated poverty makes it even harder for individuals and families," said Erik Bruvold, president of the institute and author of the study. "Not only are individuals facing the challenge of overcoming individual circumstances but highly concentrated poverty imposes additional burdens."
Among those burdens are higher crime rates, lower-performing schools, fewer nearby job opportunities and worse health outcomes, he said.
Bruvold said the spread of concentrated poverty outside of the inner- city puts stress on both smaller jurisdictions and the county government.
Overall for San Diego County, the portion of poor people living in areas of concentrated poverty rose from 42.1 percent in 2000 to 45.6 percent in the more recent period, according to Bruvold.