4 or more years
2 years
Less than 2 years
Urban Opportunity Agenda Summary Report
Location Snapshot
Population: 1
Median Income: $-- 1
Costs of Living
Rent: $-- 1 -- than the US average ($--)
Transportation: $-- 2 -- than the US average ($--)
Utilities: $-- 2 -- than the US average ($--)
Population in Poverty: -- 1
Adults (18-65): 1
Working Adults: 1
Enrolled in college: 1
Poverty Reduction Goal: Consider a goal of reducing the population in poverty by 25% — that would bring -- people out of poverty. In financial terms, this requires closing an annual poverty gap of $, which Urban Opportunity Agenda strategies can meet through sustainable poverty reduction strategies.
- 2018 American Community Survey 1-year Estimates
- 2017 Consumer Expenditure Survey
- Current Population Survey (CPS) Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC)
- IPUMS NHGIS, University of Minnesota
Closing the Poverty Gap: This portfolio of strategies will generate $-- towards closing a $-- poverty gap needed to reduce the poverty rate in --- by --%.
- $-- Job Access + Transportation
- $-- Workforce Development
- $-- Attract + Create Jobs
- $-- Food Security Jobs
- $-- Childcare Jobs
- $-- Energy + Water Efficiency Jobs
- $-- Infrastructure Investments
- $-- Mining the Waste Stream
- $-- Household Expense Reduction
- $-- Affordable Infill Rental
Urban Opportunity Agenda Strategies: Poverty reduction itself has the potential to be an economic engine. Instead of high poverty rates and rising household costs being a drag on the local economy, efficiencies and targeted investment can boost economic growth. By making targeted investments that help families spend less on the basics, civic leaders can reduce poverty while providing benefits to the entire community.
Job Access + Transportation
poverty reduction
Strategy: Improve access to jobs with increased transit, rideshare, employer shuttles, and more. In addition to benefiting low-income workers, expanding transit access benefits employers by widening the work pool, and making it easier and less costly to get to work helps families of all income levels.
How it could be done: A 5% increase in public transit access to jobs requiring an associate degree or less would result in newly accessible jobs. If 10% share of those newly accessible jobs would go to people living below poverty this strategy would reduce the poverty gap by $.
Workforce Development
poverty reduction
Strategy: Expand sector-specific job training in industrial sectors with good growth prospects and engage employers in the design of workforce training.
How it could be done: On average since 2015, the U.S. has averaged a 4% job openings rate with an estimated open jobs requiring an associate degree or less. If --% of those jobs were filled by working age population living below poverty, this strategy would reduce the poverty gap by $--.
Attract + Create Jobs
poverty reduction
Strategy: Channel future job growth in the region, specifically growth in well-paid entry level jobs, to areas where those jobs are more accessible to people in poverty.
How it could be done: If 3% of the projected regional job growth shifted to the city, and 25% of those total relocated jobs went to those living below poverty, this strategy would reduce the poverty gap by $.
Food Security Jobs
--
poverty reductionStrategy: Create jobs by supporting low-income food entrepreneurs and increasing local food self-sufficiency. This may include urban agriculture, shared kitchens combined with hands-on training, business development, and technical assistance.
How it could be done: If 25% of the average household food expense shifted to local disadvantaged businesses, 10 food security jobs would be created. If 50% of those newly created food jobs went to people below poverty this strategy would reduce the poverty gap by $---.
Childcare Jobs
poverty reduction
Strategy: Create childcare entrepreneurship opportunities and provide jobs for people living in poverty. By expanding support systems for working families this strategy also enables more people to participate in the economy.
How it could be done: If 25% of the children under 6 who live in poverty were placed in daycare with a 6:1 child to caregiver ratio, childcare jobs would be created. If --% of those newly created childcare jobs went to people below poverty, this strategy would reduce the poverty gap by $--.
Energy + Water Efficiency Jobs
poverty reduction
Strategy: Invest in making buildings more efficient while creating jobs. Many efforts of this type are underway in cities around the country, but scaling those efforts up and targeting the jobs toward people currrently living in poverty could create significant benefits.
How it could be done: Retrofitting 20% of homes and 20% of businesses for energy and water efficiency would result in new jobs. If 10% share of those jobs went to people living below poverty this strategy would reduce the poverty gap by $.
Infrastructure Investments
--
poverty reductionStrategy: Create jobs for residents currently living in poverty when investing in local infrastructure.
How it could be done: If 50% of the capital budget was directed to local businesses, 10 infrastructure investment jobs would be created. If 50% of those newly created infrastructure jobs went to people below poverty this strategy would reduce the poverty gap by $---.
Mining the Waste Stream
poverty reduction
Strategy: Create jobs by reducing and reusing the waste stream. Making use of the resources in the waste stream, including building materials, metals, recyclable plastics, and compostables is more job-intensive and sustainable than landfilling.
How it could be done: If 40% of waste currently going to landfill were mined for resources, an additional new jobs could be created. If 75% share of those jobs went to people living below poverty this strategy would reduce the poverty gap by $.
Household Expense Reduction
poverty reduction
Strategy: Provide consumer information on smarter choices and investing in efficiency in energy, water, transportation, telecom, and food.
How it could be done: If households below poverty could reduce their spending on utilities by 20%, on transportation by 20%, and on food by 20% through ... [something more here], this strategy would reduce the poverty gap by $--.
Affordable Infill Rental
poverty reduction
Strategy: Provide opportunities to add rental housing units in mature neighborhoods to reduce housing cost burden.
How it could be done: 50% of low income households who rent are paying more than 30% of their income on rent. If 100 additional rental units that are affordable to rent-burdened households living below poverty, these households could reduce their housing expense by 20% and thereby reduce the poverty gap by $--.
