By: Clair Lorch
Poverty is all around the world, even within the Bay Area. In fact, one in five residents in the Bay Area lives in poverty. Out of the five poorest neighborhoods in the Bay Area, four of them reside in the East bay. These neighborhoods include: downtown Bekeley, uptown Oakland, Alameda Point, part of West Oakland, and Hunters Point in San Francisco. More than forty percent of the people living in these areas are below the poverty line, stated a report from the Contra Costa Times (http://www.mercurynews.com/nation-world/ci_19251068). The poverty line for a single person in the Bay Area is $11,000. How comfortably do you think you could live on just that small amount of money to get by all year?
Depending on ethnicity, some may be more likely to fall into poverty. As an example, every one in three hispanic children is reported to be part of a family living at, or beliow, the poverty line.
NBC Bay Area has even found reports that “nearly half of California’s children live in poverty [or close] to it. . .”. They even went on to find that 21.6 perfect of children live in poverty within California. From 2006 to 2011 the percent of childhood poverty has gone up four points. It is pretty sad that only five California counties have shown to decrese in child poverty rates over the measured time period. (http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/California-Childhood-Poverty-Rates-Increasing-Report-186100321.html).
So what can you do to help? While there are many organizations working to fight poverty and prevent causes, here just a few maybe you could volunteer with:
- The Hunger Site: focuses on the power of the internet and its ability to spread relief.
- Mercy Corps: helps those suffering in poverty build secure, productive, and just communities.
-Meals On Wheels Association of America: work to provide meal services to people in need of such help.
Poverty is all around the world, even within the Bay Area. In fact, one in five residents in the Bay Area lives in poverty. Out of the five poorest neighborhoods in the Bay Area, four of them reside in the East bay. These neighborhoods include: downtown Bekeley, uptown Oakland, Alameda Point, part of West Oakland, and Hunters Point in San Francisco. More than forty percent of the people living in these areas are below the poverty line, stated a report from the Contra Costa Times (http://www.mercurynews.com/nation-world/ci_19251068). The poverty line for a single person in the Bay Area is $11,000. How comfortably do you think you could live on just that small amount of money to get by all year?
Depending on ethnicity, some may be more likely to fall into poverty. As an example, every one in three hispanic children is reported to be part of a family living at, or beliow, the poverty line.
NBC Bay Area has even found reports that “nearly half of California’s children live in poverty [or close] to it. . .”. They even went on to find that 21.6 perfect of children live in poverty within California. From 2006 to 2011 the percent of childhood poverty has gone up four points. It is pretty sad that only five California counties have shown to decrese in child poverty rates over the measured time period. (http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/California-Childhood-Poverty-Rates-Increasing-Report-186100321.html).
So what can you do to help? While there are many organizations working to fight poverty and prevent causes, here just a few maybe you could volunteer with:
- The Hunger Site: focuses on the power of the internet and its ability to spread relief.
- Mercy Corps: helps those suffering in poverty build secure, productive, and just communities.
-Meals On Wheels Association of America: work to provide meal services to people in need of such help.
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