Poverty in Philadelphia: A look at the Statistical Data

       The following is just some of the statistical data found through the mayor's report of Philadelphia via my group's presentation on poverty and hunger in Philadelphia:


Homeless Citizens -


On the street on any given night:
Single Adults = 506
Persons in Families = 0
Unaccompanied Youth = No figure given


In Emergency Shelters:
Single Adults = 2155
Persons in Families = 1504
Unaccompanied Youth = 22


In Transitional Shelters:
Single Adults = 393
Persons in Families = 1746
Unaccompanied Youth = 4


Total number of persons in emergency shelters over the past year = 14094
Extrapolated number of persons in emergency shelters over the past year = 18329 (this is an estimated number that is calculated by including shelters that do not participate in the counting system)


Total number of persons in transitional housing over the past year = 3144
Extrapolated number of persons in transitional housing over the past year = 3414


Total number of beds available in emergency shelters = 3744
Total number of beds available in Transitional Housing = 2593
Total number of beds available in Permanent Supportive Housing = 4590


       Through our group discussions and presentation, we found that overtime, Philadelphia had become de-industrialized which led to mass layoffs and a mass reduction in jobs. Similar to what happened in Detroit (though not as dependent on industry) Philadelphia never recovered from the deconstruction of the industrial sector which came about through neo-liberal policies that moved many working class jobs to Asia. The city does very little in response  to poverty and hunger issues because it cannot produce enough revenue due to a major lack of jobs and profitable production. Federal funded organization do not provide enough (as seen on a nation-wide scale) and the city itself is too poor to fund its own organizations. Until more jobs can be produced, Philadelphia cannot generate the revenue necessary to fund organizations to help the poor and needy.

(A homeless man as seen on the streets of Philadelphia)

(Imani Sullivan, a participant in the "Witnesses To Hunger" photo exhibit in Philadelphia, talks about her frustration over trying to care for her two children with her janitor's pay.)




References:
http://www.usmayors.org/pressreleases/documents/hungerhomelessnessreport_121208.pdf
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2010/12/child_hunger.html