Broke in Philly? Nearly half of us are; a new series will offer solutions | Opinion
Think of two Philadelphians you love. Imagine that one of them will no longer be able to put food on the table while also making rent. Your loved one is buried in mountains of debt, with utility shut-offs looming. They are choosing between school supplies or medical care for their kids.
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For the last decade, Philadelphia has been unable to shake its notorious distinction as the poorest big city in the United States. More than a quarter of the city's residents are experiencing poverty, meaning a family of four earns less than $25,100 per year. Forty percent of those are struggling to break out of "deep poverty," with half that income.
The best solutions reporting comes from a solid understanding of the roots of a problem. As a start, we have created a graphic that breaks down the major factors that have led to Philadelphia being the poorest big city in America. This visual also highlights the way poverty affects varying groups—because we can’t pretend that it touches us all the same. We also aim to be helpful and have compiled an interactive map to locate resources that are critical for those struggling the most.Jean Friedman-Rudovsky is the executive director of Resolve. @jeannyfr
Philadelphia Media Network is one of 19 news organizations producing Broke in Philly, a collaborative reporting project on solutions to poverty and the city's push towards economic justice. Follow us at @BrokeInPhilly.