Development Blogs.com

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A new Brookings Institution study finds that unemployment in the U.S. is becoming more of a suburban problem than an inner city problem. From Louisville, Kentucky's Courier Journal, reporter Jere Downs gives us some stats on the poor in his local area.As the recession drags through a second year, the Brookings report found that poverty is weighing on suburban areas, particularly newer, far-flung settlements. Of the largest 100 U.S. metro areas, Louisville is among 75 where the burden is growing faster outside of cities, according to the nonprofit think-tank based in Washington, D.C., which analyzed the growth of the jobless rate, new unemployment claims and applications for federal food stamp assistance in cities versus suburbs over a one-year span.Researchers considered Jefferson County...

The One campaign is doing a bus tour during the U.S election. The tour's purpose is to raise awareness of the issues of poverty, and to try to put pressure on the candidates to make poverty issues a priority. The tour stop was part of a prize from the One organization. The students of WKU won by collecting more signatures than any other in a petition to be given to both the candidates. Bowling Green Daily News writer Joanie Baker introduces us to one of the bus riders.from the Bowling Green Daily NewsMegan Schweizer took two months off from her job in Louisville to do something for which most people would go to jail.After learning about the One Campaign organization three years ago at the University of Louisville, Schweizer became an active member in spreading the word to politicians on...

from the Lexington Herald Leader The Governor of Kentucky is making moves to get more children health insurance. The office admits that finding the money to do this will be difficult. - KaleBy Sarah VosIn an attempt to get more children covered by health insurance, Gov. Steve Beshear is simplifying the enrollment process and making other changes to the Kentucky Children's Health Insurance Program.His administration estimates the changes could encourage the parents of the 67,000 children who are eligible but not enrolled to participate in the federally sponsored program."To me, it is a moral obligation for Kentucky to provide adequate health care for its children," Beshear said.The changes make economic sense as well, Beshear said in a meeting Tuesday with the Herald-Leader editorial...

from the Lexington Herald LeaderKentucky regressed in some areas in the census bureau stats. - KaleBy Valarie Honeycutt SpearsThe number of Kentuckians living in poverty last year increased only slightly, from 17 percent of the population in 2006 to 17.3 percent in 2007, according to a U.S. Census Bureau report.A much bigger increase was seen in the percentage of people without health insurance, rising from 13 percent in 2004-2005 to 14.6 percent in 2006-2007. Insurance rates are measured over two-year periods.Overall, Kentucky ranks 48th among states in income, compared with 45th in 2006. It is the fifth-highest state in terms of the number of people living in poverty.In reaction to the report, the state's leading child-advocacy group says that families in the state are faring far worse...

from the Des Moines Register The great thing about lending a hand is when your done, you want to do it again. This story profiles 3 girls from Iowa who helped the people of Appalachia. - Kale, Poverty News Blog Editor.By JULI PROBASCO-SOWERSThree Johnston High School students have returned from a trip they say makes them look at life more realistically, appreciate family more and be less materialistic.Haley Johnson, 17, and Kara Highfill, 15, both of Johnston, and Caroline Byrd, 16, of Urbandale just returned from a mission trip to Kentucky.Three crews totaling 12 people from Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Urbandale repaired and improved houses for families through the Appalachian Service Project."I just had such a great experience last time," Byrd said. "I learned so much from...

from The Courier JournalSt. X game makes a serious pointBy Antoinette KonzChase Carraro is a 17-year- old junior at St. Xavier High School, but for a few hours last week, he played the part of a single, unemployed parent struggling to provide for his young child.Other members of his class took on similar roles.Some were low-income workers trying to survive, while others assumed the identitiesy of senior citizens trying to get by on Social Security.It was all part of a simulation aimed at sensitizing students to the harsh realities that low-income families face.St. X officials transformed the gymnasium into a miniature city, complete with a bank, hospital, pawn shop, police station and various human-services agencies."We want to try and help our students better understand the struggle of...

from The Kentucky PostProblem getting worse in N. Ky., report findsBY PEGGY KREIMER | POST STAFF REPORTERIncome levels in Northern Kentucky are going up, but so is poverty. The birth rate among teens is down, but the accidental death rate among children is up.The numbers are part of the annual Kentucky Youth Advocates' Kids Count report that tracks health, safety and economic trends that affect children in the state. The report is being released today, and it holds some surprises.Last year, the report showed the number of low-income children getting dental care was low but improving.This year, that has turned around, with even fewer children getting care, and that problem is nowhere worse in the commonwealth than in Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties.Boone County Human Services Director...

from the Cincinnati PostBy Peggy KreimerPost staff reporterIncome levels in Northern Kentucky are going up, but so is poverty. The birth rate among teens is down, but the accidental death rate among children is up.The numbers are part of the annual Kentucky Youth Advocates' Kids Count report that tracks health, safety and economic trends that affect children in the state. The report is being released today, and it holds some surprises.Last year, the report showed the number of low-income children getting dental care was low but improving.This year, that has turned around, with even fewer children getting care, and that problem is nowhere worse in the commonwealth than in Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties.Boone County Human Services Director Kirk Kavanaugh calls the report a wake-up...

from The Courier JournalConcert, fair planned to raise awarenessBy Christopher HallSpecial to The Courier-JournalSt. James Episcopal is a small church in Pewee Valley that wants to make a big difference around the world.St. James is holding the first annual B.E.A.T. World Poverty Concert and Fair today from 1-7 p.m. to help raise awareness and support for the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, aimed at reducing hunger, disease and poverty. The Episcopal Church worldwide has thrown its support behind the development goals, and St. James wants to do its part.The Rev. Paul Jeanes, rector at St. James, said that after a meeting last year in Scotland with members of two companion churches, he came back to the church energized to do something.One of the companion churches was in...

from The Courier JournalActivists: Spread affordable housingBy Marcus GreenAbout 40 percent of Louisville households headed by single mothers are bunched largely in high poverty areas west and south of downtown, a new report shows.Housing advocates say the study shows the need for more affordable housing throughout the city, including subsidized apartments and public housing. And such housing should be required in every Metro Council district, according to the study released today by the Metropolitan Housing Coalition, a nonprofit agency that supports fair housing issues.The mayor's office stopped short of endorsing mandated affordable housing, instead endorsing incentives to encourage developers to build homes of different price levels.Experts say the importance of blending low-income...