our neighborhoods

the facts

  • Children growing up in high-poverty neighborhoods are at higher risk of health problems, teen pregnancy, dropping out of school, and other social and economic problems compared with children living in more-affluent communities.
  • Parents living in poverty are less likely to engage in educational activities at home and are less likely to be involved in their children’s schools.
  • Neighborhoods with the most crime tend to be those with the highest rates of poverty and other types of disadvantages.

    • Neighborhoods are where we find many of the opportunities that shape our lives – specially the lives of young people. Too often neighborhoods with high poverty are deficient in the opportunities that can produce positive social, economic, educational and health outcomes for their residents. Such outcomes not only directly impact the people of those neighborhoods, but also the entire District.

    High-poverty neighborhoods are typically defined by extreme levels of racial and economic segregation. These neighborhoods often lack such resources as high performing schools, grocery stores, banks, parks and safe places to play, and adequate public transportation. These community factors put families at higher risk for a range of negative outcomes—poor employment opportunities, academic achievement, physical and mental health, amongst other things.

    When we reduce poverty, we will see neighborhoods that are stronger and safer than ever before.

    Poverty Impacts Us All.

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