Perspectives on “ “The Transformation of Hartford The Transformation of Hartford Perspectives on St Century: Local, Regional and through the early 21 St Century: Local, Regional and through the early 21 Global Perspectives” ” Global Perspectives Does Anyone Care about Poverty and Inequality in Hartford? Louise Simmons Louise Simmons Associate Professor of Social Work & Director, Associate Professor of Social Work & Director, Urban Semester Program Urban Semester Program University of Connecticut University of Connecticut February 8, 2008 Trinity College Hartford, Connecticut February 8, 2008 Trinity College Hartford, Connecticut
Current conditions in Hartford: Current conditions in Hartford: High rates of child poverty High rates of child poverty � Indicative of great Indicative of great � social stress social stress • Family Poverty Family Poverty • • Inadequate access Inadequate access • to health care to health care • Problems in Problems in • educational system educational system • Problems in labor Problems in labor • market market • Problems from Problems from • results of welfare results of welfare reform of 1990s reform of 1990s
Regional Inequality & Segregation Regional Inequality & Segregation Source: CERC Hartford’s population is hom e to: - 4 4 % of the African Am erican population in Hartford County -4 9 % of the Hispanic/ Latino population in Hartford County -1 4 % of Hartford County’s population. Hartford’s poverty rate w as 3 0 .6 % in 1 9 9 9 com pared to 9 .3 % in Hartford County
Hartford’ ’s Diversity: s Diversity: Hartford
Labor Market Inequality Labor Market Inequality Hartford area employment statistics: Hartford’s residents have close to twice the unemployment rate of the county and a low share of the area’s labor force. Source : CERC As of December, 2007, Hartford’s Unemployment Rate was 9.3%
Massive Decline in Manufacturing Jobs in Connecticut in Recent Massive Decline in Manufacturing Jobs in Connecticut in Recent Decades Erodes Economic & Social Mobility in Connecticut’ ’s s Decades Erodes Economic & Social Mobility in Connecticut Workforce Workforce
Wages for those in bottom 20% of hourly wage earners in Connecticut cut Wages for those in bottom 20% of hourly wage earners in Connecti have stagnated or declined, while those in the top 20% have risen n have stagnated or declined, while those in the top 20% have rise much more rapidly over recent decades. The result is high wage much more rapidly over recent decades. The result is high wage inequality in Connecticut. This particularly affects cities like Hartford. e Hartford. inequality in Connecticut. This particularly affects cities lik
The percentage of workers earning below The percentage of workers earning below poverty wages in Connecticut has been poverty wages in Connecticut has been growing over the past decade: the past decade: growing over
A State of Contrasts A State of Contrasts � These state These state- - wide trends are most apparent in wide trends are most apparent in � cities, especially Hartford, with the highest cities, especially Hartford, with the highest poverty statistics in Connecticut. poverty statistics in Connecticut. � Yet, Connecticut still has high per capita and Yet, Connecticut still has high per capita and � household income overall despite a poor capitol household income overall despite a poor capitol city: city: • Median Household State Income: $65,859 Median Household State Income: $65,859 • • Median Household Hartford Income: $29,150 Median Household Hartford Income: $29,150 • Source: CERC Town Profile 2008 – Source: CERC Town Profile 2008 – Hartford Hartford � � • Per Capita Income Per Capita Income – – 1999 1999 • Hartford: $13,428 Connecticut: $28,766 Hartford: $13,428 Connecticut: $28,766 Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts
What Contributes to What Contributes to Poverty in Hartford? Poverty in Hartford? � Need to understand sources of migration Need to understand sources of migration � and immigration to Hartford and immigration to Hartford � Who Who’ ’s arriving? s arriving? � � What are conditions in home country or area they are What are conditions in home country or area they are � leaving? leaving? � How did they get here? (resettlement activity, How did they get here? (resettlement activity, � voluntary im im / migration) / migration) voluntary � What are the language issues? Recently the Hartford What are the language issues? Recently the Hartford � School Superintendent told a community meeting School Superintendent told a community meeting that there are 51 language groups in the Hartford that there are 51 language groups in the Hartford Public Schools. Public Schools.
What Contributes to What Contributes to Poverty in Hartford? (continued) Poverty in Hartford? (continued) � What are the labor market conditions that exist in What are the labor market conditions that exist in � Hartford for those in poverty? Hartford for those in poverty? • Where is the growth in the labor market and what are • Where is the growth in the labor market and what are the wages in those sectors? the wages in those sectors? • What can be done so that workers in low wage jobs can • What can be done so that workers in low wage jobs can support families and advance in the workforce? support families and advance in the workforce? • What kinds of education and training programs exist and • What kinds of education and training programs exist and who are they helping? who are they helping? • What is the effect of the policies of public assistance • What is the effect of the policies of public assistance programs since welfare reform of the 1990s? programs since welfare reform of the 1990s? • What kinds of job supports do low wage workers need to • What kinds of job supports do low wage workers need to sustain their families? sustain their families? • How do local and state economic development policies • How do local and state economic development policies help alleviate or exacerbate poverty in Hartford? help alleviate or exacerbate poverty in Hartford?
What Contributes to What Contributes to Poverty in Hartford? (continued) Poverty in Hartford? (continued) � What are the challenges facing the education What are the challenges facing the education � system in Hartford? system in Hartford? • How can successful educational strategies be developed • How can successful educational strategies be developed in the context of No Child Left Behind and the emphasis in the context of No Child Left Behind and the emphasis on testing? on testing? • • How can resources for education be equitably allocated How can resources for education be equitably allocated in the state so that cities receive what they need? in the state so that cities receive what they need? • • How can racial isolation be reduced in the Hartford How can racial isolation be reduced in the Hartford region? region? • What types of supports help Hartford students succeed • What types of supports help Hartford students succeed in school? in school? • What types of higher education opportunities exist for • What types of higher education opportunities exist for Hartford students, given the rising high costs of college Hartford students, given the rising high costs of college education? education?
What Contributes to What Contributes to Poverty in Hartford? (continued) Poverty in Hartford? (continued) • Other areas of concern: Other areas of concern: • � Housing Costs Housing Costs � � Health Care Access, Affordability & Quality Health Care Access, Affordability & Quality � � Transportation to & from employment Transportation to & from employment � centers for all work schedules centers for all work schedules � Child care access & affordability Child care access & affordability � � Incarceration & Re Incarceration & Re- - entry Impacts & Issues entry Impacts & Issues �
Does anyone Does anyone outside of outside of Hartford care? Hartford care?
What are the Sources of Social What are the Sources of Social Change in Hartford? Change in Hartford? � Importance of Social Movements and Importance of Social Movements and � Political Developments of recent times Political Developments of recent times � Need to understand history, impact and Need to understand history, impact and � current status of community organizing current status of community organizing � How do more recently arrived groups How do more recently arrived groups � create institutions for their needs? create institutions for their needs? � Need to have a clear picture of the Need to have a clear picture of the � influence and impact of the corporate influence and impact of the corporate sector on local community sector on local community
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