Hunger Issue content : "Hunger, Poverty On The Rise in Chicago Area"

Author: Kristina Betinis
Published: 1 July 2009

Economic deficiencies in Illinois have had an adverse effect on the working class, along with the unemployed, elderly, and disabled. Unemployment continues to rise in Illinois and working people are gradually beginning to plunge into poverty. According to Betinis, "The Heartland Alliance's Illinois report found that poverty was worsening in many areas in the state even before the current economic crisis officially began, rising in 58 of 102 counties. In 2007, nearly 12 percent of Illinois residents, or 1.5 million people, were living in poverty" (Hunger, Poverty on the Rise in Chicago Area, 2009). However, because the Heartland Alliance's report reflects the 2007 census count, before the economic crisis began, it is deemed inaccurate and unreliable. The government's definition of poverty for a family of four in 2009 is living with an income of less than $22,050 and extreme poverty at less than $11,025. Betinis states, "It is estimated that 253,000 more Chicago residents have become poor since 2007, bringing Chicago's impoverished population to 11.3 percent...In 2008 over 10,600 Chicago Public School students were homeless, an increase of 35 percent over five years." (Hunger, Poverty On The Rise In Chicago Area, 2009). The Lakeview Pantry experiencing a 20 percent increase in demand within this year does not compare to the skyrocketing demand for emergency food aid across the city. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that over 9 percent of Illinois families suffer sustenance uncertainty, along with a 14 percent increase in housing and food prices. Suburbs in the Chicago are experiencing a major increase in poverty and hunger as well, and residents are beginning to "move in to the outlying areas around Chicago in search of cheaper rents...or forced out by closures of public housing facilities"(Hunger, Poverty On The Rise In Chicago Area, 2009). Midwest Chicago reports a loss of over 676,000 jobs due to massive layoffs with a poverty rate of 12.3 percent. It is now deemed one of the 20 poorest cities in the United States!