Cityscape

Poverty level in Detroit drops for a third straight year

September 26, 2019, 7:59 AM

New data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that poverty levels are dropping and median income is up, continuing a trend from 2015. 

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Poor housing stock still is a problem in Detroit. (File photo)

WWJ reports:

The U.S Census Bureau report on poverty level in Detroit:

•    2015 - 39.8%
•    2016 - 35.7%
•    2017 - 34.5%
•    2018 - 33.4%

The report also showed that the total number of Detroiters living below the poverty level decreased from 265,000 in 2015 to 220,000 in 2018, reflecting 45,000 residents moving out of poverty in that time.

From 2015 to 2018, median household income across the state of Michigan grew by 11%. During this same period, Detroit median household income grew by 20.4%:

•    2015 - $25,980
•    2016 - $28,666
•    2017 - $30,344
•    2018 - $31,283

The improvement is linked to "retooled city employment strategies to focus on in-demand job sectors," according to Nicole Sherard-Freeman, executive director of Workforce Development for the city.


Read more:  WWJ


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