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Approaches to Reducing Concentrated Poverty

Huffington Post
This article is deemed a must-read by one or more of our expert collaborators.
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High Poverty Neighborhoods: Approaches To Reducing Concentrated Poverty-giving compass
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Giving Compass’ Take:

• What is the best approach to alleviate high-poverty areas? Willa Seldon and Debby Bielak suggest philanthropists should invest in those communities or a nonprofit should serve as an expertise hub.

• The author suggests that the nonprofit hub can provide knowledge on housing mobility programs and can obtain grants that would invest in these programs. Is this route the most effective for addressing high concentrated areas of poverty?

•  Read about initiatives that promote community support and connection as solutions.


The Pew Charitable Trusts’ Pursuing the American Dream report asserts that 70 percent of children born to parents in the bottom 40 percent of incomes remain at the bottom of the economic ladder—no matter how hard they try to climb it. Many of the people who are trapped in the economy’s basement live in areas where poverty is concentrated. Discriminatory housing policies, dilapidated housing, substandard schools, limited job opportunities, and chronic crime all conspire to keep people right where they are.

When talking about the role that geography plays in keeping people at the bottom of the income ladder, it’s worth noting the stark disparities of race. Fifty percent of African Americans live in neighborhoods where poverty is concentrated—compared with 44 percent of Hispanics and 20 percent of whites.

Tackling a challenge of this scope requires patient capital.  This may be the time for philanthropists, who are willing to accept the risk, to capitalize on newfound momentum, as well as promising models for change.

For decades, the social sector has debated whether the best way to reduce concentrated poverty is to transform high-poverty communities or to help people move to communities with more opportunity. Now, we know it’s not an “either/or” choice. The challenge is so complex, it makes sense to pursue both strategies simultaneously.

A starting point would be to invest in creating a national nonprofit to serve as a hub for expertise on housing-mobility programs. This entity could provide technical assistance and seed grants to regional programs, as well as create a consistent set of quality standards for housing-mobility programs. Investors could also develop regional mobility programs in as many as 20 to 25 targeted regions, providing many more families with the chance to move to higher-opportunity neighborhoods.

Read the full article about high poverty neighborhoods by Willa Seldon and Debby Bielak at The Huffington Post. 

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Poverty is a complex topic, and others found these selections from the Impact Giving archive from Giving Compass to be good resources.

  • This article is deemed a must-read by one or more of our expert collaborators.
    Click here for more.
    How Can Innovation Lead to Action?

    Giving Compass' Take: • Generocity reports on the Center for High Impact Philanthropy's Social Innovation Prize pitch competition, in which students from the University of Pennsylvania presented projects that would put ideas into practical use. • Could these projects — which address food deserts, incarceration and youth unemployment — lead to inspiration outside the bounds of the competition? What can we learn from the methods that the teams used in formulating their plans? • Speaking of competitions, here are some innovative ideas in the field of clean energy that won an award. “How do we solve the most pressing issues that are impacting our communities?” Katherina Rosqueta, the founding executive director of the Center for High Impact Philanthropy (CHIP), asked this question at the inaugural Franklin SP2 Social Innovation Prize pitch competition. Throughout the event, a few overarching themes arose from students, panelists and event organizers. The following are two crucial ways to ensure that social innovation leads to concrete action:  Build upon past research and established resources. Collaborate with and listen to those directly affected by the issues. According to Shmavonian, social innovation is 'a clear statement of a societal problem that leads to a focused solution and that builds in a new or adaptive approach to serve the public good.' Read the full article about how innovation leads to action by Melissa Skolnick at Generocity.


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Poverty is an important topic. Other members found these Giving Funds, Charitable Organizations and Projects aggregated by Giving Compass to be relevant to individuals with a passion for Poverty.

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