Towards a Poverty-Free Chattanooga

Poverty. Income inequality. Racial disparities. The challenges and social injustices that too many Chattanoogans face are staggering.
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• A New York Times article on America’s growing poor and low-­income populations featured Chattanooga as a highlight of disturbing new trends. The article found that 27 percent of the city’s residents live below the poverty line, nearly double the national average. Out of that number, “women head two­-thirds of the city’s poor households and 42 percent of its children are poor, nearly double the rate statewide”.

• Chattanooga ranks 12th in the nation for economic inequality out of the top 100 markets for the ratio of lower ­income households to high ­income households. For every one household earning $200,000 or more, there are 20 earning less than $50,000.

• Chattanooga's economic disparities are felt disproportionately by its marginalized populations. Black households make an average of $26,787 per year, while for whites it's $51,548. Sixty-percent of Black children live in poverty, compared to 16.5% of white children.

To raise awareness and generate solutions about the critical need to combat and reduce poverty in the Chattanooga area, Chattanooga Organized for Action is launching a new campaign called Poverty-Free Chattanooga. Following the model of other U.S. cities with successful poverty reduction initiatives, such as Traverse City, Michigan, and Savannah, GA, the purpose of Poverty-Free Chattanooga is to make poverty reduction and elimination a key public policy priority in the city of Chattanooga.

Creating and Demanding Anti-Poverty Policies

What can our city do to reduce poverty? What solutions have other cities implemented?

We need YOU to get involved!

One of the key components of Poverty-Free Chattanooga will be the coordination of a Poverty Reduction Task Force. The Poverty Reduction Task Force will be a group of individuals representing numerous and diverse communities, non­profits, and public and private sector entities tasked with developing progressive policies and initiatives that local and state governments, non­profits and the private sector can follow to reduce poverty rates within Chattanooga.

Poverty-Free Chattanooga will be hosting the Poverty-Free Chattanooga Kickoff to get things started, and you’re invited to join us!

What:
Poverty-Free Chattanooga Kick-off Event *lunch provided*

When:
Monday, July 7th, 2014
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Where:
Development Resource Center
1250 Market Street, Suite 2000
Chattanooga, TN 37402
[MAP]

Contact:
To learn more about Poverty-Free Chattanooga and how to participate in the Task Force, please contact Perrin Lance at 423-653-2393 or at [email protected]

Visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/povertyfreechatt.
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In addition, PFC will be hosting additional planning meetings as well as community awareness and poverty simulations workshops throughout the summer.

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