Poverty in Main South

For a long time, I have maintained, and cited, the fact that the engine driving homelessness in Worcester and the region is poverty. Check out the astonishing poverty rates in the Main South area of District 4. Appalling, and a clarion call that the focus needs to be on a new "war on poverty," rather than bashing the agencies that struggle to cope with the unbelievable rates of poverty.

Poverty Rate according to the United States Census
Census Tract # 7312.01- Percent below Poverty level
345 Total families in census tract
23.3% of the 345 families
276 out of 345 have related children under 18 years old
28.8% of the 276 families
115 out of the 345 have related children under 5 years old
27.1% of the 115 families

Families without a husband present:
221 Total families in this census tract with a female householder and no husband present
46.7% of the 221 families
203 out of the 221 families have related children under 18 years old
52.9% of the 203 families
73 out of the 221 families have related children under 5 years old
46.5% of the 73 families

CENSUS TRACT #7313
Percent below Poverty level
753 Total families living in this census tract
38.6% of the 753
518 out of the 753 families have related children under 18 years old
46.5% of the 518 families
260 out of the 753 families have related children under 5 years old
60.4% of the 260 families

Families without a husband present:
Percent below Poverty level
283 Total families with a female householder and not husband present
53.7% of the 283 families
246 out of the 283 families have related children under 18 years old
59.8% of the 249 families
117 out of the 283 families have related children under 5 years old
71.8% of 117 families

These numbers are dreadful, and I will update them as I can. WE CAN DO BETTER, and we must focus on this problem. Can you imagine, that in one census track, 71.8% of families with children under 5, with single moms are mired in poverty? What does this say about our priorities as a district? What does it say about the great thrust of the Democratic party of the past - where is it? The Dems used to always stand up for the poor, it was the trademark of FDR onwards. I worry that we are losing that, and that this district in particular lacks proper, and fierce, representation for the poor.
Lynne Simonds for District Four