Blog 1, section 5: City in the Poverty - Boston, Massachusetts

According to the 2010 Mayors report, in Boston, Massachusetts, 34,355,671 pounds of food were distributed to food pantries and emergency kitchens over the last year. The total quantity of food distributed increased by 4% over the last year, the total budget for emergency food assistance this year totaled $11,270,000, and Boston’s overall budget for emergency food purchases decreased by 4% over the last yearAn article on openmediaboston.org called “As Poverty Grows in Boston, Progressive Solutions Are Lacking”, believes poverty is on the rise! Jobs are being cut monthly and “salary increase is trailing inflation, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.” In 2007, "1 in 5 Boston individuals and families continue to live below the federal poverty threshold. Almost twice that many live in economic hardship (defined as 200% of poverty). Almost half of all adults living in poverty worked full or part-time jobs in 2007." Boston has continuously experiences racial and gender gaps in income and poverty and “Residents of Latino, Asian and African-American heritage are much more likely to live in poverty than White residents."
The article also states that “the local middle class (and working class) in Boston is fading, leaving a small number of upper class households on top of the local income distribution and a growing number of poor households on the bottom. Most of Boston's lowest-wage industries are growing faster than high-wage industries, so miserable service economy jobs continue to replace solid jobs further up the employment food chain.”

According to the Economic Statistics for Boston, Massachusetts:

Families                                  116,657

Less than $10,000                   12,602     10.8%

$10,000 to $14,999                  7,118        6.1%

$15,000 to $24,999                  13,348    11.4%

Families                                  17,892 

Percent below poverty level        (X)        15.3%

With related children                13,811       (X)

under 18 years

Percent below poverty level        (X)         22.2%

With related children                 6,534        (X)

under 5 years

Percent below poverty level        (X)          24.5%