The Neighborhood ~ Community Board 7
Bronx County, NY has one of the lowest median family incomes in the nation. In 2003, more household and family incomes were in the bracket of “under $10,000” than in any other bracket. According to a 2004 report by the Women's Center for Education and Career Advancement, a parent with two children in the Bronx needed to earn $49,874, to get by without government or private aid in 2004. The distribution of emergency meals in the Bronx was up by 208,694 in 2004 from 2003. Almost 29,000 residents of Community Board 7 receive food stamps and 16,000 receive Public Assistance (August, 2004). According to Housing & Urban Development, efficiency apartments begin at $893.00; also, according to HUD, the Free Market Rent value for a one bedroom apartment is $915.00; a two bedroom in Bronx County is $1,075.00 and that, then, increases to $1,322.00 for a three bedroom. According to the US census bureau, in 2002 (data released in 2004), there were 144, 973 children aged 0 to 17 who lived in poverty. Including all ages in Bronx County, 356, 885 people live in poverty. Likewise 34.3% of single mothers are below the poverty line. When ranking poverty populations by all ages in each borough, the Bronx comes in at number 2. In comparison to 2001 rates, poverty amongst all age levels in the Bronx rose by 7, 594, up from 349, 291. When focusing on minors’ age 0-17, the number rose by 465, up from 141, 508. In ALL of New York State, 21.2% of the population and 18.5% of families are below the poverty line, of whom 30.0% are under the age of 18 and 17.8% are 65 and older. www.census.gov/Press-Release/ www/2004/IncPov04slides2.pdf U.S. Census Bureau 2003 Data Profile Bronx Borough “New Yorkers Go Hungry” by U.S. Representative Anthony D. Weiner HUD User. 2005. http://www.huduser.org/datasets/fmr/fmrs/histsummary.odb?INPUTNAME=5600.0*Bronx+County&county_select=yes&statename=New+York&statefp=36.0 Poverty In NYC. 2005. http://www.dickinson.edu/~merrillo/suburbnyc.htm. New York City. 2005. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City
POTS provides services for persons transitioning from the streets to permanent housing, as well as programs to prevent homelessness. And of those who are homeless, 160,344 are under the age of 18. The number of homeless people in Community Board 7 of the Bronx ranges from 500 to 999, double the amount of homeless people in Community Board 8. York City Department of Homeless Services’ Critical Activities Report http://www.nyc.gov/html/endinghomelessness/downloads/pdf/bronx.pdf
In the Bronx, unemployment rates have decreased from 43.5% to 35.5% since May ’04 to May ’05… a ten percent decrease in one fiscal year. Currently, rates have dropped from 7.9% in Feb. 2004 to 6.5% in Feb. 2005. In one year 20,000 residents have found employment. 26% of POTS’ Pantry Service Guests are currently employed (March 2004) and approximately 25% of Dining Room Guests report an income from working. NY State minimum wage is currently $6.75 per hour. Overall the NY State unemployment rate has decreased from 5.5% in May 2004 to 4.8% in May 2005. NYS Employment: Employment & Unemployment Rates. 2005. http://www.cdrpc.org/Employment/EMPTable.html State of the Borough Address by Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion, Jr., 2/03/05 Characteristics of Minimum Wage Workers: 2004. http://www.bls.gov/cps/minwage2004tbls.htm#3
In the Bronx, diesel pollution is three times higher than the national average; diesel soot has caused more than 200 premature deaths and more than 4,700 asthma cases. The President of the Borough has set aside $2.1 million for improving the environment. 567,735 persons are enrolled in public health insurance. In the POTS neighborhood, health is below average in areas of general health, infectious diseases (Pneumonia, influenza, HIV/AIDS), and below average in access to medical care. POTS offers free medical services to those who are homeless, under-insured, or working without medical coverage.
Clean Air Task Force study, 2/22/05 “My Neighborhood Statistics” nyc.gov RESIDENCE: 2763 Webster Avenue, Bronx Community Health Profiles: Fordham and Bronx Park. http://nyc.gov/html/doh/pdf/data/2003nhp-bronxb.pdf In three years, the overall crime in the Bronx has decreased 32% with murder down by 77%. POTS sits in the NYPD 52nd Precinct. As an identified “Impact Zone” by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, POTS’ neighborhood is benefiting by an infusion of new police officers. According to Steve Bussell, Community Council President, “The worst crime areas are getting the most attention.” In the Precinct, overall crime decreased 2.71 percent from 2003-3004. Across the board, in murder, rape, robbery, felonious assault, grand larceny, and grand larceny auto, crimes have decreased over a 10-year period.. "In 2004, Shootings Down Sharply in 52nd Precinct .“ Norwood News. January 2005 Police Department City of New York, 52nd Precinct. http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/pdf/chfdept/cs052pct.pdf February 2005
The number of certified teachers in our schools is currently at 99%. Today, 29% of 3rd through 8th graders are meeting or exceeding standards in English and 33.6% in Math. 55% of elementary/middle school children attend schools that exceed capacity as opposed to the citywide average of 32%7. Evander Childs High School remains on the Top Ten List of Most Dangerous Schools in New York City. The New York Times’ Elissa Gootman reports on April 16, 2004 that Mayor Michael Bloomberg added two more Bronx High Schools, Theodore Roosevelt and Walton, to the “impact” list requiring extra police officers and safety agents. POTS serves families in all three of these high schools |
POVERTY
