Duluth poverty rates soar due to depressed economy
By CARISSA MIKKELSEN
DCN Reporter
Rene Thatcher, a 50-year-old Duluth woman currently living in an emergency drop-in shelter for the homeless, knows the hardships of poverty; she lives it each day.
Thatcher, like many people in Duluth, has struggled with the lack of affordable housing and Health care, which has led her to seek help from Churches United in Ministry’s (CHUM) drop-in shelter.
According to the United Way of Greater Duluth 2007 Community Impact Report, Duluth’s poverty rate is nearly twice that of the rest of the state.
CHUM’s executive director Jim Soderberg and Erik Torch, Damiano Center executive director, point out that poverty and homelessness in Duluth are related to a depressed economy as the cost of living has outpaced wage growth.
“The problem here is probably only 20 years old,� said Torch. “The [Damiano]center was started in response to an economic recession in the 1980’s when $9 million was cut from food stamps, welfare and other assistance, and minimum wage just hasn’t kept up with inflation.�
Soderberg also points out, “Homelessness is related to systemic issues, mostly the lack of affordable housing. Our primary task here is to help people find somewhere to live, but since general assistance hasn’t gone up for the last 10 years, it won’t pay the rent.�
While finding affordable housing is an issue, so is the lack of jobs in the Northland.
“There is a misperception that a lot of people don’t want to work, that they’re lazy, but I’ve found that that’s not the case,� said Soderberg.
Thatcher and Kathy Stanley, both current residents at CHUM’s drop-in shelter, are just two examples.
“It’s hard to find any work around here,� said Stanley. “Believe me, I’m trying.�
“I want to work. I did work,� adds Thatcher. “This is a struggle. People are ignorant. You can’t just assume people choose this.�
Torch and Soderberg agree that the larger issues of affordable housing and the job market need to be addressed by the city, state and on a national level.
“What really needs to happen can’t just be solved at the local level,� said Torch. “People need to have jobs that have housing wages. Housing is the most stabilizing force in a person’s life, do that, and everything else will fall into place.�
Soderberg, however, feels that more initiative and resources from the community will help to change poverty.
“Federal funding is not so good, the state is little better, it’s going to take changes, even sacrifices from people with means,� said Soderberg. “But, I feel that we’ve lost our sense of the common good.�
Joyce Neeb, who was left homeless three months ago due to a house fire, feels as though she has been swept under the rug by the community.
“The more you ask for help, the more people don’t want to hear it,� said Neeb.
As Thatcher points out, “No one wants to be here, there’s just nowhere to go. I truly believe that if just one random act of kindness was done each day things would get better.�
Comments
This is very humbling, it definately makes the public realize how much homelessness is a problem and understand the dynamics of why people are homeless.
Posted by: Mckenzie Kintop | February 25, 2008 5:50 PM
The truthfulness in this article really allows one to acknowledge the problems going on in our city. Nicely written, and to the point.
Posted by: Rikki Berchild | February 25, 2008 5:51 PM