Blog #8

Urban poverty includes joblessness, decrease in real estate and an increase in abandonment, and loss of legitimate enterprise. More males are in jail which mean more women need to work and provide for their children and are often forced to use welfare resources. The school systems in areas of urban poverty are very poor and do not offer high levels of education. The consequences of urban poverty include violence, self-medication through drug use, increased isolation and dim hope. These consequences strongly affect single mothers because it seems as if it is simply impossible for them to rise out of their economic situations. They lack the resources, support, and education that it takes to actually better their lives. The children of these mother’s are negatively affected by the lack of a positive male role model in their lives and often mother’s experience worries that their children are going to become pregnant, violent, or drug users. In chapter four of “Putting Children First”, Traci experienced the absence of her children’s father when he was incarcerated twice for drug related charges. Traci actually thanks God that he did sell drugs because she says that if he had not, her family would likely not have survived without the drug money income. However, she does not want him to get involved with drugs again because she use to worry about the safety of her family. Traci wishes that her children will not live the same life that she has had to. Traci expresses guilt that she wishes she would have gotten married before having kids or gone to college.

Poor women living in mixed income neighborhoods face less concerns than those living in urban poverty. The crime rate in a mixed income neighborhood is likely going to be less and the school systems better. In a mixed income neighborhood, characteristics suck as drug use and violence are going to be less prevalent.