WWMT 3 Report: Shocking levels of poverty in Kalamazoo County

Last week, Poverty Reduction Initiative Director Jeff Brown interviewed with Channel 3 about the rising poverty levels in Kalamazoo. Watch the story here: http://www.wwmt.com/articles/county-1383511-kalamazoo-mich.html

Story transcript:

With the unemployment rate in Michigan sitting at 13 percent, we know people are suffering, but numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau show the poverty level in Kalamazoo County is shocking.

Jasmine Conley and her two children are staying at the women's shelter in Kalamazoo, trying to find a job and a place to call home. Conley is definitely not alone, according to numbers recently released by the U.S. Census Bureau, Kalamazoo County ranks fourth in Michigan for the number of families living in poverty.

93 percent of single moms are also finding it hard to make ends meet. In the City of Kalamazoo, 75 percent of black children under the age of five are living in poverty.

“It's hard when you're pregnant, cause nobody wants to hire you,” said Conley. “I put in over 20 applications and I still haven't gone in on any of them.”

The Poverty Reduction Initiative believes a downturn in manufacturing and a large increase in unemployment for people who have less than a college degree are to blame, and the ones most affected are the kids.

“Kids, by and large, that grow up struggling in poverty are the ones that struggle through life,' said Jeff Brown of the Poverty Reduction Initiative, “and their kids struggle as well.”

Stores like Rescued Treasures in Kalamazoo help people get by on smaller budget, and the money raised goes back to helping low-income families. Experts say such families need more education and jobs accessible to them, not miles away from poor neighborhoods.

For Conley, she says she's using her surroundings as motivation.

“I just look at them and see how hard it is, which pushes me more to get out of here,” said Conley. “It's sad seeing everybody in here.”

For those who need extra help, there's a program called Project Connect. On November 17th it's hosting an event at the Kalamazoo County Expo Center and Fairgrounds. From 1:00 to 6:00 pm 75 different agencies will be on hand to offer some 50 different services.

Read the full article: http://www.wwmt.com/articles/county-1383511-kalamazoo-mich.html