The majority of people with low incomes now live outside of America’s cities, and almost all suburban areas are ill-equipped to deal with the influx of the poor.  Since 2012, suburban poverty levels exceeded those of urban areas: 56% of people living in poverty in major metro areas now live in the suburbs.  Although child poverty is on the rise nationwide, it is growing fastest in the suburbs.

NEST Community Learning Center is working to meet the needs of this growing population that now exists in everyone’s backyard.

“Participation in the (free/reduced) lunch program, often used as an indicator of child poverty, rose dramatically in places where needy kids used to be a rarity (suburbs).”  – Cincinnati Enquirer

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“It is estimated that over 50% of the children that grow up in poverty spend a life time in poverty.”  – National Center for Children in Poverty

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“After some initial progress (with government funded programs that have attempted to help break the cycle of poverty) in the 1960’s,the nation has made surprisingly little progress against poverty.  The nation’s inability to reduce children’s poverty is especially troublesome.” Ron Haskins Co-Director, Center on Children and Families

The challenges to rising out of poverty are many.  Nutrition and Education top the list.

“Education is the brightest hope for breaking the cycle of multi-generational poverty.” – Child Poverty and its Last Consequence, Urban Institute Washington D.C.

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“Nutrition is the foundation of everything. In the attempt to escape poverty, you need the strength to fight through it.” – William Lambers, The Roadmap to Ending Global Hunger.

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“Many suburban areas don’t have the resources that low-income individuals need.” – Cincinnati Enquirer

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“Although our public schools have steadily increased their function in our society by providing social, mental, and physical services (to the poor), it’s not enough.”  -The NEA Higher Education Journal: Poverty and its Impact on Education.

Child poverty is rising locally:

Locally the number of children living in low income homes has doubled in the last ten years.  At present we now have an estimated 900 plus children living in poverty in Loveland. Academically, children living in low income homes in Loveland are less likely to meet state standards for Reading (by almost 19%) and in Math (by almost 24%).  Low income students are almost 12% less likely to graduate.