Reduced Poverty and Greater Equality of Opportunity

Definition: Includes the fair distribution of resources, creating opportunities to overcome poverty, and social and economic inequality.

What the community said:

• "The economic disparity between rich and poor should be reduced. This requires revitalizing the spirit of helping to insure all people have their basic needs met."
• "Provide job opportunities and training to help reduce poverty."
• "Help families that need to help themselves reach a goal."
• "We are splitting into two societies - one affluent, one poor. Key to many of our problems is poverty."
• "Establish links between job training programs, homeless shelters, and employers so that homeless families can increase chances for livelihood and stability."
• "Fair housing needs to be an explicit goal. Housing development needs to be diverse."

City Department/Office Support for this Goal:

• Equal Opportunity – conducting investigations of complaints of discrimination, offering training to local businesses which supports the implementation of equal opportunity in employment, housing, and public accommodation
• Public Defender – representing indigent persons charged with crimes in City Court to ensure they receive equal justice and have their rights protected
• City Attorney – providing consumer information and education in retail sales, assisting homeowners in avoiding financial damage, and assisting low-income tenants in resisting wrongful evictions
• Procurement – supporting the city's Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprise Program through goals for construction services and preferences to eligible firms and participating in outreach and training programs
• Community Services – administering programs that develop affordable housing and provide public housing, and linking to other social service agencies to encourage residents to become self-reliant
• Library – making information available to all, including homebound individuals, and placing public access personal computers in libraries serving low-income neighborhoods

Key Indicators of Progress:

1. Homeownership rates The percentage of residences that are owner occupied compared to the total number of residences indicates how well families are doing financially and the degree to which opportunities for homeownership are available to all. An increase in homeownership rates would indicate that poverty rates are declining, would helps to increase investment and pride in neighborhoods, and help to improve lower income areas of the City.



Source: US Census Bureau

2. Income needed to support basic needs This measure of income looks at the percentage of Tucson families that have incomes above an amount that it takes to adequately meet basic needs. This is a straightforward measure of the ability of families to support themselves. Economic data can be used to measure this indicator.

Staff has preliminary data and is researching collection and analytical methods

Source: State Department of Economic Security data on Basic Needs and The University of Arizona College of Business

3. Per capita charitable giving The amount of money that people contribute to charities in the community reflects how well people are doing financially and indicates the degree to which our community is investing in social and other services to help those in poverty. This can be measured by asking people in a survey how much they contribute to charity, and by surveying major nonprofit organizations to ask about donations received.

The United Way of Greater Tucson reports that its 1998 Campaign generated total revenues of $13,343,605, or about $16.20 per person. This compares favorably with national contributions levels under $13 per person.

Source: United Way Campaign figures, divided by total County population.

What YOU Can Do

• Educate yourself about discrimination problems
• Take advantage of opportunities to better yourself and your situation
• Support community-based organizations that provide education, training, and neighborhood development

Featured Project for this goal indicator.