Rising Suburban Poverty Poses New Challenges

A new report from the Brookings Institution finds that demand is up significantly for the typical suburban social services provider, and almost three-quarters of suburban providers are seeing more clients with no previous connection to safety net programs. Needs have changed as well, with nearly 80% of suburban providers seeing families with food needs more often than one year prior, and nearly 60% reporting more frequent requests for help with mortgage or rent payments.

At the same time, almost half of suburban providers reported a loss in a key revenue source last year, with more funding cuts anticipated in the year to come. Due in large part to this bleak fiscal situation, more than one in five suburban providers has reduced services available since the start of the recession and one in seven has actively cut caseloads.

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