Suburban Utah sees huge spike in poverty

A new book released yesterday shows that between 2000 and 2011, the rise in suburban poverty rose 64 percent, more than twice the growth rate of poverty in cities.

By 2011, almost 16.4 million suburban residents nationwide lived below the federal poverty level — now surpassing the number of impoverished city dwellers by 3 million, according to Confronting Suburban Poverty in America, written by Elizabeth Kneebone and Alan Berube of the Brookings Institution Metropolitan Program.

Surprisingly, the suburban areas of three Utah cities ranked among the book’s top 15 in terms of fastest-growing poverty: Salt Lake City came in third with a 142 percent jump, the Provo-Orem area ranked eighth with a 129 percent increase and Ogden-Clearfield came in 14th with a bump of 105 percent.

Berube and Kneebone see this rapid growth in suburban poverty as more than a temporary change caused by the recent recession. They attribute the rise to shifts in jobs and wages, population growth and immigration, collapse of the housing market and the foreclosure crisis. Salt Lake Tribune

Fighting poverty and hunger in Utah County

The Volunteer and Service-Learning Center’s annual Hunger Banquet, held in February, will educate university students and community members on local, national and global poverty.

According to the 2010 Census, 11.4 percent of Utah’s population lives below the poverty line. Utah County was at 12.8 percent, putting it in the top 10 most impoverished counties in the state. The continued flailing economy has only increased the percentage over the last three years to a calculated 13.5 percent in Utah County alone.

Utah has one of the highest percentages of children living in high-poverty areas in the United States. Since 2000 it has grown 80 percent in comparison to the 25 percent increase in the country. The Hunger Banquet will provide insight not only into the problem of poverty, but to the solutions available.

In the past the banquet has drawn around 200 participants, who were randomly assigned an economic status upon arrival. That status would then determine their meal experience.

The upper class would be served a four-course meal on fine linen with silverware to match the dining experience of the financial elite. The participants assigned to the middle class were served pizza and soda to mimic the diet of an average middle-income family. Those assigned the lowest class were asked to eat rice and beans on the floor. The percentage of high, middle and lower class tickets reflect the percentages of those socioeconomic classes in the United States.

The Hunger Banquet will be held Feb. 21 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom. Tickets will be available in early February. UVU Review

Utah company gives power to third world cities while empowering individuals

On Monday, a Utah company was considered by 'Outside Magazine' to be one of the best places to work in America. It's a Company that has roots in Africa.

Robert Workman traveled halfway around the world to help others, and during his travels he found a multi-million dollar idea.

Workman started his business career at Provo Craft. He turned his father's business from a small retail store into an international distributor.

He got the idea when he was traveling in Africa. That is when Workman started 'Goal Zero,' a company that produces power sources charged by the sun. The company engineered solar panels and provided electricity to light up an entire village of 50 homes in Africa.

Goal Zero's message of empowering individuals earned the company the spot on Outside Magazine's annual ranking of the Best Places to Work list.

In the past three years, sales have grown exponentially for Goal Zero, and in a year the company will have outgrown their brand new facilities. KSL

Community leaders participate in poverty simulation

Many stories of hardship and unfortunate events, were simulated Thursday afternoon by local leaders and activists to help give them a perspective of what Utah County families are facing as they go through life. "It is really valuable to have that taste," Provo Mayor John Curtis said. "To taste it in a small way I think is important."

Curtis was joined by business leaders, county commissioners, state lawmakers and those in the community who might be in a position to help those in need in a simulation put on by Community Action Services and Food Bank. The group was divided into different families; the families faced a month's worth of ups and downs that a family near the federal poverty line and lives in Utah County might face.

They had to go to work, deal with robberies, pawn items to make the mortgage or pay the rent. They had life experiences come to pass as babies were born or grandparents moved in. They had options to go to the government for help but could face some of the challenges that come with dealing with the government. Daily Herald