How Poor are the People in New Orleans???

[chrisnnavarre]

Rescue 'ticket'

"I am stunned by an interview I conducted with New Orleans Detective Lawrence Dupree. He told me they were trying to rescue people with a helicopter and the people were so poor they were afraid it would cost too much to get a ride and they had no money for a "ticket." Dupree was shaken telling us the story. He just couldn't believe these people were afraid they'd be charged for a rescue."


http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/05/scene.blog/index.html

[gtalum]

Something like a third of the people in New Orleans live below the poverty line.

[Houstonia]

Something like a third of the people in New Orleans live below the poverty line.

I found these statistics at the following website (there's an extensive graph at the website): http://www.prb.org/Template.cfm?Section=PRB&template=/Content/ContentGroups/05_Articles/An_Income_Gap_in_Two_Counties_Hit_by_Hurricane_Katrina.htm

An Income Gap in Two Counties Hit by Hurricane Katrina
by Sandra Yin and Mary Mederios Kent

(September 2005) When Hurricane Katrina pounded her way through the Gulf Coast, Orleans Parish, La., and Harrison County, Miss., were among the areas hardest hit.1 The counties, which are home to New Orleans and Biloxi, Miss., respectively, also share other traits. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau show that with median household incomes of about $31,000, they lag the national average of $44,684 by 44 percent. While the population in Orleans Parish is two-thirds African American and that in Harrison County close to three-quarters white, a comparison of poverty rates by race is revealing. In both places, black people or African Americans are about three times more likely than white people to live in poverty.2

I'm still looking for some other statistics...

[Mattie]

An excerpt from a post from another thread. You just can't imagine how poor Americans can be until you see it. Google an economic site on the internet for statics for the people who live in New Orleans proper.
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Those that have not been/lived/worked in the areas that evacuated to the superdome/convention center cannot even possibly imagine how well the people from those areas have it now. Big screen tvs, daycare center on site, Moms and Dads are free to leave their kids "to take care of business", meals are provided, clothes, just for the asking.

AND IT SHOULD BE THAT WAY!!! They deserve all the respect, support and material things that they need to get back on track and find a new life.

I've been to the shelters and there is a common echo - this is too nice. We are so lucky. For people to not have their homes and communities it is indeed a tragedy. Yes - the kids lost their friends, many many emotional scars for all will abound once things get to "normal".

Our area is so glad to assist! We have and continue to have the ability to provide for these unfortunate people.

These people are poor, but right now these people are doing great. A step above what some had - free FEMA cards, people handing them cash outside of the shelter, offers of employment and/or leads for them to become productive citizens in a new area. They have an opportunity to move up from the lower poor area in New Orleans that is not maintained very well and can definitely take a step forward due to the support, concern and caring of those communities that have readily adopted them.

It's not a political/class/racist/or anthing else but a situational thing. These people were in the very "poor" area of New Orleans. Living on food stamps and many on pension checks for their total income. Right now, they are sleeping next to a stranger in a shelter, and the potential for illnesses and the like are great. Again, no particular picnic, but it is bearable for these guys for a while - and some who said they would never want to leave the shelters.

[Houstonia]

An excerpt from a post from another thread. You just can't imagine how poor Americans can be until you see it. Google an economic site on the internet for statics for the people who live in New Orleans proper.
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It's not a political/class/racist/or anthing else but a situational thing. These people were in the very "poor" area of New Orleans. Living on food stamps and many on pension checks for their total income. Right now, they are sleeping next to a stranger in a shelter, and the potential for illnesses and the like are great. Again, no particular picnic, but it is bearable for these guys for a while - and some who said they would never want to leave the shelters.

I have varying opinions on it. I'm so glad that Texas is helping out - some of these people lived in horrible conditions before the hurricane hit. But having lived there their whole lives, what else did they know? I just found a 2000 statistic that shows that as of 2000, 50.72 of the people in New Orleans had a high school diploma or less. Some of these people have never even left N.O.

I think that in a lot of these cases, these people have more opportunity then they've ever had in their lives. They have food, shelter, and people willing to help them get on their feet. There's opportunity for job training, there are many jobs, both permanent and temporary, available. People who previously lived in horrible poverty can finally get themselves out of it. How great is that!!

I've seen pictures of the poor areas of New Orleans - I suspect that some who stayed have been without power and water before - that's why it didn't bother them not to have it for a week.

But - I also worry about those who still just don't have the energy or motivation or capability to get out of their living situations back in N.O. What's going to happen to them when the relief stops? What will they do? Where will they wind up? They may be in a shelter in Utah or California or something where they may not even have family support - they will be in unfamiliar territory.

So, it concerns me either way.

[Mattie]

I agree Hustonia, very much so. But right now, it's compassion, feeding, clothing etc. that they can't do for themselves. Our shelters are looking at being available until December. That's still a LOT of people that are going to have to work fast, make plans, etc.

Now bearing in mind the statistics you read, I'm guessing that probably 1/4 - 1/2 will actually be on their feet and out of shelters if they can. Those that cannot, what will they do??

Like you said - so many have never left New Orleans - they've never hunted for a place to live, never had to get situated in a new town. They were living in houses that probably their parents lived in, and possibly grandparents before them. Riding a bus? yea - New Orleans had a bus system, but they couldn't even afford to ride the bus. Someone posted earlier they were afraid they would be charged for being rescued even.

They need to start working with Job Corps or State Agencies and begin educating these people and providing them with direction. Start letting them know that the potential for going back to New Orleans will be slim or at least quite a while in coming. Some of the elderly still believe that they will be going home soon. And what will we do for those that are unable to work, are separated from the caretakers, their families and neighbors that may have been caretakers in the past? I am not well enough acquainted with county aid to find out where elderly can go for housing if they have no one. Many of these people will - in fact - have no one now. God bless these people because they are truly at the county/parish mercy for support, food, medicine, health care. Who takes there of those not able to care for themselves?

Their past mode of living (pension checks and food stamps - and they probably had no mortgage) are not going to sustain them here in the Dallas area. I can't even imagine how hard it will be for these people.