Research Paper on Urban Poverty  Issues in Urban and Suburban
Communities Strategies to reduce urban poverty in the US
Economic growth in Western societies is often accompanied by
enlarging socioeconomic gaps. Immigration, fast urbanization and
bad urban planning (e.g., rental housing projects) have led to
increase of the amount of Americans and Canadians who live in
relative poverty. The hazards of this phenomenon are many; boost
in crime and drug abuse, non-supportive environment for children
and adolescents and unhealthy lifestyle are just few of what
some would define as a time bomb that may undermine the
achievements of Western economies.  Nevertheless, poverty is not
necessarily a chronic disease. Policymakers are concerned with
the issue and launch treatment programs on both the federal and
local level. Turner and Rawlings (2005) review some findings
regarding the effectiveness and efficiency of three such
projects. Examining the empirical outcomes of these projects
gives us better understanding of th