Posted by: Richie Bernardo

Hunger, poverty and homelessness affect every nation — even the richest and most powerful.

According to Feeding America, food insecurity plagues every U.S. county, with more than 41 million individuals lacking access to adequate food. More than 40 million, or 12.7 percent of the population, live in poverty. And in the absence of more affordable housing or accommodations provided by relatives or friends, many must take to the streets or shelters. A report published by the National Alliance to End Homelessness shows that nearly 565,000 people — many of them children — had been homeless at one point in January 2015.

On the heels of our report on the most charitable states, WalletHub compared the more than 180 U.S. cities based on 25 key indicators of economic disadvantage, such as child poverty, food insecurity and uninsured rates. Read on for our findings, additional insight from our panel of experts and a full description of our methodology.

1. Main Findings
2. Ask the Experts
3. Methodology

Main Findings

Embed on your website<iframe src="//d2e70e9yced57e.cloudfront.net/wallethub/embed/8795/geochart-inneed.html" width="556" height="347" frameBorder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <div style="width:556px;font-size:12px;color:#888;">Source: <a href="http://ift.tt/2BjxRP4;  

Neediest Cities

Overall Rank*	City	Total Score	‘Economic Well-Being’ Rank	‘Health & Safety’ Rank
1	Detroit, MI	64.85	1	1
2	Cleveland, OH	58.85	2	2
3	Newark, NJ	54.43	6	18
4	Memphis, TN	54.19	13	3
5	Jackson, MS	53.58	7	31
6	Atlanta, GA	53.44	4	75
7	Fresno, CA	52.84	3	93
8	Los Angeles, CA	52.78	12	15
9	St. Louis, MO	52.44	16	11
10	Indianapolis, IN	52.32	8	48
11	Gulfport, MS	52.19	21	12
12	Philadelphia, PA	52.03	9	39
13	Brownsville, TX	51.87	10	35
14	Birmingham, AL	51.80	19	13
15	Little Rock, AR	51.50	32	9
16	New Orleans, LA	51.44	30	8
17	Shreveport, LA	51.15	17	22
18	Baltimore, MD	50.51	5	120
19	Toledo, OH	50.35	11	55
20	San Bernardino, CA	50.30	25	21
21	Wilmington, DE	50.25	14	47
22	Augusta, GA	50.14	37	6
23	Las Cruces, NM	50.02	41	17
24	Montgomery, AL	49.56	22	32
25	Mobile, AL	49.46	40	16
26	Providence, RI	49.14	24	43
27	Fort Smith, AR	48.75	68	5
28	Miami, FL	48.58	34	34
29	Cincinnati, OH	48.51	26	51
30	Columbia, SC	48.44	20	65
31	Laredo, TX	47.89	33	56
32	Columbus, GA	47.84	46	20
33	Richmond, VA	47.68	15	101
34	Oakland, CA	47.61	58	14
35	Chattanooga, TN	47.18	51	29
36	Buffalo, NY	46.86	38	57
37	San Francisco, CA	46.64	81	7
38	Milwaukee, WI	46.57	36	69
39	Akron, OH	46.25	53	38
40	Baton Rouge, LA	46.23	42	68
41	Rochester, NY	46.01	18	129
42	Albuquerque, NM	45.99	64	26
43	Reno, NV	45.78	71	19
44	Dallas, TX	45.58	65	30
45	Hialeah, FL	45.58	44	70
46	Tulsa, OK	45.46	74	23
47	Tallahassee, FL	45.39	43	77
48	Portland, OR	45.33	63	36
49	Knoxville, TN	45.27	45	71
50	New York, NY	45.27	23	130
51	Charleston, WV	45.24	106	4
52	New Haven, CT	45.23	27	122
53	Tucson, AZ	45.23	60	41
54	Oklahoma City, OK	45.12	66	40
55	Kansas City, MO	44.93	67	37
56	Nashville, TN	44.87	47	79
57	Norfolk, VA	44.81	39	106
58	Chicago, IL	44.71	35	119
59	Long Beach, CA	44.53	48	86
60	Las Vegas, NV	44.52	56	66
61	North Las Vegas, NV	44.39	49	88
62	Phoenix, AZ	44.22	62	61
63	Winston-Salem, NC	43.87	77	44
64	Springfield, MO	43.76	125	10
65	Salt Lake City, UT	43.62	98	28
66	West Valley City, UT	43.58	90	42
67	Lewiston, ME	43.53	83	58
68	Houston, TX	43.46	102	24
69	Washington, DC	43.38	28	151
70	Bridgeport, CT	43.33	50	109
71	Fayetteville, NC	43.30	69	72
72	Sacramento, CA	43.25	55	95
73	Greensboro, NC	43.22	101	25
74	Stockton, CA	43.13	70	73
75	Boston, MA	43.13	29	153
76	Glendale, AZ	42.88	87	54
77	Huntington, WV	42.79	88	49
78	St. Petersburg, FL	42.78	97	52
79	Honolulu, HI	42.74	92	53
80	Louisville, KY	42.59	84	64
81	Nampa, ID	42.57	59	110
82	Columbus, OH	42.45	54	124
83	Spokane, WA	42.31	117	27
84	Grand Rapids, MI	42.03	72	97
85	Jacksonville, FL	41.98	85	74
86	Lubbock, TX	41.84	112	62
87	Huntsville, AL	41.76	94	83
88	Amarillo, TX	41.73	114	45
89	Dover, DE	41.73	31	165
90	Tempe, AZ	41.63	80	92
91	Santa Ana, CA	41.59	93	80
92	Modesto, CA	41.58	52	139
93	Newport News, VA	41.43	57	136
94	Manchester, NH	41.36	100	67
95	Tacoma, WA	41.34	136	33
96	Fort Lauderdale, FL	41.23	82	100
97	St. Paul, MN	41.08	61	135
98	Salem, OR	40.94	134	60
99	Lexington-Fayette, KY	40.82	79	114
100	San Antonio, TX	40.66	89	104
101	Orlando, FL	40.61	75	128
102	Minneapolis, MN	40.22	78	131
103	Tampa, FL	40.19	91	111
104	Wichita, KS	40.04	108	85
105	Worcester, MA	40.01	95	116
106	Missoula, MT	39.88	156	50
107	Seattle, WA	39.66	122	76
108	Pittsburgh, PA	39.59	105	105
109	Oxnard, CA	39.57	115	89
110	Jersey City, NJ	39.56	111	96
111	Denver, CO	39.38	99	117
112	Charleston, SC	39.30	104	123
113	Anchorage, AK	39.30	128	78
114	Fort Wayne, IN	39.27	76	145
115	Omaha, NE	39.24	107	108
116	El Paso, TX	39.17	73	150
117	Corpus Christi, TX	39.16	146	81
118	Vancouver, WA	38.97	155	46
119	Rapid City, SD	38.91	131	103
120	Fort Worth, TX	38.86	120	99
121	Arlington, TX	38.65	142	82
122	Colorado Springs, CO	38.52	138	91
123	Durham, NC	38.52	116	107
124	Boise City, ID	38.46	153	63
125	Garland, TX	38.38	145	87
126	Bakersfield, CA	38.38	109	126
127	Anaheim, CA	38.37	144	90
128	Santa Rosa, CA	38.35	96	142
129	Austin, TX	38.20	132	102
130	Burlington, VT	38.19	113	112
131	Des Moines, IA	38.01	110	134
132	Grand Prairie, TX	38.00	148	94
133	Portland, ME	37.92	139	118
134	Mesa, AZ	37.69	121	125
135	Ontario, CA	37.55	137	121
136	Charlotte, NC	37.29	123	133
137	Irving, TX	37.28	151	98
138	Aurora, CO	36.69	128	138
139	Billings, MT	36.69	161	84
140	Garden Grove, CA	36.67	150	113
141	Port St. Lucie, FL	36.65	118	144
142	Moreno Valley, CA	36.60	103	157
143	San Diego, CA	36.11	124	148
144	Glendale, CA	35.99	154	115
145	Lincoln, NE	35.89	141	140
146	Cheyenne, WY	35.69	152	137
147	Riverside, CA	35.67	143	141
148	Fontana, CA	35.59	130	152
149	Raleigh, NC	35.42	133	149
150	Juneau and, AK	35.25	172	59
151	Santa Clarita, CA	35.18	86	178
152	Chula Vista, CA	34.87	119	168
153	Henderson, NV	34.73	135	162
154	Casper, WY	34.04	163	132
155	San Jose, CA	33.90	147	164
156	Oceanside, CA	33.81	140	170
157	Sioux Falls, SD	33.26	157	156
158	Yonkers, NY	33.17	126	176
159	Chesapeake, VA	33.16	149	169
160	Aurora, IL	33.12	127	175
161	Cape Coral, FL	32.90	159	147
162	Peoria, AZ	32.53	162	143
163	Fargo, ND	31.37	165	158
164	Madison, WI	31.23	158	172
165	Chandler, AZ	31.13	164	163
166	Warwick, RI	30.97	175	146
167	Nashua, NH	30.83	166	155
168	Pembroke Pines, FL	30.45	168	161
169	South Burlington, VT	29.90	180	127
170	Scottsdale, AZ	29.88	167	166
171	Cedar Rapids, IA	29.58	177	154
172	Virginia Beach, VA	29.53	160	179
173	Bismarck, ND	29.10	179	160
174	Fremont, CA	28.83	170	171
175	Gilbert, AZ	28.41	169	173
176	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	27.34	171	177
177	Plano, TX	26.62	178	174
178	Huntington Beach, CA	26.46	174	180
179	Overland Park, KS	26.28	182	159
180	Irvine, CA	26.14	176	181
181	Pearl City, HI	26.13	181	167
182	Columbia, MD	25.98	173	182

*No. 1 = Neediest  

Ask the Experts

We asked a panel of experts to share their insight and advice regarding the changes and challenges experienced by needy groups and those who desire to help. Click on the experts’ profiles to read their bios and responses to the following key questions:

1. How are the neediest cities being helped or hurt by the Trump administration agenda?
2. How has the social makeup of people in need — in terms of age, race, gender, etc. — changed in recent decades?
3. What are the main challenges facing low-income families today?
4. Which policy interventions have proven successful in helping families achieve economic independence? Which ones have failed?
5. How can charities and nonprofits most effectively serve the poor?
6. How do the economic-mobility prospects of low-income Americans compare with their counterparts in other rich democracies?

Methodology

In order to determine the cities with the neediest populations, WalletHub compared 182 cities — including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state — across two key dimensions, namely “Economic Well-Being” and “Health & Safety.”

We evaluated those dimensions using 25 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the highest level of economic disadvantage. Data for metrics marked with an asterisk (*) were available only at the state level and therefore half-weighted.

Finally, we determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its total score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample. In determining our sample, we considered only the city proper in each case and excluded cities in the surrounding metro area.

Economic Well-Being - Total Points: 60

• Child Poverty Rate: Triple Weight (~8.37 Points)
• Adult Poverty Rate: Triple Weight (~8.37 Points)
• Unemployment Rate: Full Weight (~2.79 Points)
• Underemployment Rate: Full Weight (~2.79 Points)
• Homelessness Rate: Triple Weight (~8.37 Points)Note: This metric measures the number of homeless persons per 1,000 residents.
• Presence of Homeless Criminalization Laws: Full Weight (~2.79 Points)Note: This is a binary metric that considers the presence or absence of such legislation.
• Change in Family Homelessness (2016 vs 2015): Full Weight (~2.79 Points)
• Well-Being Index: Full Weight (~2.79 Points)Note: This metric refers to the Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index.
• Consumer Bankruptcy Rate: Half* Weight (~2.79 Points)Note: This metric measures the number of nonbusiness bankruptcy filings per capita.
• Foreclosure Rate: Full Weight (~2.79 Points)
• Share of Delinquent Debtors: Full Weight (~2.79 Points)
• Median Credit Score: Full Weight (~2.79 Points)
• High School Dropout Rate: Full Weight (~2.79 Points)
• Undereducated Rate: Full Weight (~2.79 Points)Note: This measures the percentage of residents who did not graduate from high school.
• “Economic Security” Ranking: Half* Weight (~1.40 Points)Note: This metric measures the state’s policy potential to improve the economic security of workers, families and retirees and is based on the Economic Security Scorecard produced by the WOW (Wider Opportunities for Women) nonprofit organization.
• Economic Mobility: Full Weight (~2.79 Points)

Health & Safety - Total Points: 40

• Uninsured Rate: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)Note: This metric measures the percentage of residents without health insurance coverage.
• Food Insecurity Rate: Double Weight (~8.00 Points)
• Share of Homes with Inadequate Plumbing: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)Note: This metric measures the percentage of occupied housing units without complete plumbing facilities.
• Share of Homes with Inadequate Kitchens: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)Note: This metric measures the percentage of occupied housing units without complete kitchen facilities.
• Share of Severely Overcrowded Homes: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)Note: This metric measures the percentage of occupied housing units that are considered “severely overcrowded,” meaning more than 1.5 persons occupy each room.
• Share of Offline Homes: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)Note: This metric measures the percentage of households lacking a computer and broadband Internet service.
• Share of Depressed Adults: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)Note: This metric measures the percentage of adults who were diagnosed with depression.
• Suicide Rate: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
• Crime Rate: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)

 

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, Chmura Economics & Analytics, County Health Rankings, National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, National Alliance to End Homelessness, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, , Equality of Opportunity Project, Feeding America, Wider Opportunities for Women, ATTOM Data Solutions (RealtyTrac), Gallup-Healthways and TransUnion.

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