Clearing the Way: Deconcentrating the Poor in Central American

by Edward G. Goetz

Over the past three decades, the concentration of poverty in America’s inner cities has exacerbated a wide range of social problems. School delinquency, school dropout, teenage pregnancy, out-of-wedlock childbirth, violent crime, and drug abuse are magnified in neighborhoods where the majority of residents are poor. In response, policymakers have embarked on a large and coordinated effort to “deconcentrate” the urban poor by dispersing the residents of subsidized housing. Despite the clean logic of these policies, however, deconcentration is not a clean process. In Clearing the Way, Edward Goetz goes beyond the narrow analysis that has informed the debate so far, using the experience of Minneapolis-Saint Paul to explore the fierce political debate and complicated issues that arise when public housing residents are dispersed, sometimes against their will. Along the way, he explores the cases for and against deconcentrating the poor, the programs used to pursue this goal, and the research used to evaluate their success. Clearing the Way offers important lessons for policymakers, activists, and anyone interested in poverty in America.

326 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2003

Reviews

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a book you read for "pleasure" -- it's factual, profiling cities efforts to "deconcentrate" poverty as an attempt to deal with the racialization of poverty as well as the complexities of "revitalization," gentrification, and discrimination.

The book is good because it delineates the various positions and fierce contention over the issue of socio-economic integration and the clash of cultures.

In the end... because of the projects that I am involved with and the position that I find myself in with the City Council, the issues of "de-concentration" are challenging... but despite my middle class upbringing and the constant "American" ideal to climb upwardly... I find that we need to be more "open" about socio-economic integration so that all people can have access to the opportunities that are available to those with more resources. It may call us to live sacrifically.

[Tonette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book to anyone working in social services, anyone holding public office, or anyone who aspires to do any social good. The book addresses the problem and solutions to poverty in urban America. The logic applies even to smaller urban areas in mostly caucasian communities like Missoula, Montana. As you read the book, you will discover that the conventional practices of helping the poor are outdated and downright Dickensian. If you really want to prevent homelessness and address poverty, you must take a holistic view of your community and develop practices to de-concentrate poverty.