Researches say nearly one-third of Buffalo-Niagara residents live in or near poverty

Researches say nearly one-third of Buffalo-Niagara residents live in or near poverty

REPORTER JEDDYJOHNSONTRT: 1:5ANNE MCKENNA,CHIEFCOMMUNICATIONSOFFICER,FEEDMOREWNYTHE MOBILE SAFETY-NET TEAM ,OISHEIFOUNDATION, ANDUNIVERSITY ATBUFFALO'S REGIONALINSTITUTE HAVE BEENCONDUCTINGRESEARCH ON THEBUFFALO-NIAGARAREGION'S POVERTYISSUE SINCE JUNE OF2019.THE BIGGEST TAKEAWAY, NEARLY ONE-THIRD OF BUFFALO-NIAGARA RESIDENTSLIVE IN OR NEARPOVERTY."WE HAVE A MAJORPOVERTY ISSUE HEREIN BUFFALO AND THEWNY COMMUNITY INGENERAL.

AS WE SAWIN THE REPORT TODAY,THE POVERTY LEVELSARE JUSTOUTSTOUNDING AWE SEE THAT IN THEWORK THAT WE DOHERE AT FEED MOREWNY EVERYDAY."THE RESULTS OF THISREPORT ARE FROPRE-PANDEMICCONDITIONS AMCKENNA BELIEVESRIGHT NOW, THENUMBER OF PEOPLEIN POVERTY, MAYHIGHER."SINCE MARCH WEHAVE DISTRIBUTED 6.6MILLION POUNDS OFFOOD INTO THE WNCOMMUNITY.

THAT'SAN INCREASE OF 5OVER WHAT WE DIDOVER THE SAME TIPERIOD LAST YEAR.IN THE REPORT THERESEARCHERS FINDSTHAT'S THEPOPULATION LIVING INOR NEAR POVERTYHAS GROWN BY 5%SINCE 2011.

THE TOTALPOPULATION OF THEBUFFALO-NIAGARAAREA ONLY GREW BY.1% DURING THE SAMETIME FRAME."IT'S A LITTLEOVERWHELMING BUTTHAT'S WHAT WE'REHERE FOR."ROBERT SHIBLEY,HEAD RESEARCHERON THE NUMBER INNEEDS PROJECTSSAYS ONE OF THEBIGGESTCONTRIBUTORS TOTHE BUFFALO-NIAGARA'S POVERTYISSUE IS EDUCATIONAND TRAINING, ANDMCKENNA OF FEEDMORE WNY SAYS THEYCAN HELP WITH THAT."WE ARE WORKING ONWORKING ON ROLLINGOUT A WORKFORCEDEVELOPMENTTRAINING PROGRAMWHERE WE WILLTEACH WAREHOUSETRAINING.

WE'LLTEACH ON THE JOBTRAINING AS WELL ASLIFE SKILLS AND SOFTSKILLS THAT HELPPREPARE OURSTUDENTS FOR TWORKFORCE."EXPERTS SAY THEPANDEMIC MAYWORSEN POVERTYCONDITION FOR UP TO18 MONTHS, BUTORGANIZATIONS LIKEFEEDMOREWNY ARHERE TO HELP.

INBUFFALO JJ7EWN.