{"id":711,"date":"2014-03-21T09:36:47","date_gmt":"2014-03-21T15:36:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.cuchicago.edu\/spectator\/?p=711"},"modified":"2014-03-21T09:36:47","modified_gmt":"2014-03-21T15:36:47","slug":"the-poverty-gap-revealed-through-chicago-housing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spectator.cuchicago.edu\/?p=711","title":{"rendered":"The Poverty Gap Revealed Through Chicago Housing"},"content":{"rendered":"

Written by Samantha Bredeson
\nAs of 2013, nearly 15 percent<\/a> of the United States population lives below the poverty line. This 15 percent is made up of 46 million people struggling to survive just one more day. Meanwhile, as the poor continue to struggle, the rich continue to become richer. According to a 2012 poverty report<\/a> released by the U.S. Census Bureau, the gap between the poor and the rich is, in fact, widening. These facts are painted within poor and rich neighborhoods alike. For the poor, the portrait is composed of dilapidated communities, neighborhoods sagging under the weight of vacant lots and boarded windows. For the rich, this portrait is quite different, composed of lush landscapes and glistening mansions.<\/p>\n

\u00a0The One Percent<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Village of River Forest hosts some of the most beautiful houses in Chicago. This beauty comes with a cost, however. Houses located in this community range from $500,000 to over $2 million. The community has a rich heritage as many homes in the neighborhood\u00a0were designed by famous architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright, William Drummond, Spencer and Powers, E.E. Roberts, and their contemporaries.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
An isolated mansion in River Forest overlooks Augusta Street. The house is surrounded by a fence and has an accompanying guest house for visitors.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"A<\/a>
A new house being constructed in River Forest. These are the only boards you will see on houses in this community.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"A<\/a>
A vacant lot, blanketed in snow, sits in between two mansions in River Forest. In a poor neighborhood, this vacant lot would be a sign of poverty. In River Forest, this lot symbolizes beauty and country living.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Middle Class<\/strong><\/p>\n

Located just south of River Forest, the Village of Forest Park differs dramatically from it’s wealthy neighbor. The median home value in Forest Park is $152,000, although many houses are currently listed for sale for much lower prices. According to the village’s website, “quality education, affordable homes and a close-knit, active community make Forest Park the perfect place to raise a family.”<\/p>\n

\"These<\/a>
These houses represent Chicago’s middle class. The houses, located in Forest Park, tell a story of simplicity and survival in a tough economy.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"This<\/a>
This house design is typical of neighborhoods such as Forest Park. Middle class suburban communities such as these are characterized by simplicity and uniformity.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"A<\/a>
A row of uniform houses line Ashland Avenue. Lacking vacant lots, this community is typical of Chicago’s middle class.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Lower Class<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Englewood neighborhood is located on Chicago’s\u00a0South Side and makes up just three square miles. Formerly a diverse\u00a0transportation hub for the city, the community has since been known by media as one of Chicago’s most dangerous neighborhoods due to excessive crime and gun violence. Abandoned houses and vacant lots are common in this neighborhood, selling typically for less than $15,000 to renovators and home purchasers. Despite it’s percieved image, the Englewood community is home to nearly 80,000 residents who have taken an active role in fighting poverty and crime in their neighborhood. Though these houses are typical to the area, community organizations are beginning to buy up abandoned structures and lots for renovation.<\/p>\n

\"This<\/a>
This house in Chicago’s Englewood community is sealed off by the city. Boarded up houses and businesses are typical for this neighborhood and are prominent in Chicago’s South Side<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"An<\/a>
An abandoned house and an occupied house sit side by side. These houses tell a story of poverty, loss and the struggle to survive.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"The<\/a>
The side of an abandoned house shows the effects of neglect and weathering. This house is one of many abandoned houses making up just one block of the Englewood community.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Written by Samantha Bredeson As of 2013, nearly 15 percent of the United States population lives below the poverty line. This 15 percent is made up of 46 million people struggling to survive just one more day. Meanwhile, as the poor continue to struggle, the rich continue to become richer. According to a 2012 poverty […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":42,"featured_media":713,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[387,578,640],"class_list":["post-711","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-life-culture","tag-housing","tag-poverty","tag-social-conditions"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/spectator.cuchicago.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/711","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/spectator.cuchicago.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/spectator.cuchicago.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spectator.cuchicago.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/42"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spectator.cuchicago.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=711"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/spectator.cuchicago.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/711\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spectator.cuchicago.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/713"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/spectator.cuchicago.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=711"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spectator.cuchicago.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=711"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spectator.cuchicago.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=711"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}