KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – In some ways, the City of Kalamazoo is a rich community, but in other ways, it’s not, says Kalamazoo City Vice Mayor Don Cooney.
Despite having two major hospitals, two universities, a vibrant arts community, The Promise, the Foundation for Excellence and even Bell’s Beer, a new report from The United Way shows that over half its population isn’t making enough to get by.
The United Way annually updates its ALICE statistics, focusing on households that are Asset Limited, Income Restrained, Employed.
“There are people in the community that have someone in their home who is working, but they still can’t meet their basic needs,” said Vice Mayor Don Cooney who stressed at the Monday night, July 17 commissioner meeting that the City of Kalamazoo well above the state average when it comes to ALICE households.
“Statewide, the percentage of households is 39%. For the City of Kalamazoo, the percentage is 56%, 17 points higher,” added Cooney who has been calling on City Staff and fellow Commissioners to make fighting poverty in Kalamazoo a higher priority.
He has also asked for a full presentation from the United Way official keeping the local statistics, so they can get the full picture.
reporting from John McNeill
Comments