Prosperity 32304

A good job with a living wage gives people the money and stability they need to support their families and face life’s challenges. But a 2018 United Nations report found that the U.S. has the highest income gap among Western countries. This gap affects education, makes it harder for people to grow their skills, and hurts future success. (Source) 

Data

• 56% of residents' income is below the poverty level, compared to Leon County at 20.8%

• The unemployment rate in 2019 in 32304 among residents 16 years or older was 14.3%

• 95.7% of the 19,780 employees (Tallahassee MSA:174,800) living in 32304 work in Leon County

• 682 are companies registered with either a physical address or tax address in 32304 and pay a total of $168,034,406 in wages

• The median household income in 32304 is $23,638, compared to Leon County at $53,106, and Florida at $55,660

Promising Practices

• Leon County Sheriff's Office has spearheaded the 1000 Jobs for 1000 Youth initiative to provide access to lucrative employment and reduce juvenile crime rates among at-risk youth
• As the second largest employer in the Zip code, TSC offers a competitive benefits package and a minimum $12/hour for all full-time, regular employees
• Goodwill Industries-Big Bend, Inc. provides work experience opportunities, job placement, and job retention  support
• The City of Tallahassee’s “Tallahassee Engaged in Meaningful Productivity for Opportunity” (TEMPO) Program connects disconnected youth to educational and employment opportunities​

"Equity gaps exist in Florida and Florida’s global competitiveness depends on a quality education system. For the business community, a commitment to this education system must begin early." - The Florida Chamber of Commerce Prosperity Initiative

One of the primary reasons for poverty is the lack of education. (Source) Early reading skills by third grade, are linked to future success in school. Strong reading skills by third grade affect how well students do in later grades, if they finish high school, and if they go to college. Today, it’s hard to earn a middle-class income without a college degree or job training after high school. (Source)

Data

• At John G. Riley Elementary, the only elementary school in ZIP code 32304, 76% of students are not reading at grade level. Only 22% of third graders scored at Level 3 or higher on the Florida Reading Test.

• Approximately 58% (28,915) of residents of 32304 are enrolled in college, either at the undergraduate or graduate level.

• 3.7% of 18-24-year-olds and nearly 14% of those over the age of 25 do not have a high school diploma

Access the Florida Gap Map, which identifies identify school-level performance gaps so business and community leaders can focus resources on helping close those gaps. 

Promising Practices

• Sabal Palm Elementary is a Community Partnership Schools™ model school

• TSC partners with local schools to offer programs that help students get ahead, like summer bridge programs, coding academies, and dual enrollment classes.

  Through the Get There campaign, TSC promotes career training programs—some that can be finished in 90 days or less—right in 32304. These lead to high-wage, in-demand jobs.

  TSC and Lively College also offer GED® prep and ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes in 32304.

  TSC gives scholarships to 32304 residents and promotes college access through direct mail and targeted ads.

  The ASPIRE local college access network (LCAN) supports proven strategies to help more students get to and succeed in college.

• Goodwill of the Big Bend provides skills-based fast-track career training for free

• CareerSource Capital Region offers financial assistance and resources for career training through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) program

• United Way of the Big Bend offers Reading Pals and Math Pals for students from Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) to 3rd grade who may need extra help

• Karen Moore and The Moore Agency have contributed to local Title 1 elementary schools with a focus on John G. Riley Elementary School, including:

  • Since 2021, invested hundreds of hours, secured and donated more than $65,000, and given endless heart to Riley

  • Every year, a local group adopts a kindergarten classroom at John G. Riley Elementary School, where 2 students in each class are homeless or without stable housing.

    They’ve given hundreds of volunteer hours, donated $15,000 in classroom supplies, and raised over $25,000 for student needs. In 2021 alone, the community raised more than $15,000 to make sure every kindergartener went home for winter break with toys, food, and more.

    They worked with Prime Meridian, Mill Creek Financial, and Second Harvest of the Big Bend to create a full food pantry at the school. It’s stocked with fresh produce, meat, dairy, and shelf-stable items.

    A $5,000 donation from Ashley Thomas, owner of Sparkle Boutique and a former teacher, is helping keep the pantry full for a whole year.

    They also gave $10,000 to Second Harvest to help feed families in need at Title 1 schools in Leon County.

    Noticing the school library needed support, Karen donated over 100 books, from science topics to fun stories like Dr. Seuss, to inspire young readers and grow their imaginations.

According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, there is no state or county in the U.S. where a renter working full-time at minimum wage can afford a two-bedroom apartment. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development defines cost-burdened families as those who pay more than 30% of their income.

Data

• 87.7% of houses in 32304 are renter-occupied

• The median household income in 32304 is $23,638 while median housing costs (rent or mortgage) are about $919 per month

• Of the 6,888 households making less than $20,000 a year, 6,529 spend more than 30% of their income on rent or mortgage

Access the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies Cost-Burdened Housing Map

Promising Practices

• Connecting Everyone with Second Chances (CESC) offers programs like The Dwellings, The Kearney Center, Westgate Community, CESC Health Services, and a new income match tool to help with affordable housing.

  Leon County’s Housing Services Division helps create affordable housing through the Homeownership Development (HOD) Program. This program supports first-time, income-eligible homebuyers by lowering the total cost of buying a home.

  Key parts of the HOD Program include:

  • Funding for builders to construct needed housing

  • Lower home prices for eligible buyers by covering some building costs

  • Coverage for major costs like land, roads, fees, and permits

  • Financial Details

    • Maximum Award Amount: Up to $100,000 in funding is available to qualified builders and organizations.

    • Loan Structure: The financial assistance is offered as a deferred forgivable loan, easing the burden of repayment.

  • This program not only promotes affordable housing but also helps to improve the overall well-being of the community. Potential homebuyers are encouraged to take advantage of this unique opportunity to make homeownership a reality.

Poverty can significantly impact an individual's health, across all demographics and throughout all life stages. If a family cannot secure adequate healthy food, clean water, and safe housing, they usually do not have access to other necessities like healthcare and education. 

Read Poverty and Health - The Family Medicine Perspective

Read 'No access': Poor, isolated and forgotten, kids of 32304 see their health care compromised

Data

• 10.1% of 32304 residents are without any type of healthcare coverage 
• Between 2014 and 2018, 32304 had the highest reported number of babies born to moms without a high school education in Leon County: 268 births out of 1,756, or 15% (Source) 
• According to a Center for Health Equity community needs survey, 32304 was the most affected Zip code when it came to lack of access to preventative health services and health insurance (Source) 

Promising Practices

• Riley Elementary offers free dental screenings for second graders
• Capital Area Community Action Agency ensures that 100% of Head Start program participants have access to medical care within 30 days of being enrolled 
• Dental hygiene students at TSC provide free basic dental care to the residents of the Kearney Center, as well as low-cost basic dental care on TCC's main campus
• Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare provides telehealth technology that brings healthcare to any neighborhood
• Florida State University's FSUCares organization provides basic health screenings and preventative care to low-income and medically underserved populations 

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, food deserts are areas that have limited access to a suitable variety of fresh, healthy food, and are commonly located in neighborhoods with higher poverty rates. 

Data

• In 32304, there are only two major grocery stores to serve 16 square miles.

• Additionally, more than 2,200 households do not have access to a vehicle for transportation to and from the grocery store.

Access the USDA's Food Access Research Atlas

Read "Food Deserts in Leon County, FL: Disparate Distribution of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - Accepting Stores by Neighborhood Characteristics

Promising Practices

• Second Harvest of the Big Bend supports food distribution events on TSC's main campus and throughout the community

• Second Harvest is also exploring the opportunity for food distribution "lockers" which would allow access to emergency food supplies 24/7 for those in need

• TSC's Talon's Market provides free food and hygiene items to students

Research shows that the higher the poverty rates and more concentrated disadvantaged populations are in any given neighborhood, the more likely they are to experience higher rates of violent crime. Higher crime rates in neighborhoods can affect everything from home insurance and real estate prices to businesses and the distribution of public resources.

Data

• In 2019, there were 651 juvenile arrests in Leon County (Source: LCSO)
• For every 100,000 people, Leon County had a violent crime rate of 384 and a property crime rate of 1,768 in 2020 (Source) 

Promising Practices

• ALLin LEON is a comprehensive plan to unify people, agencies, and organizations to work collaboratively to reduce crime in Leon County

Parents with children under the age of 18, particularly young children who cannot care for themselves yet, as well as caregivers of the elderly and disabled often need help in order to care for their loved ones while they work to support their families. Unfortunately, many care settings, particularly in low-income areas, are unable to provide an adequate level of education and/or medical care. (Source) 

Data

• 2,000 households in 32304 have children under the age of 18
• There are 290 grandparents in 32304 who are responsible for children under the age of 18
• 1,266 households in 32304 have at least one person over the age of 65
• There are 8 childcare centers and 3 family childcare providers listed publicly in 32304
• Of those who live with a disability in 32304, 562 individuals have difficulties with self-care and1,098 have difficulties with independent living

Promising Practices

• Capital Area Community Action Agency's Head Start program provides preschool and Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) at the Mabry Street Family & Child Enrichment Center
• Boys and Girls Club of the Big Bend's Springfield Club provides after-school and summer care that includes academic support, extracurricular enrichment, and the adult role models needed to become healthy, productive citizens
• Whole Child Leon utilizes commitment from all segments of the community and community leaders united as Action Teams to build and maintain a community where everyone works together to make sure children thrive
• Kids Incorporated’s Early Head Start program provides early learning, health, and family services for infants and toddlers

Poverty is both a strong predictor of entry into the criminal justice system as well as an outcome. Unfortunately, jails and prisons are often used in response to difficult medical or economic social issues. A United Nations special report on extreme poverty and human rights found that the U.S. stands out in how it treats poor people in the justice system. The report said the system often raises money through fines and fees instead of focusing on justice. High bail, big fines, and license suspensions hurt poor people the most.

Data

•  The recidivism rate in Leon County is approximately 45%

Promising Practices

• The Leon County Sheriff’s Office also runs Housing Dorms and an Educational Center to help inmates get ready for life after release.

  The Florida State Attorney’s Office often asks people on probation to join a GED program if they haven’t finished high school.

Having reliable transportation helps people get to work, see a doctor, buy groceries, and use other community services. Public buses are one option, but in ZIP code 32304, routes don’t cover all areas and may not work well in emergencies or sudden needs.

Data

• 13% or 2,291 households in 32304 have no access to a vehicle for transportation

Promising Practices

• StarMetro’s STAR Program provides unaccompanied students in grades 6-12 free transportation

• TSC provides discounted StarMetro passes and free transportation for students with mobility impairments

"To solve poverty, to fight an active and effective war on poverty, requires more than meeting material needs with cash and non-cash assistance; it requires genuine empowerment and a relief in equal measure of poverties of agency and status." -Thomas A. Bryer and Sofia Prysmakova-Rivera, Poor Participation (2018)

Too often, those impacted most by poverty have the least time and energy to devote to connecting with the resources that will help eliminate poverty, or if those resources do not exist, advocating on behalf of their community's needs. However, the agency is critical for affecting lasting change.

Promising Practices

• Mayor John Dailey and representatives from the City of Tallahassee visited Springfield Apartments to meet with residents and discuss their barriers to receiving public services
• Moore Agency's Corporate Social Responsibility training​
• Frenchtown Rising
• Community Lift
• TSC’s Day of Service in 32304