Ohio's Big Three Poverty Hot Spots

Brookings report shows increased concentrated poverty, especially in Buckeye state

Toledo, Dayton, Youngstown -- these three cities, all in the state of Ohio, have seen a sharp rise in extreme poverty, meaning neighborhoods where at least 40% of its inhabitants live below the poverty level. Other states like Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana and Michigan have also seen significant rises in extreme poverty according to the Brookings Institution who released a report on the "re-emergence of concentrated poverty."

Homeless shelters in Toledo are reporting that more people recently made homeless have been coming in as opposed to the normal flow of chronically homeless. One food bank saw a 14% increase in clients served.

Dayton, Ohio, which has lost a huge portion of its population is now welcoming immigrants in, with hopes they will start new businesses and help grow the economy. State and local revenue has dropped as much as 22.1% from 2009 to 2008 in many areas.

Said the report, "Poor local labor market conditions may have pushed up poverty rates across a more demographically and economically diverse set of neighborhoods than traditional 'underclass' areas."