Measuring neighborhood distress: a tool for place-based urban revitalization strategies

This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up to date. The accuracy of any instructions, formulae, and drug doses should be independently verified with primary sources. The publisher shall not be liable for any loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand, or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with or arising out of the use of this material. The United States federal administration's recent Promise Neighborhood and Choice Neighborhood initiatives are part of increasing calls for place-based strategies in the delivery of education and human services in inner cities. Within this new policy context, measures of community-level inequality emerge as a key tool for identifying places which manifest relatively high levels of social and economic distress and where this condition places acute pressures on local service-delivery nonprofits. Measuring and spatially showing levels of neighborhood social and economic distress can enhance our understandings of the needs associated with low-income communities and facilitate civic engagement in the development of neighborhood-based responses. A ''neighborhood distress score'' can be generated and used to target services into urban areas but can also encourage greater resident civic participation. This score is based on the variables identified in the literature and input from community and civic leaders in Boston, MA. Introduction Place-based strategies for improving urban living conditions are gaining increasing attention as reflected in the national administration's recent Promise Neighborhood and Choice Neighborhood initiatives. Based on the availability of funding announcement in the Federal Register, the components of place-based strategies aimed at the ''transformation of communities'' include identification of places with the greatest social and economic needs; developing strategies that benefit the entire neighborhood; building partnerships among neighborhood organizations and provision of ''continuum of services'' throughout the lives of residents; linking activities to improve the quality of schooling and raising academic achievement within a neighborhood context; and residential governance and decision-making about planned activities and implementation (Federal Register, 2011). These components differentiate place-based strategies from others which focus on providing mobility opportunities for residents in distressed neighborhoods, or identify individuals with specific needs for need-specific services (Melendez & Stoll, 2000). Broadly, place-based …