The anniversary of the attacks have passed,
but NYC's low-income communities continue to suffer

States urban justice center in a report of the post-911 'Ripple Effect'

Homeless shelter occupancy has skyrocketed yet Food Stamps receipt has decreased by two percent despite increased usage in the rest the nation. Unemployment is expected to rise above nine percent by the end of this year yet the welfare caseload has already dropped nine percent this year to a low not seen in almost 40 years. And those communities hit hardest by the terrorist attacks, those that were walking on the margins of economic security before September 11th, have since found themselves without food, unemployed and underemployed and homeless or facing evictions, according to the Urban Justice Center (UJC) report "Ripple Effect: The Crisis in NYC's Low-Income Communities after September 11th," released this week.

"I am a living victim of a crime" said Paul Copercini who was laid off his airport job after fourteen years of service and months later found himself living on the streets. Many of the economic victims of September 11th have been left behind by the programs designed to help them, UJC states. "I personally did not lose anyone in the September 11th attacks," said an immigrant worker who lost her job near the World Trade Center, "but I lost everything I achieved in America." It is clear that the economic impact of the tragic events of more than a year ago continues and requires long term responses from government and other entities charged with responding to the disaster.

UJC challenges government programs to mount an aggressive campaign to ensure that all low-income people economically impacted by 9/11 are aware of their potential eligibility for public benefits and for private charities to fill critical gaps in the government safety net such as developing programs for immigrants.

The report can be viewed online:
http://www.urbanjusticecenter.org/publications/PDFs/