The median household income for those who reside along the West Side Marta Station corridor, is $19, 447, in stark contrast to the median household income in Buckhead, just 5.3 miles and 18 minutes away, at $104,518; while the country’s median household income is at $63,179.

Studies indicate that there is a nexus between child poverty and violence.  Poor children are at greater risks of being left unsupervised or poorly supervised.  This increases the risk of those children getting abused or violated.  With no proper care, these children often revert back to the cycle of poverty.  Not only does child poverty exacerbate violence, but violence can also perpetuate poverty.

While violence affects all socioeconomic groups, poor and non-White youth live with increased exposure to violence, which also leads to detrimental outcomes.  Homicide is now the fourth leading cause of death in children ages 10-14.  In children ages 15-24, homicide is the third leading cause of death and suicide is the second leading cause.

 

Moreover, as of January 2022, according to Georgia investigators, and GBI Director, it is believed there are more than 70,000 gang members in Georgia and about 1,500 different gangs in the state, who are responsible for much of the violent crime in the communities.

As of January 22, 2022, there were 827 youths housed in secure detention centers across the state.  These centers provide secure care and supervision for those who have been charged with offenses and have been classified as delinquent and are awaiting placement.  These children are charged with felonies and misdemeanors.  Of that number, 80.2 percent are males, 19.8 percent are females.  It has been reported that metro Atlanta is seeing a major increase in juvenile property crime.  The trend has spread to areas like Cobb County after becoming all too familiar if Fulton County where the juvenile crime rate is 15-times higher than the national average.  According to officials, it costs $90,000 to incarcerate a juvenile each year.

Growing up in poverty can have a tremendous effect on those living within the indigence, as well as the community itself.  These areas are often filled with minorities, especially African-American, who struggle with inadequate education, minimum wage jobs and very little resources to create a better lifestyle for their families.  A large portion of these families relies on government assistance, non-profit organizations and often times churches to help them through troubled times.  Individuals experiencing these hardships sometimes fall victim again to maladaptive behaviors, whether it's to drug abuse and addiction, drug dealing, gang involvement, prostitution and many other aspects of crime.

 

The quality of life has been documented to have a profound effect in influencing life expectancy.  For example, life expectancy at an English Avenue address, in an impoverished low-income section of Atlanta, is 63.6 years.

But less than 10 miles away, an address in affluent Margaret Mitchell area of Buckhead, named after the famous writer, has a life expectancy of 87.2 years.

This startling almost 25-year gap in life expectancy has been directly attributed to poverty - lack of access to healthy foods, to stable jobs, quality education, quality, affordable housing, safety problems for residents, business opportunities within the community, as well as entire neighborhoods being devoid of any meaningful opportunities.

A community multipurpose center utilizing a team of licensed counselors, social workers, peer specialist, as well as other professionals to provide services to children, families and veterans who need treatment and support.  Optimum Wellness Multipurpose Center serves uninsured, underinsured, low-income Medicaid, Medicare and some private insurance across multiple locations with a full continuum of health and wellness services and supports.

The services provided by Optimum Wellness Multipurpose Center contribute to a reduction in child poverty, neglect and endangerment, reduction in homelessness, reduction in crime, higher graduation and employment rates, decreased ER visits and decreased inpatient admissions.  The Optimum Wellness Multipurpose Center will touch a substantial amount of Fulton County  children, families, veterans and communities in some way.  In effect impacting the globe.