Shreveport, LA Just Named One of the Neediest Cities in the U.S.

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Living with poverty is very real in Shreveport, LA. But just how 'needy' are we?

How needy is Shreveport, LA?

Let's just put it this way, next time you're asked to give, dig deep! Shreveport, Louisiana has been ranked as one of the neediest cities in the entire United States. According to WalletHub.com's list of 2024's Neediest Cities, Shreveport is the 14th neediest in the country. That's a scary thought! However, that's two rankings better than we were in 2021.

How bad are poverty and food insecurity in our country?

Feeding America says that food insecurity affected 38 million people, including over 11 million children, in the United States in 2020. In 2022, 11.5% of the U.S. population lived in poverty. EndHomelessness.org says that in 2023 Louisiana's homeless rate was 15.9 people per 10,000. The rate of homelessness in northwest Louisiana is 5.5 people per 10,000. I don't know about you, but that is terrifying to me, especially since inflation is doing a number on all of us right now and I don't see those numbers going down any time soon.

To determine the neediest cities in America, WalletHub.com looked at 28 different metrics, including economic disadvantage, child poverty, food insecurity, and uninsured rates.

WalletHub.com's findings ranked Shreveport the 17th worst in the nation when it comes to our residents' economic well-being. We did a little better when it came to health and safety, ranking 21st worst out of 180 cities. Back in 2021, when WalletHub.com did the same study, Shreveport was tied at 168th for the lowest percentage of homes with inadequate plumbing. I don't know about you, but cities in a first-world country shouldn't have water or sanitation issues.

For some perspective, New Orleans is ranked as 2024's 11th most needy city and Baton Rouge is 18th. We have a new governor heading to Baton Rouge in January. Let's hope we can turn this around and fast!

[WalletHub.com]