Report says poor are moving to nation’s suburbs

A new report shows more poor people have moved to the nation’s suburbs, outnumbering those in urban areas.

The Brookings Institution study released Monday says those in poverty living in suburbs jumped 67 percent between 2000 and 2011. But suburbs still have a smaller percentage of their population living in poverty than cities do.

Researchers said the shift to the suburbs can be attributed to affordable housing, service-sector jobs and the increased mobility of housing vouchers.

The Los Angeles Times reports suburban cities have been ill equipped to handle the surge and programs dealing with poverty usually are geared toward urban areas.

The newspaper said poverty shifted to the suburbs earlier in Los Angeles than nationwide.

The report also shows a slight increase in New York City suburban poverty.