Despite the sweeping technological changes and economic growth of this century, millions of people remain poor, lacking adequate education, employment, or shelter. As we approach the twenty-first century, urban societies throughout the world are increasingly polarized between rich and poor, and poverty amid plenty remains an underlying threat to the social and political stability of communities and nations. Recognizing this enormous challenge, the Foundation supports a wide range of efforts that address the problems of urban poverty.

The Foundation's Urban Poverty program works to improve the lives of the urban poor in three interrelated ways. First, it supports projects that are rebuilding distressed neighborhoods through efforts in economic development, affordable housing, advocacy for better municipal services, and local governance. Second, it funds efforts to intervene at crucial points in the life cycles of disadvantaged individuals and families to help them take advantage of opportunities to become self-sufficient. Third, it supports research, policy analysis, and information dissemination to provide a basis for future policy and programs.

Although most of the Foundation's work in urban poverty is in the United States, it continues to expand its support for projects in many cities in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. As the global dimensions of urban poverty have become clearer, funding has increased for efforts to improve physical, economic, and social conditions in slums and squatter communities, for employment and income-generating activities, and for research on public policies relating to the urban poor.

In 1990 the Foundation made grants totaling $46 million for urban initiatives worldwide.

COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION