Greater Cleveland Area Pulse

A monthly snapshot of the human impact of the economy

January 2010

Numbers don’t tell the whole story of the economic crisis, but seeing the breadth of the problem shows you how urgently we need solutions.

The Greater Cleveland Area Pulse is a monthly report from the foundation and our partners at Case Western Reserve University that pulls together data defining the human impact of the current economic crisis. For more insight into why we chose these particular statistics, refer to this post on our grantmaking blog.

Some points from this month’s data:

After rising in September, October, and November, the unemployment rate fell to 8.9 in December 2009.
Mortgage foreclosure filings rose again to 1005 in December 2009.
From January 2009 through December 2009, the number of children receiving Medicaid assistance in Cuyahoga County has risen 5%.
From January 2009 through December 2009, the number of individuals receiving food stamps in Cuyahoga County has risen 17%.

Individuals Receiving Food Stamps Forclosures in Cuyahoga Couny Unemployment Rate Children Receiving Medicaid

Information provided by the Center on Urban Poverty and Community Development; NEO CANDO Neighborhood Data System

Food stamps
Information from CRIS-E Case/Individual extract files, Cuyahoga Employment and Family Services, 2008-2009.

Foreclosures
Information from the Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts. Only mortgage foreclosures are listed. Duplicated case numbers have been removed.

Childhood enrollment in Medicaid
Information from CRIS-E Case/Individual extract files, Cuyahoga Employment and Family Services, 2008-2009. Children are defined as individuals under 19 years of age.

Unemployment
Information is from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Office of Workforce Development, Bureau of Labor Market Indicators, in cooperation with the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Estimates are by place of residence and are not seasonally adjusted. Employment includes workers involved in labor-management disputes. Employment rate equals unemployment divided by labor force.

We will update the site each month with new numbers — bookmark this page to keep abreast of the latest statistics.

How can you help?

Support the Cleveland Foundation in our efforts to combat poverty in our region. Click here to donate to our Basic Needs Fund.

Any amount – $5, $10, $50 – will help. Your donation will ensure that together, we will make Cleveland better.

How will the funds be used?
Money donated to the Basic Needs Fund will be strategically distributed to local organizations handling basic needs services to the community.