POVERTY IN EL PASO REGION

Analytical Report by Larissa Barraza

2016

April 28,

Abstract: Poverty has become one of the most concerned issues all over the world. Over years it
has been a major Concern for everyone, not only because of how poor the economic status is,
but the fact that because of poverty many individuals now have mental illnesses. Poverty has
always been taught to only talk about how the world or certain countries or states are
economically doing, the fact that mental, physical, and emotional illness are never addressed is
what concerns many individuals. This document focusses on addressing and analyzing poverty in
El Paso Texas and will address the causes and several points such as why rate is high, the
reaction of El Paso citizens, what areas are most affected, and ideas of what El Pasoans can do to
help out their community.

Larissa Barraza - Analytical Report April 2016 1

Letter of Transmittal
From: Larissa Barraza Poverty in El Paso

reasons including population growth in

cities or countries.

To: Citizens of the El Paso Region

Subject: Effects of Poverty in El Paso

Poverty is a worldwide concern for everyone

and can be a very difficult subject for many
individuals to speak about never the less act
upon many issues to help and show concern
for these tragic events. Poverty is occurring
in many cities and states and needs help
from Society to achieve positive results.

There are many issues concerning poverty

and how they relate. Low income is not the
main focus of being a poor city or state.
Issues such as Mental illness, poor
education, Low wage paid jobs, and even
teen pregnancies can also contribute to
poverty in every country, region and state.
There have been investigations and reviews
done that support the importance of the main
points that relate to poverty all over the
world. Poverty does not discriminate, it will
affect anyone and everywhere. Poverty has
been known to increase because of many

Understanding and reacting to a worldwide

issue will not only reduce a high rate of
poverty, but will also help protect
individuals, children and their physical and
mental well-being. Poverty is not only a
concern about physical income to ones
benefit or a benefit as a whole. It has been
prone to become a main concern regarding
the wellbeing of individuals who cannot
seek help regarding their health. Research
will analyze the areas of the following
questions:
1. What is the correlation between
mental health issues and the state
of poverty? Focuses on the relation
between poverty and mental illness.
2. Why has poverty escalated
throughout the years? Presents
main view points and causes of high
escalation of poverty in the region.
3. What can the community of El
Paso do to lower poverty rate?
Presents ideas and methods for
citizens to project and help as one to
lower the high rate.

Larissa Barraza - Analytical Report April 2016 Page 2

4. Which communities, or area

around El Paso are prone to be
affected by poverty? Focuses on the
areas with highest rate in the region.
In order to project the movement and seek
help to lower the high rate of poverty in the
El Paso region, it is essential to create
awareness of this worldwide issue. It is
necessary to inform every citizen of the

Region that is not only an impacting issue

and a responsibility as a region and society
to protect El Paso as a whole and those
individuals who are affected extremely but
with that we are protecting the future by
lowering the high rate today. A unity among
the entire region must be formed in order to
imply and commit to the proper action and
changes in El Paso.

Executive Summary
Introduction

present motives to change this high poverty rate

within the region.

Poverty can be described as the inability to

satisfy basic human needs, including
remorsefulness, education, and health. As
poverty influences multitudes of stressors it is
safe to say that it is possible that it may directly
or indirectly contribute to different levels of
mental issues. Poverty has not only affected
individuals, but families, schools, cities and
regions in focus of El Paso TX. It is without a
doubt that one of the world's most ruthless
contributors to death is poverty and this is why
the region of El Paso needs to join as a whole
and change the high rate in their home.

Scope
The goal of this report and message is to inform
citizens of El Paso about the high rate of poverty
this region lives under. Citizens may have
knowledge and may be aware but individuals
who are part of this region and live in it should
also obtain informed and also educate
themselves on the importance of Poverty and
changing the status. Through the research done
within this investigation the following questions
have implemented ideas and knowledge to each
citizen of El Paso.

Purpose
To provide knowledge and awareness to citizens
of El Paso to provide help to the individuals,
including children who are victims of living
under poverty. Presenting ideas and knowledge
to society will also bring awareness of the
causes of poverty and will present the most
affected areas, and individuals in fact, it will

1. What is the correlation between mental

health issues and the state of poverty?

Larissa Barraza - Analytical Report April 2016 Page 3

2. Why has poverty escalated throughout

the years?
3. What can the community of El Paso do

to lower poverty rate?

Limitations
The information presented within this report
limited to the cities articles and informative
websites that mainly focused on the high rate of
poverty within the city. It also acknowledged
ideas and strategies suggested from individuals.

4. Which communities, or area around El

Paso are prone to be affected by poverty?

Methods
To propose change in the lives of citizens of El
Paso, this analytical reports methods, ideas and
techniques to influence others for a better living
and lower rate of poverty. This report was
composed of factual information from articles,
journals and city websites which was obtained
and researched from investigations within the
citys information.

Conclusion and Recommendations

The information obtained by the various articles,
presented the great impact that poverty in El
Paso TX has Caused physical, mental, and
emotional harm to many citizens who live in
town. Poverty has been in fact divided into
what is known as three different categories;
poverty, absolute poverty, and relative poverty.
However, the main focus is to end poverty and
develop these strategies and ideas to start
making a change to the city of El Paso, the home
of many.

Table of Contents
Abstract and Cover Page..1
Letter of Transmittal....2
Executive Summary.....3

Summary7
Study Focus Two: Why has poverty
escalated throughout the years

Table of Contents...4

Information...8

Introduction..5

1. Population Growth8-9
2. Rising of legal and Illegal
immigrants ...9-10
Summary.10
Study Focus Three: What can the
community of El Paso do to lower poverty
rate

Study Focus One: Correlation between

mental health issues and state of poverty
Information.6 - 7
1. Mental Health...6 - 7
2. Depression.7

Information10
1. Education10-11

Larissa Barraza - Analytical Report April 2016 Page 4

2. Unplanned Pregnancies.11
Summary...12
Study Focus Four: What communities or
area around El Paso are prone to be
affected by poverty

Figure 3. Depression under

cover....7
Figure 4. Depressed
Couple.7
Figure 5. Population Pie Chart...8

Information.12
1. Chamizal Area...12-13
2. Central El Paso.13-14
Summary... 14
Results Discussion15

Figure 6. Border U.S/Mexico....9

Figure 7. Education...10
Figure 8. Unplanned
pregnancies...11
Figure 9. Chamizal Area.12

Conclusions and
Recommendations...16

Figure 10. Chamizal

neighborhood.12

Appendixes:

Figure 11. Central El Paso13

Appendix A. References...17
Glossary of Terms.18

Figure 12. Absolute poverty Vs

Relative.14

Table of Figures:

Table 1. Population by Races8

Figure 1. El Paso Star.5

Table 2. Population by gender and

race9

Figure 2. Puzzle Pieces of Human

Health.........6

Introduction
It is without a doubt that one of the
world's most ruthless contributors to death is
poverty. Poverty can be described as the
inability to satisfy basic human needs,
including remorsefulness, education, and
health. As poverty influences multitudes of
stressors it is safe to say that it is possible
that it may directly or indirectly contribute
to different levels of mental issues. Poverty
has not only affected individuals, but
families, schools, cities and regions.

that because of poor education and

knowledge many students have been
affected and are now dealing with social
economic problems. Many students
education is interrupted because of
economic problems, and never the less
health issues as well.

Mental illness has not only been

proven to affect individuals living poverty,
but poverty is also linked to health and
social problems as well. It has been proven
Larissa Barraza - Analytical Report April 2016 Page 5

To date, the El Paso Region is still suffering

in honoring and obeying the new law
Obama Care, not because it is an unfair
law, but more because as a region we are
living poverty and not many citizens have
the economic support to afford it. This
again, is causing health problems to every
individual who does not have the health care
they need.

1.What is the correlation between mental

health issues and the state of poverty?

Poverty is not only focused on how poor a

region or individual might be, but it also
offers different ideas and meanings
including levels and statuses among
individuals, families, and cities including El
Paso Texas, the home region of many. The
question then is, what is the correlation
between mental health issues and the state of
poverty? This literature review will focus on
analyzing poverty in El Paso region by
focusing on the following four questions:

4.Which communities, or area around El

Paso are prone pone affected by poverty?

2. Why has poverty escalated throughout

the years?
3.What can the community of El Paso do
to lower poverty rate?

These four questions will analyze and

address the types of problems in El Paso
region co-handed with poverty such as
mental illness, health problems, poor region
areas and psychological problems according
to different investigations done regarding
Poverty in the region.

Study Focus One: Correlation between mental health issues

and state of poverty
Poverty and inequality are important to note,
the fact poverty and inequality are closely
linked brings many contradictions to what is
said about employment today, causing many
companies and employees to face low
income status. Wilkinson (1997) believed
that income inequality produces
psychosocial stress, which leads to
deteriorating health and higher mortality
overtime The effects of income inequality
also spill over into society, causing stress,
frustration and family disruption, which then
increase the rates of crime, homicide and

Figure 1. El Paso Star

Larissa Barraza - Analytical Report April 2016 Page 6

violence. It is known that people who live in

poverty are more likely to take or make
worst choices involving their health
concerns due to a lack of information and
income.
1. Mental Health
2. Depression

and within different classes many studies

have reported that low socio-economic
status is associated with high prevalence of
mood disorders.
In addition, longitudinal research in Stirling

Figure 2. Puzzle Pieces of Human Health

1. MENTAL HEALTH

Money is not a guarantor of mental health,

nor does its absence necessarily lead to
mental illness. However, it is generally
conceded that poverty can be both a
determinant and a consequence of poor
mental health. Poverty has been studied as a
worldwide problem concern not only
because of economic harm, but also the
relationship of poor health problems it can
impact on an individual. The New Haven
study in1958 (Hollingshead& Redlich,
1958) and the Midtown Manhattan Study
con-ducted a few years later (Langner&
Michael,1963) indicated that there was a
direct relationship between the experience of
poverty and a high rate of emotional
disturbance, as well as differential
availability and use of treatment modes and
facilities by different social classes.
According to this study it is believed that
correlation of mental health issues and
poverty is due to different health care access

County(Murphyetal,1991) indicated that

during the 1950s and 1960s the prevalence
of depression was significantly and
persistently higher in the low socioeconomic status population than to other
socio-economic status levels. Incidence of
depression after the study began was also
higher among those who were initially in the
low socio-economic status group, supporting
the view that the stress of poverty may be
causally related to depression. It Is evident
that social class may contribute to
psychopathological pattern of depressive
symptoms. If comparisons were made to
compare different studies, there will be a lot
of the people who show signs of depression
usually come from the lower classes where
as people who were more psychologically
sound came from higher classes.
2. DEPRESSION

Depression is the most common type of

mental disorder in the United States and is
defined as A period of two weeks or
longer by the National Institute of Mental
Health. Depression can affect both
adolescence and adults, and there are
symptoms to look for when identifying an
individual with depression. These symptoms
consist of the types of depression; Major
depression, chronic depression (known as
Dysrhythmia),
AtypicalUnder
depression,
Figure 3. Depression
CoverManic
depression, seasonal depression, and
psychotic depression.

Larissa Barraza - Analytical Report April 2016 Page 7

Figure 4. Depressed Couple

Early detection of abuse is fundamental,
according to experts detect signs of abuse in
a child, before its late to save their mental,
physical and emotional wellbeing. Schwebel
and experts (2002) propose a series of steps t
It is important to identify signs and
symptoms in order to seek help for these
individuals however, families or
individuals cannot afford health care and
receive the treatment needed. Living in
Poverty has developed many chronic health
problems such as:

Depression 30.9%,
Asthma 17.1%,
Obesity 31.8%,
Diabetes 14.8%,
High blood pressure 31.8%,
Heart attack 5.8%,
Cancer 6.3%, and
Cholesterol 25.0%

Summary: Mental Health problems and

depression have been in fact two main
reasons of why individuals have fallen into
the poverty line. It has been proven that
mental illness in fact does contribute
tremendously to poverty in many
individuals lives. Depression has been
proven to be the number one mental disorder
in the United Sates. Poor mental health is a
main concern in the U.S and in fact plays a
main role in Poverty.

Study Focus Two: Why has poverty escalated

throughout the years
The citys economic development
finds itself very low; Low-wage jobs have
been proven to cause low expectations and
low productivity investment. Low wage jobs
have been proven to be over populated since
this region itself Is considered a border town
city. It has also been proven that throughout

the years the population in El Paso have

increased since 1970. Being a border town
city with ciudad Juarez, Mexico, El Paso has
been not only affected by the population of
incoming families and individuals seeking
that American Dream of a better living
and education.

Larissa Barraza - Analytical Report April 2016 Page 8

1. POPULATION GROWTH
2. RISING OF LEGAL AND
IMMIGRANTS

White
Hispanic or Latino
Some other race
Black
African
Figure 5. Population
Pie or
Chart
American
Two or more races
Asian
ILLEGAL

1. POPULATION GROWTH

El Paso, Texas, the nations largest city

has shown rapid growth in population and
diversity. According to (CIS) El Paso
already being ranked as one of the major
poor cities, has gotten poorer relative to
the rest of the country. Poverty in the city
is now more than twice the national
average and average earnings a third
below it. (CIS) Not only jobs and
economic growth was affected but
schools an education as well. Throughout
the past ten years schools have increased
population growth as well meaning, the
rising of legal and illegal immigrants has
also been a huge impact to poverty.
According to The Borderplex Alliance
between 2000 and 2040 the population of
El Paso county is projected to grow by
69.7% percent. Based on the U.S Census
Bureau, El Paso is ranked 18th city with
the largest population increase from July
2007to July 2016.
Table 1. Population
by Races

Race

Population

Total Population

649,121

% of
Total
100

524,764
523,721
71,415

80
80
11

22,006

17,547
7,723

2
1
Below
American Indian
4,757
1%
Native Hawaiian or
Below
909
Pacific Islander
1%
Three or more
Below
876
Races
1%
Below
Native Hawaiian
153
1%
It has been shown that El Paso region is not
only populated by whites and Hispanics. El
Pasos population growth has increased
tremendously in the past years. As shown in
the chart above, El Paso region has a total
population of 649,121 individuals.

Table 2. Population
by Race and
gender

Male Female
Total Population 311,280 337,841 649,121
White
250,646 274,118 524,764
Hispanic or
245,926 277,795 523,721
Latino
Some Other Race 33,751 37,664 71,415
Black or African
12,228 9,778 22,006
American
Two or more
8,469 9,078 17,547
Races
Asian
3,305 4,418 7,723
American Indian 2,388 2,369 4,757
Native Hawaiian 493
416
909
or Pacific

Larissa Barraza - Analytical Report April 2016 Page 9

Islander
Three Or more
448
races
Native Hawaiian 85

428

876

68

153

As shown in Table 2. Female population in

El Paso drives higher than males
population. However, it is also being proven
that population in El Paso has grown
tremendously within a few years and has
been foreseen to continue that population
growth pattern within the upcoming years.
Population Growth is not the only factor
playing in with the high rate of poverty in
the region. It has also been proven that the
rising of legal and Illegal immigrants has
been a contribution to poverty in the region.
2.RISING OF
IMMIGRANTS

LEGAL

AND

ILLEGAL

Juarez, Mexico being a neighboring city,

affects El Paso in different ways, such as
with the violence Juarez had about four
years ago until today. Many Mexican
heritance families and individuals were
affected by the violence and migrated to El
Paso Texas for a better living and protection.
The rising entries of illegal and legal
immigrants workers from Mexico affect
and add to the economic status of the El
Paso region. This not only affects low wage
labor and skills for the employees at
minimum wage jobs, but it mainly targets
those American citizens who actually obtain
the right of a paying job in the U.S.

Individuals being affected are not only

employees but mainly students at public,
private schools and even universities
obtaining an education to provide a better
living for themselves and their families.
Most of the illegal immigrants that are
joining our region are Mexican or Hispanic
culture individuals mainly families seeking a
better living and better opportunities.
Having migrating families also affects
health care and welfare. Many of the
families that are coming to the U.S and El
Paso most do not have legal documents to
work and pay taxes all U.S citizens do, and
that causes harm to the region as a whole
causing conflicts for those legal residence
that do provide tax payments and deserve
the help of the government as U.S Citizens.
Figure 6. Border U.S/ Mexico

Summary: Focus study two demonstrated

how population growth and illegal and legal
migration affects our regions poverty and
how society does have a huge impact on the
high rate of population growth and on the
effects of legal and illegal immigrants. It
also focuses on points on how low wage job
opportunities and low jobs available is the
main effect on poverty in the region.

Study Focus Three: What can the community of El

Paso do to lower poverty rate.
As community it is extremely important to
understand the real problem El Paso region

has as a whole. Poverty like stated, is a

broad subject that implements many damage

Larissa Barraza - Analytical Report April 2016 Page 10

to anyone who lives within it.

Unfortunately, as El Paso citizens live it, it
should be an issue that should be addressed
and not ignored because just like population
keeps growing, poverty will be to. It has
been requested not only to have more job
vacancies, but to also have better jobs
available for the citizens. However, Better
Job opportunities come hand in hand with a
good education.
1.EDUCATION
2.UNPLANNED PREGNANCIES

Figure 7. Education

eliminate the option of low-wage jobs to

those who obtained a career. These
individuals will most likely seek a job with
high standards, benefits, and of course a
well-paying wage. These individuals will
further go and seek better opportunities to
better themselves and their lives. As society
evolves, it has been obvious that more
individuals will wait to begin their life with
a significant other. A graduate student is
more likely to obtain a career where he/she
will keep educated and further go their
education. Since 2010, statistics have shown
that many students or teenagers have
reduced the rates of unplanned pregnancies
and have shown that they are more likely to
wait to begin their life in marriage and start
a family.
It has been shown that the average
age for individuals to start their life is at the
age of thirty.

1.EDUCATION

It is Important now a day to obtain a carrier

and an education to obtain high economic
status and better job opportunities. Nobody
doubts that a better educated workforce is
more likely to enjoy higher earnings.
Education alone is an advantage against
poverty itself. Our economy, however, is
still structured to produce many low-wage
jobs. In Fact, the American economy will
continue to employee many different job
positions such as waitresses, waiters, retail
personal, and others like my immigrants will
work as housekeepers and maids.

Education is the key to success, and

without it is more than likely that
individuals will have hardship throughout
their life. Legal and Illegal migration have
different outcomes in individuals including
the region itself. Having the high rate of
illegal migration from Juarez, Mexico has
caused an impact on the working life of
those individuals.
Due to the fact that Poverty is a proven to be
a problem in El Paso, it plays a role within
low education, and poor health outcomes.
The Center of Immigration (2011) identify
that there is a link between poverty and
diseases.
A link between poverty, low
educational attainment and poorer
health outcomes with increased
morbidity and mortality is well
1

According to The American

Prospect, Education is only a partial cure
for poverty because of all the recent changes
in the labor market. However, it has also
been proven that being self-educated will

Larissa Barraza - Analytical Report April 2016 Page 11

established. Heart disease, diabetes,

obesity, elevated blood lead level,
and low birth weight are more
prevalent among individuals with
low income and low educational
attainment. (para.12.)
It is important to acknowledge these
important factors to produce positive
outcomes and lower the high rate of poverty.
Education does not only acquire a carrier
degree but mainly and most importantly
education in general. It is important to
educate about important factors such as what
is being affected and how the problems in
society can be reduced. Unplanned
pregnancies have become a problem that
needs to be acknowledged in our region,
since it is becoming part of what is causing
high rates of poverty.2
2.UNPLANNED PREGNANCIES

Unplanned pregnancies in the united

states have been shown to be dropped. 51%
of the 6.6 million pregnancies are unplanned
or unexpected. (Gladney Center of adoption)
A lot of people believe these pregnancies are
teenagers becoming pregnant; however teen
pregnancy rates have dropped dramatically
over the last ten years. Today, unintended
pregnancy rates are highest among women
aged 18-24. With this being proved it there
is no doubt that unplanned pregnancies are
dropping among teenagers.

coming into the world and poverty was not a

topic being considered and therefore they
would consider the birth of the child taking
the risk of living under poverty rate.
Figure 8. Unplanned Pregnancy

Summary: Focus study three in this report

presents the main reason of why the
importance of education and unplanned
pregnancies influence poverty in El Paso. It
focuses in presenting the main points in
education and the importance in obtaining a
high education for a better economic living.
It also implements points on why unplanned
pregnancies takes huge participation in
poverty.

About fifteen years ago un planned

pregnancies where high in rate for high
school teenagers who were becoming
mothers at the early age of fourteen. This
was a serious issue not only because
teenagers were becoming mothers at a
young age, but more because babies were
2Center of Immigration Studies. (2011, September).
Causes of poverty. Retrieved from www.cirtydata.com/poverty/poverty-El-Paso-texas.html

Larissa Barraza - Analytical Report April 2016 Page 12

Study Focus Four: which communities or area around

El Paso are prone to be affected by poverty.
El Paso region is known as one of
the regions with high poverty mainly
because of economic problems such as lowwaged jobs and unplanned pregnancies. It is
also very known that poor education is a
huge concern for some high schools in the
El Paso region known as (EPISD) districts,
most that are located in central El Paso. The
schools in this inner city face many
problems such as poor student performance,
high dropout rates, and poor education. The
Four schools in the Chamizal area are
ranked below the below the state average on
the state standardized exams that are
performed yearly at the end of every school
year. This area has been pruned to many
problems affected by poverty.
1. Chamizal Area
2. Central El Paso

Figure 9. Chamizal Area

1.CHAMIZAL AREA

Chamizal Neighborhood is the most

affected area in El Paso Texas. Chamizal
area has been known to house many
Mexican immigrants and is still known as a
popular area for being high in rate of
poverty. Today, Chamizal continues to have
a high population of Mexican immigrants
and residents consisting of Hispanic Spanish
speakers. According to 2000 census, the
population for Chamizal was 96% Hispanic
individuals and families. It has also been
researched that almost 59 percent of
residence and including children are
confirmed in living in poverty. (U.S. Census
Bureau, Census 2000.)
The
Poverty
El Paso (2012)
describes
Figure
10.inChamizal
Neighborhood
how economic status in el Paso county has
affected many individuals dealing with
economy, health care and mental disorders.
Schools and teachers have been ranked low
status in the lowest income rates in
Chamizal area.3
3 Disparities & Poverty Report. Retrieved from
http://wwwcompassion.com/poverty/poverty-quickfacts.htm

Larissa Barraza - Analytical Report April 2016 Page 13

https://www.google.com/search?
q=chamizal+area&biw=979&bih=472&source=lnms&tbm=isc
h&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiz1eCUyrrMAhVCWCYKHcTwCMQ_AUIBigB&dpr=1.4#tbm=isch&q=chamizal+area+neibor
hoods+in+el+paso+tx&imgrc=pZtwJ_brg6eh8M%3A

Chamizal area, the most affected by poverty

in El Paso and prone to stay in that status is
the main concern for El Pasoans and the
region over all. Chamizal is considered the
most prone to have Hispanic Spanish
speakers because it is the closest are to the
border next to the neighboring city of
Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua. It has been
proven that Chamizal area is populated by
most immigrants in what seems to be ironic
considering that it is near the border
highway and easy access to deportation.
2.CENTRAL EL PASO

Although the prone area is the Chamizal

area it is known as being part of Central El
Paso. Central El Paso location is also at a
high fine line rate of poverty as well. It is
known by many residences that Central area
is considered by many an Unsafe and
Unsecure environment. Many homes and
lands remain abandoned because residence
leave the area, for which has become an
issue in El Paso the population in that area
keeps decreasing.
Main concerns of safety in Central El
Paso are related to gang affiliation and
neighborhood safety leading to individuals
abandoning their homes and properties. The
high rate of homelessness and individuals
who are affected by mental illness are more
commonly seen in that rural area, for which
is why Central El Paso for many is the
second area prone to poverty in the region.
Figure 11. Central El Paso

Many Health problems such as

diabetes, chronic health problems are high in
El Paso. However, many residents do not
prevent or assist these health problems
because they do not obtain health insurances
because of the lack of money. This area is
confirmed to be the most affected area in el
Paso Texas, and is more likely to continue
being the poorest area, according to the
investigations being done in these areas and
poverty remaining at a high rate.
A deep recession beginning in mid2008 and a slow recovery have been
reflected in job layoffs, housing foreclosures
and society fear for the economic future.
The consequences have been catastrophic
and include increased homicides in
individuals and families. Poverty has driven
many different problems to individuals and
families encountering economic problems.
Poverty has traditionally been
defined as the lack of resources necessary
for material well-being most importantly
Food, land water, but also housing, land, and
health care. This lack of resources that leads
to hunger and physical deprivation is known
as absolute poverty. In contrast relative
poverty refers to a lack in material and
economic resources compared with other
group of people. One of the main factors
driving Americans into poverty is the cost of
medical care which most likely all
immigrants here in El Paso lack. Indeed, the
primary cause of bankruptcy is the inability

Larissa Barraza - Analytical Report April 2016 Page 14

ttps://www.google.com/search?

Figure 12. Absolute poverty vs. Relative poverty

https://www.google.com/search?

to pay hospital bills for those in critical

health.

low economic statuses it is prone to continue

the same. Not only are these areas affected
by homelands and poor or low status
families. It is also known to have the highest
rate of homeless individuals.

Summary:
Areas in El Paso such as
Chamizal and Central El Paso are prone to
high poverty rate and according to
investigations and high rates of poverty and

Results Discussion
Study Focus One: Correlation between mental health issues and state of
poverty
Larissa Barraza - Analytical Report April 2016 Page 15

The stresses associated with low income also contribute to substance abuse, domestic violence,
child abuse, and neglect. It has been known that there are three categories of poverty in general.
Poverty, absolute poverty, and relative poverty even though as a whole region of El Paso it has
been concluded that falls within poverty itself, many individuals living in the region can be
classified beneath absolute or relative. Poverty is the lack of resources necessary for well-being
which drives mental, physical and emotional problems to individuals or families.

Study Focus Two: Why has poverty escalated throughout the years

Population growth and the rising of legal and illegal immigrants is considered one of the main
reasons why rate of poverty in the region has escalated. Being a neighboring city to Mexico has
caused population growth to El Paso bringing many issues that lead to high escalation.

Study Focus Three: What can the community of El Paso do to lower

poverty rate.

The importance of obtaining an education shows statistical research of high income versus
individuals who drop out of school and never obtain any carrier degree. Another factor that can
be considered is lower the rate of unplanned pregnancies. Although teen pregnancies in general
are decreasing, poor adolescent girls are more likely to have babies as teenagers or to become
young single mothers. Early childbearing is associated with numerous problems, such as
increased risk of having premature babies or babies of low birth weight, dropping out of school,
and earning less money as a result of lack of academic achievement.
Study Focus Four: which communities or area around El Paso are prone
to be affected by poverty.

Chamizal and Central area of El Paso TX, suffrage from poverty is believed to be a the most
threatened areas of the city. Violence, low- waged jobs and rural areas show to have the lowest
income in all the region.

Conclusion and Recommendations

To conclude this formal analytical report, it
important to reinstate the four research
questions as they were the focus of this

review. The four research questions

mentioned below allow for the reader to

Larissa Barraza - Analytical Report April 2016 Page 16

focus on the fundamental effects of the high

poverty rate focusing in El Paso region.
1. what is the correlation between mental
health issues and the state of poverty?
2.Why has poverty escalated throughout the
years?
3. What can the community of El Paso do to
lower poverty rate?
4. Which communities, or area around El
Paso are prone to be affected by poverty?
These four research focus questions allowed
for the subtopics of poverty, implementation
of mental illness, low-waged jobs, health
issues, substance abuse current problems in
the region the and the right to address
problems in the region to lower the rate as a
whole.
Lack of education, healthcare,
population growth and mental illness are all
properties and causes poverty in El Paso
Region. Many individuals and Chamizal
Area have been proven to be the most
affected. Population in El Paso has increased
and is prone to increase about 69.7 percent
more. Education as a whole has increased
and many individuals now are more likely to
obtain a career do to opportunities offered,
but education however is still lacking in the
central area of El Paso focusing more on the
El Paso school districts.

It has also been concluded that Mental

Illness plays a major role and is linked and
by hand with poverty. It has been proven
that poverty causes stress on individuals
along with other mental and health
disorders.
As a whole, the region of El Paso
should implement these areas to better
economy in the region and lower poverty
rate. link between poverty, low educational
attainment and poorer health outcomes with
increased morbidity and mortality is well
established. Heart disease, diabetes, obesity,
elevated blood lead level, and low birth
weight are more prevalent among
individuals with low income and low
educational attainment.
Poverty rate has been proven to be at high
rate, because of many implementations as a
region which at times there is no control.
Such as the low-waged jobs. That is why the
importance of working as a whole to those
problems that can be changed do change.
Suffering from poverty in the region can be
challenging for society, mainly for those
who suffer from severe poverty. Helping
those individuals would eliminate them from
living on the streets and causing more
violence. The Facts of poverty in a
hometown like El Paso harm many weather
it is a child or an adult, an individual or a
family that is why the changes need to be
done today, for a better living and a better
tomorrow.

Appendix A. References
Anderson, Andrews, Angelina, Ector, Hale,
& Hood and Montgomery. (2013, April 29).
El Paso County Profile. Retrieved March 22,

2016, from
http://www.txcip.org/tac/census/profile.php?
FIPS=48141

Larissa Barraza - Analytical Report April 2016 Page 17

Center of Immigration Studies. (2011,

September). Causes of poverty. Retrieved
from www.cirty-data.com/poverty/povertyEl-Paso-texas.html

http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/about/fo
undation-health-measures/Disparities
Klasen, H., & Crombag, A. C. (2013). What
works where? A systematic review of child
and adolescent mental health
interventions for low and middle
income countries. Social psychiatry and
psychiatric epidemiology, 48(4), 595611.doi: 10.1007/s00127-012-0566-x

Disparities & Poverty Report. Retrieved from

http://wwwcompassion.com/poverty/povertyquick-facts.htm

El Paso, Texas (TX) Poverty Rate Data.

(2013, January 12). Retrieved March 3, 206,
from http://www.citydata.com/poverty/poverty-El-PasoTexas.html
Flores, L. (2009). Addressing the
Mental Health Problems of Border
and Immigrant
Youth. Retrieved from
http://www.centerforchildwelf
are.org/kb/cultcomp/borderim
migrantyouth.pdf
Families & Living Arrangements. (n.d.).
Retrieved April 3, 2016, from
http://www.census.gov/
statistics highlight trends in household and
family composition, describe characteristics
of the residents of housing units, and show
how they are related.

Louis-sanchez, M. S., & Hobba, S. (2014,

December 4). Poverty rate growing in El
Paso County. Retrieved March 30, 2016,
from http://gazette.com/poverty-rategrowing-in-el-paso-county/article/1542549
Larkins, C. (2016, March). Enacting
Childrens citizenship: Developing
understandings of how Children
enact themselves as citizens through
actions and Acts of citizenship.
Childhood, 21(7), 1-15. Doi:
10.1177/0907568213481815
R., & Delgado, M. (2015, October
6). Occupational wages. Retrieved
March
28,
2016,
from
http://www.borderplexalliance.org/re
sources
Simcox, D. (1993, September).
Immigration,
Population,
and
Economic Growth in El Paso, Texas.
Retrieved April 19, 2016, from
http://cis.org/ImmigrationInElPasoLaborMarke

Healthy People 2020. n.d. Disparities.

Retrieved from

Glossary
A

Absolute Poverty: The lack of resources

that leads to hunger and physical
Larissa Barraza - Analytical Report April 2016 Page 18

deprivation.

B
Border line of poverty: Limit of economic
status that falls within the level of Poverty.
Child Poverty The phenomenon of
children living in poverty. This applies to
children that comes from poor families or
orphans being raised with limited, or in
some cases absent, state resources.

D
DepressionFeelings
despondency and dejection.

of

severe

H
Hypertension Also referred as High
Blood Pressure, is the high pressure of the
blood, pushing the arterial walls, depriving
the heart to receive the normal amounts of
oxygen.

Illegal Immigrants The migration of

people across national borders in a way that
violates the immigration laws of the
destination country.

L
Legal Immigrants- A green card holder
(permanent resident) someone who has been
granted authorization to live and work in the
United States on a permanent basis.
Low-wage worker- An individual who
earns less than two -thirds of the median
hourly wage for full time workers.

M
Mental Illness: a condition that impacts a
persons thinking, feeling or mood and may
affect his or her ability to relate to others
and function on a daily basis.

P
Poverty: The lack of resources necessary
for material well -being.
Population Growth: The increase in the
number of individuals in a population

Larissa Barraza - Analytical Report April 2016 Page 19

R
Relative Poverty: A deficiency in material
and economic resources compared with
some other population.

Larissa Barraza - Analytical Report April 2016 Page 20