GLT News Series: The Voices of Poverty

Check out this series of reports done by WGLT on poverty in McLean County. It is a great, in-depth look at what is happening in just one Illinois County.

GLT News Series: The Voices of Poverty

Bloomington-Normal is known for its high employment and has a reputation as a well-to-do white-collar community. But there are individuals and families in McLean County whose low-income status forces them to make daily choices between what most would consider necessities. The GLT Newsroom takes an in-depth look at the problem facing McLean County's poor through the series The Voices of Poverty in McLean County. During GLT news updates May 12th through 16th, listen to stories of how these people cope with a variety of issues ranging from transporation, to health care to housing...in their own words.

You can participate in this series.

Learn more and submit your question now.

Series Schedule:
Monday May 12--Preview
Tuesday May 13--Food
Wednesday May 14--Transportation
Thursday May 15--Housing
Friday May 16--Health Care

Read the Mid-America Institute on Poverty's 2008 Illinois report

The Voices of Poverty Pt. 1 (mp3) Air Date: 05/12/08Run time: 4:49Poverty knows no boundaries. Low income people and families are everywhere…even in a community known to be affluent, such as Bloomington-Normal. In the first of the five-part GLT News Series, "The Voices of Poverty" WGLT’s Willis Kern introduces you to some of the people who struggle everyday with issues many take for granted.

The Mid-America Institute on Poverty's Amy Rynell outlines some of the indicators of poverty in McLean County. (2:32)

The Voices of Poverty Pt. 2 (mp3) Air Date: 05/13/08Run time: 5:14In the last five years, home energy costs have gone up 60-percent. Food costs are up more than 20 percent, and gasoline prices have gone through the roof. This pushes quite a few people who were already close to the economic edge right over. In part two of the series Voices of Poverty, WGLT’s Charlie Schlenker reports on the problem of just getting fed.

The Mid-America Institute on Poverty's Amy Rynell:
discusses what's happening to wages in Illinois 1:03
outlines policy choices for a way forward 6:44


The Voices of Poverty Pt. 3 (mp3) Air Date: 05/14/08Run time: 4:36Getting around can present huge challenges, and consume a lot of time for people struggling to make ends meet. And with gasoline prices at historic highs, things are only getting worse. WGLT's Jim Browne looks at the issue of transportation in the third installment of the series, "The Voices of Poverty."

Safe Harbor Homeless Shelter resident Lynferd Keeran talks about how he gets around town.


The Voices of Poverty Pt. 4 (mp3) Air Date: 05/15/08Run time: 5:21Economic pressures eroding the housing market are being felt in McLean County. As Willis Kern reports in part four of the GLT News series The Voices of Poverty, more and more people are struggling to find a place to lay their heads at night.

Homeless Shelter residents Scott and Darlene talk about struggles they face.


The Voices of Poverty Pt. 5 (mp3) Air Date: 05/16/08Run time: 5:28The number one cause of bankruptcy in the U-S is medical bills incurred by a health crisis. And the poor and low income can afford health problems least of all. In the final part of the series Voices of Poverty, WGLT’s Charlie Schlenker sheds light on the size of the problem for people and providers in McLean County.

BroMenn Healthcare CEO Roger Hunt:
tells stories of people given charitable care 3:33
talks about people at risk of losing it all 1:14

Community Health Care Clinic Board President Kathryn Copley talks about when she was a patient at the clinic 7:42

Community Health Care Clinic Director Shirley Drazewski discusses coverage gaps 2:43