Inner east Dayton, Ohio comprised of Twin Towers, St. Anne’s Hill, South Park, Newcom Plain, and parts of Walnut Hills and Linden Heights neighborhoods, has nearly 15,000 residents. Some of the demographics of the community include:
- 85% white Appalachian, 9% Hispanic, 6% other (primarily Middle Eastern and African American)
- Very non-traditional family structures – there are many single parent households in the community, primarily female heads of household
- Education levels, like income levels, are very low. 36% of all households in three of the target neighborhoods listed above are living at or below the federal poverty guideline.
- Primary concerns of residents in these neighborhoods, as identified by the Percept Group, is “the basics.” The median income in the target neighborhoods is between $15,000 in the poorest neighborhoods and $28 to $35,000 in the wealthiest ones. Twin Towers neighborhood is currently 75% rental-occupied and is becoming increasingly populated by highly transient families who are struggling to make ends meet. Most families, while transient, are moving from house to house within the same basic neighborhoods because they are unable to move out of the community. Lack of education makes it difficult for adults to secure and keep living wage jobs.
- There are nine churches in the target neighborhoods, every one of which is made up primarily of non-resident members who drive in from the suburbs and all of which are rapidly declining in attendance and membership. In addition, the average age of worship participants in these congregations is over 65 according to the pastors of these congregations. Very few neighborhood residents attend any church (with the primary exceptions being pockets of Roman Catholic residents) and the churches that these few attend are found outside of the neighborhoods.
- A social service agency in the community is providing connection to job training and referral, youth and children’s programming and services for families and individuals. It is widely accepted that while many community social service needs are being addressed, the spiritual needs of the community are being neglected. The community is depressed with domestic violence, prostitution and addiction issues and high levels of family dysfunction. Most of these issues can only be meaningfully addressed when individuals are “transformed by the renewing of their minds.”
Our primary target is the underserved Appalachian community that lives in the surrounding neighborhoods, though we are praying for a partnership with those who have the gifts and passion to reach the rapidly growing Hispanic population (now 9%).
