Poverty & lack of Opportunity

Poverty and lack of opportunity add to the vulnerability of communities when conflicts erupt, climate and natural disasters hit, and epidemics break out. The overlapping and often mutually reinforcing calamities and catastrophes displace people, looking for immediate safety, protection, and opportunities for a secure future. Here are a few ways in which poverty and lack of opportunity can cause displacement:

• Gentrification: Low-income residents can be displaced through direct displacement, exclusionary displacement, and displacement pressures. Direct displacement can be caused by rent increases or building rehabilitation. Exclusionary displacement can happen when housing choices are limited for low-income residents. Displacement pressures can occur when a neighborhood changes, making services and support systems that low-income residents rely on unavailable. Gentrification can also exacerbate racial inequality and force low-income people to move from cities to the suburbs. 
• Disasters: Poverty can be a cause and consequence of disaster risk, especially drought. Disasters can cause displacement, loss of life, injury, damage, and loss of livelihoods. Evacuations can also be difficult for poorer people. 
• Climate change: Climate change can contribute to poverty and force people to migrate to survive. For example, extreme droughts can destroy harvests, and wildfires can worsen air pollution and make food less nutritious. 
• Immigration controls: Living under immigration controls can force people to live in hostile circumstances where they are denied community and creativity.