Morris Heights

Through the bustling sounds of the urban city streets, is a place beaming with life and diversity. My neighborhood, Morris Heights, one of the many sectors of the Bronx, is home to people from all parts of the world. From the local bodega found in every corner, to the number of beauty salons found on every street, Morris Heights is the breathing ground to New York’s low income-working class residents and much more.

According to demographical data, Morris Heights has been known to be one of the poorest communities in America for decades. A study by Zillow, an online local information database revealed that in comparison to the rest of the nation, Morris Heights has a household income of about $20,800. This is due to the amount of people who hold minimum wage jobs, or who receive welfare or other types of public assistance.

The study also concluded the type of people that live in Morris Heights and classified them into mainly three different types. The first is classified as being Foreign born Urbanites. These are individuals who were born outside of the United States and live in the city. The study explains that they are people who range in age and have had some college and high school education and are working in an array of occupations. The second classification is deemed as being a melting pot. These are urbanites that have a low income and speak a foreign language. They are residents that are employed in service jobs because they have a high school education or even lower. The last classification is called Urban Bootstrappers. These are single parent residents who support their children on a low income. The study concluded that a high portion of them are females with a high school education and rent out their homes to cover some costs.

Still, this neighborhood, which houses an estimated population of over 45,000, made up primarily of Puerto Rican, Dominican and African decent, has an up-and booming middle class made up of homeowners and business-owners. With a new health clinic under-way, Morris Heights is making room for more construction on affordable housing complexes, Coops and family practices that the government hopes will help create jobs. The government’s goal is to keep many Morris Heights residents off of public assistance and provide them with new job opportunities, which will ultimately help in boosting the economy for this neighborhood. Residents hope these new changes will hold a brighter future for Morris Heights.