April 28, 2015
Camden has been designated a "Promise Zone" by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Along with five other cities, one rural community, and a Native American reservation, Camden will be working with federal, state and local agencies to provide resources to local leaders in order to improve the quality of life in the city.
HUD cites Camden's high rates of poverty, unemployment, violent crime and child obesity as well as low school performance as reasons for the designation. The Camden Promise Zone Plan will aim at achieving five goals:
The Promise Zone Initiative is a program launched by the Obama Administration in January 2014 that is aimed at increasing the standard of living in struggling areas. Philadelphia was one of the five areas chosen when the program began.
HUD touts several programs started as a result in Philadelphia since the designation, such as career training for youth involved in the justice system, Drexel University's efforts to increase access to high quality child care, and additional security cameras in areas that have experienced high rates of crime.
Yet a January report from Al Jazeera notes that it is difficult to tell whether any of the positive changes that have occurred in the poorest sections of Philadelphia, such as West Philadelphia, came as the direct result of the initiative.
No specific policies have been announced yet regarding the Camden program. Yet several of the local partners who will be working with the Promise Zone Initiative have been, including the Campbell Soup Company, Cooper's Ferry Partnership, and the local school district, housing authority and metro police.
