AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) – Hunger, poverty and homelessness impact even the richest and most powerful nations, as well as the most charitable and affluent communities in the United States. Amid continued efforts to deal with the fallout of inflation and the COVID-19 pandemic, WalletHub compared more than 180 US cities to create a snapshot of where Americans are struggling the most.

The WalletHub report compared cities based on 28 key factors of economic disadvantages, such as child poverty, food insecurity and uninsured rates. The chosen metrics were graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the highest level of economic disadvantage.

Where did the High Plains fall on the ranking?

Out of 182 US cities, WalletHub ranked Amarillo, Texas as the 73rd “Neediest” city in the country. While Amarillo seemed to stand within the median range for economic well-being at number 96, it was also the 25th-worst regarding health and safety.

The neediest city in the US, according to WalletHub, was Detroit, Mich. Meanwhile, Columbia, Md., was considered the least-needy city on the list.

The full findings, methodology, and expert insights for the WalletHub “2022 Neediest Cities” ranking can be found here.

Regarding ongoing responses to hunger, poverty and homelessness in the Amarillo area, organizations such as the High Plains Food Bank and Heal the City join other local nonprofits in working to provide food, medical care, and other resources and services to community members. Further, the City of Amarillo has partnered with a number of businesses and churches for a safe space shelter and resource center for unhoused and underserved populations called “Transformation Park,” which is currently in its planning and design stages.

Neediest Cities in America

Overall Rank*	City	Total Score	Economic Well-Being	Health & Safety
1	Detroit, MI	63.63	1	2
2	Brownsville, TX	58.83	6	4
3	Cleveland, OH	57.27	4	10
4	Gulfport, MS	57.18	18	5
5	Fresno, CA	55.99	2	47
6	Laredo, TX	55.28	25	8
7	Philadelphia, PA	55.15	3	56
8	New Orleans, LA	54.90	15	15
9	Los Angeles, CA	54.86	9	20
10	Shreveport, LA	53.65	14	32
11	Augusta, GA	53.56	16	34
12	Birmingham, AL	53.30	40	6
13	Newark, NJ	53.17	10	50
14	St. Louis, MO	52.79	26	13
15	Fort Smith, AR	52.65	78	1
16	Indianapolis, IN	52.30	8	70
17	Baltimore, MD	52.27	5	82
18	Toledo, OH	51.37	27	33
19	Jackson, MS	51.22	12	94
20	Corpus Christi, TX	51.17	74	7
21	Baton Rouge, LA	51.17	21	55
22	Memphis, TN	51.16	35	14
23	Huntington, WV	50.90	38	16
24	Chattanooga, TN	50.74	45	12
25	Richmond, VA	50.34	13	103
26	Atlanta, GA	50.30	7	122
27	San Bernardino, CA	50.17	36	26
28	Columbia, SC	49.72	17	110
29	Miami, FL	49.72	32	39
30	Little Rock, AR	49.65	47	18
31	Fayetteville, NC	49.62	31	42
32	New York, NY	49.26	20	100
33	Mobile, AL	49.16	48	22
34	Wilmington, DE	49.14	23	93
35	Dover, DE	48.98	11	131
36	Houston, TX	48.79	73	9
37	Rochester, NY	48.71	22	106
38	Hialeah, FL	48.65	50	29
39	Columbus, GA	48.60	41	37
40	Stockton, CA	48.43	34	62
41	El Paso, TX	48.06	56	24
42	Newport News, VA	47.95	64	28
43	Providence, RI	47.77	24	120
44	San Antonio, TX	47.76	61	23
45	Long Beach, CA	47.67	29	105
46	New Haven, CT	47.64	19	132
47	Akron, OH	47.51	33	87
48	Milwaukee, WI	47.45	49	49
49	Las Cruces, NM	47.16	53	54
50	Albuquerque, NM	47.12	55	40
51	Tulsa, OK	47.10	85	11
52	Las Vegas, NV	47.08	57	35
53	Oklahoma City, OK	47.06	66	31
54	Dallas, TX	47.01	69	30
55	Springfield, MO	46.86	127	3
56	Lubbock, TX	46.66	87	17
57	Montgomery, AL	46.59	44	72
58	Greensboro, NC	46.44	70	38
59	Tucson, AZ	46.40	65	44
60	Bridgeport, CT	46.32	39	99
61	Norfolk, VA	46.13	37	109
62	Bakersfield, CA	46.09	54	67
63	Oakland, CA	45.88	51	77
64	Buffalo, NY	45.82	46	95
65	North Las Vegas, NV	45.47	63	64
66	San Francisco, CA	45.37	90	21
67	Cincinnati, OH	45.31	42	114
68	Glendale, AZ	45.16	71	63
69	Phoenix, AZ	45.09	72	65
70	Honolulu, HI	45.08	81	36
71	Chicago, IL	45.05	43	112
72	Washington, DC	44.79	28	153
73	Amarillo, TX	44.67	96	25
74	Winston-Salem, NC	44.60	62	91
75	Kansas City, MO	44.45	84	51
76	Wichita, KS	44.43	115	19
77	Boston, MA	44.31	30	152
78	Knoxville, TN	44.29	92	45
79	Tallahassee, FL	43.91	75	85
80	Portland, OR	43.81	80	71
81	St. Paul, MN	43.52	58	123
82	Spokane, WA	43.49	117	27
83	Jacksonville, FL	43.46	79	86
84	Lewiston, ME	43.37	116	43
85	Fort Lauderdale, FL	43.27	77	97
86	Santa Clarita, CA	43.03	52	140
87	Sacramento, CA	43.00	60	128
88	Grand Prairie, TX	42.97	103	57
89	Columbus, OH	42.88	59	130
89	Manchester, NH	42.88	68	126
91	Nashville, TN	42.84	97	69
92	Oxnard, CA	42.64	76	108
93	Grand Rapids, MI	42.51	82	101
94	Modesto, CA	42.38	67	136
95	Louisville, KY	42.31	93	88
96	Salem, OR	42.15	114	75
97	Fort Worth, TX	41.95	104	78
98	Charleston, WV	41.93	118	58
99	Rapid City, SD	41.93	112	83
100	Orlando, FL	41.89	102	81
101	Reno, NV	41.79	126	53
102	Salt Lake City, UT	41.69	136	41
103	Nampa, ID	41.68	132	60
104	Garland, TX	41.63	111	79
105	Jersey City, NJ	41.55	100	96
106	Anaheim, CA	41.36	129	61
107	Denver, CO	41.36	106	92
108	Irving, TX	41.27	120	74
109	Arlington, TX	41.13	121	76
110	Anchorage, AK	41.10	139	52
111	Mesa, AZ	40.96	88	125
112	Santa Rosa, CA	40.89	86	127
113	Seattle, WA	40.81	123	80
114	Tampa, FL	40.57	99	119
115	Ontario, CA	40.52	101	121
116	Santa Ana, CA	40.46	110	107
116	Burlington, VT	40.46	125	90
118	Tacoma, WA	40.44	144	59
119	Huntsville, AL	40.39	107	116
120	Minneapolis, MN	40.35	83	144
121	Tempe, AZ	40.34	108	111
122	Fort Wayne, IN	40.21	95	134
123	West Valley City, UT	40.18	133	89
124	Missoula, MT	39.60	162	46
125	Des Moines, IA	39.49	94	147
126	Charlotte, NC	39.46	105	135
127	St. Petersburg, FL	39.45	142	84
128	Garden Grove, CA	39.24	137	98
129	Omaha, NE	39.21	113	129
130	Moreno Valley, CA	39.21	91	148
131	Colorado Springs, CO	38.99	130	115
132	Fontana, CA	38.89	109	142
133	Riverside, CA	38.70	134	118
134	Billings, MT	38.54	170	48
135	Worcester, MA	38.52	98	151
136	Austin, TX	38.50	141	104
137	Charleston, SC	38.40	89	159
138	Lexington-Fayette, KY	38.40	119	137
139	Glendale, CA	38.15	150	102
140	Pittsburgh, PA	37.87	122	146
141	Portland, ME	37.83	147	124
142	Aurora, CO	37.77	135	133
143	Vancouver, WA	37.74	163	68
144	Henderson, NV	37.66	128	141
145	Port St. Lucie, FL	37.47	151	117
146	Casper, WY	36.58	175	66
147	Durham, NC	36.29	146	145
148	Lincoln, NE	36.07	152	139
149	San Diego, CA	36.04	138	149
150	Cheyenne, WY	35.56	167	113
151	Yonkers, NY	35.54	140	157
152	San Jose, CA	35.22	131	166
153	Juneau, AK	35.19	179	73
154	Pembroke Pines, FL	35.14	157	143
155	Peoria, AZ	34.92	149	154
156	Oceanside, CA	34.88	148	158
157	Aurora, IL	34.86	124	176
158	Chula Vista, CA	34.39	145	165
159	Boise, ID	34.27	165	138
160	Raleigh, NC	34.18	143	168
161	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	33.78	159	150
162	Cape Coral, FL	33.68	154	160
163	Cedar Rapids, IA	33.32	153	167
164	Scottsdale, AZ	33.21	156	163
165	Chandler, AZ	32.92	158	164
166	Virginia Beach, VA	31.99	160	171
167	Sioux Falls, SD	31.74	172	161
168	Fargo, ND	31.61	173	162
169	Chesapeake, VA	31.44	155	179
170	Madison, WI	31.28	164	173
171	Nashua, NH	31.22	174	155
172	Warwick, RI	30.84	171	172
173	Gilbert, AZ	30.58	169	174
174	Huntington Beach, CA	30.50	168	175
175	Fremont, CA	30.28	161	181
176	Plano, TX	30.05	177	156
177	Irvine, CA	29.77	166	180
178	South Burlington, VT	27.38	176	178
179	Pearl City, HI	26.87	180	169
180	Overland Park, KS	26.30	181	170
181	Bismarck, ND	26.16	182	177
182	Columbia, MD	25.26	178	182

Note: *No. 1 = Neediest
With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that city, where a rank of 1 represents the worst conditions for that metric category.

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