What does it take to rise out of poverty? Baltimore launches a pilot program to find out

Fewer than 10% of Marylanders live below the poverty line, but in Baltimore, the ratio is much higher, with one in five people living in poverty. There is no shortage of reasons why the rate in the state’s largest city is stubbornly high. Often, poverty simply begets more poverty. Individuals born into certain city neighborhoods will have a tougher time finding employment opportunities and decent housing, health care and transportation, and they are more likely to be impacted by crime and substance abuse.