The IBM Smarter Cities Challenge has issued its report on how Rochester is addressing the poverty crisis.
Rochester was chosen as one of 16 cities to participate in the Challenge, and a team from IBM has 13 recommendations and a roadmap to support the Rochester Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative's goal of cutting poverty in half over the next 15 years.
The Initiative's Director, Leonard Brock, says the recommendations from the IBM team mirror many of the suggestions the Initiative outlined last fall.
He says 2016 is the year of implementation.
"We're looking to build on the recommendations and the findings of the IBM report. We're going to focus on the roadmap that we laid down in September, mentoring and navigating and providing support services, and help place people with the appropriate jobs."
Brock says that includes creating a system that will break down some of the silos, or overlaps and gaps in service delivery.
IBM's analysis concludes there’s an urgent need for the city to transform its approach.
The full report can be found at: : www.cityofrochester.gov/innovation