This report assesses employment, economic and welfare changes in nine central city Milwaukee zip codes based on nine years of institutional data, including state income tax filings, property tax records, welfare administrative records, county child care payment files, state motor vehicle registrations, state driver's license applications, and city crime reports. The 2000 income and 2001 welfare data used are more current than the U.S. 2000 Census - which collected information on 1999 income and public assistance payments and will release these data by neighborhood in 2003.

Overall, the 2001 indicators continue to point in a positive direction for central city neighborhoods. Employment levels, earned income tax credit use, housing values and child care funding show increases while violent crime rates are down. At the same time there are areas of concern that continue to persist: flat home ownership rates, a high number of driver's license suspensions, a declining number of married tax filers, and declining access to food stamps and medical assistance.