{"id":28,"date":"2015-02-12T22:25:16","date_gmt":"2015-02-12T22:25:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stories.kera.org\/inside-neighborhood\/?p=28"},"modified":"2016-04-22T13:48:55","modified_gmt":"2016-04-22T13:48:55","slug":"the-cost-of-not-having-a-bank","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stories.kera.org\/inside-neighborhood\/the-cost-of-not-having-a-bank\/","title":{"rendered":"A Mistrust Of Banks Comes At A Price"},"content":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s a lot of good happening in Jubilee Park, including a sparkling community center and a dramatic drop in crime. But life here in the shadows of Fair Park is anything but easy. The unemployment rate is twice the state average. In parts of the community, the median income is just $16,000. In Jubilee Park, even a bank account is hard to find.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n
<\/p>\n

\"Photo\/Lara

A tiny street called Congo Street is in the heart of Jubilee Park. Both the street and neighborhood are in transition. Photo\/Lara Solt<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/figure>\n

Sometimes, the story of a neighborhood comes into focus on a single city block.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Welcome to Congo Street.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a short street — just a block long — and it\u2019s the heart of a place called Jubilee Park.<\/strong><\/p>\n

When the weather\u2019s nice and the sun\u2019s out, folks flock to their porches. Half a dozen homes have been renovated and retrofitted and are as neat as pins.<\/p>\n

Down the block, though, Congo Street is pockmarked with old, weathered houses, a vacant lot and a few beat-up cars.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a street in transition, much like the neighborhood, sandwiched between Interstate 30 and Fair Park.<\/p>\n

\"jubilee10NEW\"

Photo\/Lara Solt<\/p><\/div>\n

Lifelong residents of Jubilee Park are grateful for what\u2019s already changed, especially the drop in crime.<\/p>\n

Quincy Williams, 43, has lived in the neighborhood since he was a boy. The place has changed for the better, he says.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can walk around,\u201d he said. \u201cTen years ago \u2026 you couldn\u2019t do that, without getting mugged. You can exercise, walk your dog. Your kids could be outside playing and you don\u2019t have to worry about drive-by [shootings] or anything like that. It\u2019s good.\u201d<\/p>\n

But bring up finances or banks? Be prepared for skepticism.<\/p>\n

Chris Crowley is 35 and has a steady job at Target, but no bank account.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just not trusting of banks, you know?\u201d he says. \u201cElectronically, things go wrong. I know if I get my check \u2026 it\u2019s mine. It ain\u2019t going to get lost; a hacker ain\u2019t going to get it. Ain\u2019t no misplacing or I need a code to get my money.\u201d<\/p>\n

On payday, Crowley forks over one dollar of every hundred he makes to cash his check. To him, it\u2019s worth it.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou read about everyday some bank is losing information,\u201d Crowley says. \u201cAnd I got bills to pay and I ain\u2019t got time to tell the light company, \u2018Hey, I can\u2019t pay y\u2019all right now because there was a glitch and my money\u2019s lost.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Marcus
\nQuincy Williams says he wants the freedom to pay his bills on his own terms. \u201cI can bank my own,\u201d he says. Photo\/Lara Solt<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\n
Banking\u2019s OK, but banking\u2019s not for me.
Quincy Williams, a Jubilee Park resident<\/div>
<\/div><\/div>\n

Video snapshot: Meet a Jubilee neighbor<\/h3>\n

Ella Garrett has lived in the neighborhood since 1977 — before the place was called Jubilee Park. She heats water with a fire to save on her electric bill. In this video, she talks about how Jubilee has changed — and how she’s saving for retirement.
\n<\/em><\/p>\n