Women living in poverty face many challenges to becoming independent and self-reliant. They must develop a healthy self-confidence and motivation that will lead to personal development. They must take the initiative when pursuing their educational needs. They must recognize the limitations of having little or no experience in the workforce. They also often struggle with mental illness or periods of mental anguish.
Depression coupled with anxiety attacks are relatively common among women in poverty.
These mental conditions feed into the poverty cycle. Women in poverty are also exposed to excessive violence. Furthermore, they live in the isolation that is brought on by living in neighborhoods with high crime rates. In 1985, Renaissance Housing Corporation developed 186 units of new and rehabbed housing in this neighborhood. There are five gangs operating in the neighborhood, with approximately 150 members.