Unemployment within the city limits further fuels the underbelly of poverty. Unemployment rates in Richmond in August 2013 were 8.2% (U.S. Department of Labor, 2013). These rates represent only those who are documented as unemployed and do not take into account the "underemployed" because they may be working but not paid for a full work week. These unemployment rates would likely be higher if they were accurate and included all unemployed people in Richmond. Virginia's statewide unemployment rate was 5.8% in August 2013 (U.S. Department of Labor). The unemployment rate is linked to education. There are not enough well-paying jobs to support those who have not completed basic high school. There are not enough good-paying jobs to reach city citizens who lack adequate transportation. Transportation seems to be a constant barrier to getting and securing full-time employment in the city and outside the city limits. Households in Richmond have access to limited bus service routes and 18% of residents report not owning a private means of transportation such as a vehicle (Poverty Commission, 2013). To get a well-paying job, you need to be able to get to work. Lack of reliable and adequate transportation is a major barrier that prevents many urban dwellers from being self-sufficient. Guaranteed jobs must be organized around bus schedules which often do not correspond well with work schedules. Employers often choose to hire employees who do not face these barriers. Access to employers willing to pay a living wage appears to be limited for residents of the City of Richmond, as this barrier appears to guarantee their place in public housing. Unlike... middle of paper ... in pockets of poverty, crime will be mitigated. Breaking down pockets of poverty is a geographic project that is not an easy solution. In order to explore how the city ended up with these pockets of poverty, we need to go back several decades and start with racial segregation. The city of Richmond has a history of race relations and segregation that is anything but pretty. The current state of poverty and disorganization in Richmond and other cities like it is no accident. Not only was it very specific and intentional, but it had the signature of the federal government everywhere. How did Richmond end up with these neighborhoods that seem doomed to crime, unemployment, and a sense of hopelessness and helplessness? To understand the current state of poverty and crime in Richmond, Virginia, we need to go back in time to see where it all began..