DETROIT (WXYZ) — Nearly half of Detroiters say they are likely to run out of money in the next three months due to the COVID-19 crisis, according to a University of Michigan survey.
One in five say they will, assuming families do not receive additional support.
The survey is from UM's Detroit Metro Area Communities Study. Detroiters were polled from March 31 through April 9.
"The DMACS survey results show Detroiters are not only concerned for their health but also their economic well-being during this pandemic," said Jeffrey Morenoff, one of the faculty research leads for DMACS and director of the Population Studies Center at U-M's Institute for Social Research. "We hope early insights into how the coronavirus outbreak is impacting Detroiters can help inform policy responses that directly address the community's needs."
The survey found that Detroiters are most concerned about being able to care for family and friends and getting the health care they need during the pandemic.
"Imagine not being able to provide for your family all of a sudden ... especially after establishing [yourself] to a point where [you] shouldn't have to just try and survive," said one survey respondent.
According to the survey, 35 percent of Detroiters employed full-time or part-time before March 1 lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic.
"The survey results show racial disparities in who has the financial means to weather this crisis as well as who is able to socially isolate and alter their work activities to help prevent the coronavirus spread," said Lydia Wileden, a doctoral candidate at U-M who analyzed the DMACS COVID-19 survey data. "Responses to the pandemic in Detroit need to take into account those disparities and include all residents in the recovery from this economic disruption."
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