This document gives a brief of how suburbs of cities are turning into slums. During past recessions, American cities became centers of poverty and crime. But this time, it was the suburbs that suffered. Between 2000 and 2008, suburbs saw their poor populations grow by 25 percent — almost five times faster than urban poverty growth. Urban gentrification is one-factor driving poor people out of cities. Other factors include immigration dynamics, the availability of affordable housing, and the decentralization of jobs that pay lower wages.