D. LORNE COYLE, MDiv.

The Recession is over?

Commercial space is being occupied. New restaurants are opening. Hotel occupancy is way up from two years ago. Gas prices are down. Giving to the United Way is up. New home construction is booming again.

The Great Recession is over.

Or is it?

Not for everyone in Indian River County:

• While unemployment is down from its 14% peak in 2010, it is still almost twice as high as in pre-recession 2006
• The number of Indian River County citizens in poverty has increased to 14% from 10% in 2006
• The number of homeless in the County has grown to 1048 from 741 in 2006
• Births to single mothers have increased to 47% from 43%
• And the children? Today 21% of our children under 19 years old live in poverty vs. 16% in 2006.