The Interconnected Cycles of Poverty, Substance Abuse, and Mass Incarceration

In the United States, cycles of poverty, substance abuse, mass incarceration, and restricted access to essential resources are deeply interconnected and widely documented. Many communities face homelessness, unemployment, infrastructural decay, food deserts, and a near-total absence of governmental support-except for an overwhelming law enforcement presence. These crises are not isolated but part of a broader structural pattern shaped by deindustrialization, racialized economic policies, and the systematic withdrawal of public investment. Cities like Schenectady, New York, in the Capital District, exemplify these conditions and are hampered by failure to approach them systematically as part of a recognizable pattern that has unfolded over the past 50 years. Economic collapse and systemic neglect have left entire communities struggling to survive, overwhelming harm reduction efforts by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as Youth Life Support Network Inc. These organizations provide critical services-including addiction rehabilitation, affordable housing assistance, and reintegration programs for formerly incarcerated individuals-often acting as the sole advocates for the communities they serve while pushing for systemic change. For the past two years, I have conducted ethnographic research with Youth Life Support Network, examining its role in Schenectady's community. My research explores the organization's key programs, including 1Life2Live, a gun and gang violence prevention initiative; L.E.A.D. (Let Everyone Advance with Dignity), a community outreach and public health program; and Back2Life, a county jail-based initiative that advocates for and assists incarcerated individuals. Through this research, I analyze the limitations of non-profits in addressing systemic issues, as well as their critical role in mitigating harm where government intervention has failed.