Poverty In The Unites States
Running Head: Poverty in the United States
Poverty in the United States
Idris Malone
Axia College
220/COM Research Writing
Mark Hassenstab
12/10/2010
Poverty In The Unites States
If one has ever watched the movie “Friday,” 9 out of 10 people are familiar with the
infamous line, “Y'all ain't never got two things that match. Either y'all got Kool-aid, no sugar.
Peanut butter, no jelly. Ham, no burger”. The movie is based on two African American teens
living in the poor area of South Central, Los Angeles. Most people view this movie and the
infamous line as harmless comedy making fun of poor people. In reality, these are everyday
situations that affect people and families who live in poverty. Being a single mother raising
three children on welfare was not an easy task. She would always tell the children, “Do not be
like me.” She had dropped out of school in the ninth grade. Refusing to go back to school to
earn her diploma or GED, she relied on the welfare system to help feed and take care of her
family. Pork and Beans became a household favorite because that would be the only thing in the
pantry to eat. At times, we would substitute water for milk in order to eat cereal. Having peanut
butter with no jelly might be funny to others but it is a reality to people living in poverty.
Poverty exists because of a poor economy, cutbacks in government funding, and inflation on the
cost of living.
Poverty has incapacitated the citizens of the United States for several years now. The
government believes the recession has arrived and diminished the hearts and souls of people who
have surrendered to this hardship. There are many reasons why people are living in poverty such
as, homelessness, low wage jobs, drugs and alcohol, lack of education, and job outsourcing. As
these circumstances increase, the poverty rate continues to rise substantially.
Firstly, how does one determine if they are living above or below the poverty line? There
is a certain criteria described by the Department of Health & Human Services one has to coincide
with. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services in 2009, the poverty
guidelines for the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia were determined by how
Poverty In The Unites States
many people lived in a single household times their yearly income to establish if someone fits the
criteria of living in poverty. Table one show the poverty guidelines for persons in single family.
Table 1
The 2009 Poverty Guidelines for the
48 Contiguous States and the District of Columbia
Persons in family
Poverty guideline
1
$10,830
2
14,570
3
18,310
4
22,050
5
25,790
6
29,530
7
33,270
8
37,010
For families with more than 8 persons, add $3,740
for each additional person.
From the Federal Register, Vol. 74, No. 14, January 23, 2009, pp. 4199–4201
Homelessness is a major factor one has to consider when poverty issues are discussed.
Each year, it is estimated that approximately 3 million people are homeless. 1.3 million of those
people are children (NLCHP.org (n.d.). The government programs that were put in place to
protect the American people have failed. According to the NLCHP.org (n.d.), “Increasing rents,
destruction of existing low-income housing, and cuts in federal housing programs threaten the
availability of affordable housing” (Homelessness & Poverty in America, n.d.). Without
affording housing while the cost of living increases daily, the chances of a person or typical
family being homeless is substantially high. In today’s society, people cannot maintain a
household and pay utilities working a minimum wage job.
Programs that are still available like Habitat housing or Section 8 has long waiting list. It
takes some people up to six years or more to get approved for subsidized housing. Estimates
indicate that there are twice as many low-income families searching for homes as there are
Poverty In The Unites States
affordable units available (NLCHP.org, n.d.). These programs are set in place to help low
income families but there is certain criterion one has to meet. In order to qualify for subsidized
housing, one has to make at least $15,000.00 a year. Companies that are not capable of
sustaining this economical crisis are forced to lay off employees or cut their hours to a minimum
per week. These cut backs do not allow employees to earn the $15,000.00 a year income that is
required to qualify for assistance.
The recession of the United States caused many thriving cities to slowly deteriorate
economically. For example, the city of Detroit was known for its growth by way of the
automotive conglomerates that brought jobs to this city. Table 2 depicts the poorest cities
ranking them from one through ten for the year 2007.
Table 2
Poorest American cities
(Population over 250,000)
Rank City
Median household income,
2007
1
Detroit, MI
$28,097
2
Cleveland, OH
$28,512
3
Miami, FL
$29,075
4
Buffalo, NY
$29,706
5
Pittsburgh, PA
$32,363
6
Cincinnati, OH
$33,006
7
St. Louis, MO
$34,191
8
Newark, NJ
$34,452
9
Memphis, TN
$35,143
10
Toledo, OH
$35,216
From the Poorest American Cities. Adapted from U.S. Census Bureau Annual Report, 2007.
A group of homeless people took matters into their own hands and developed their own
community to provide shelter, food, and teach others the skill sets that are needed to become
productive citizens again. According to Finley, (2003), “Dignity Village is an experiment in
Poverty In The Unites States
democratic self-governance and independent living for homeless people (The Faces of Dignity,
2003). She further states, “It grew from the “Out of the Doorways” campaign organized by a
group of un-housed people in Portland, Oregon, who protested the way the shelter system
patronizes homeless clients, and who challenged the area’s continuing lack of sufficient beds and
space to meet the needs of the local poor and homeless (Finley, 2003). They grew tired and
weary of the harsh treatment and lack of concern for the homeless community. These homeless
people felt the government and its system failed to provide adequate food and shelter. The
homeless felt people believe they are homeless by choice. People in better situations seem to
think there are opportunities for some of these homeless people but they refuse to work for it.
Dignity Village is made up of people of diverse backgrounds: Native Americans,
Latina/o, and African-Americans; Christians, Rastafarians and Muslims; heterosexuals, and gay
and transvestite men, and lesbian women (Finley, 2003). According to Finley, (2003), “In about
18 months, over 135Dignity Village residents have successfully transitioned from the village into
housing, and shelters, police, and other social agencies include Dignity Village as a referral
choice” (The Faces of Dignity, 2003).
The government feels they have given adequate means of support to the homeless that is
allowed within their budget. The economy is in a bad shape and the government does not
enough money to available to equally spread around. A lot of the money given to these shelters
is from donations.
Companies believe that downsizing the workforce or cutting hours is necessary to
maintain a successful business. Owners feel they are made out to be the bad guy in this tough
economic situation and people fail to realize these companies cannot continue to pay high wages
when consumers are not spending money. Continuing to pay high wages is suicide with the
Poverty In The Unites States
economy being as bad as it is. General Motors is an automotive conglomerate company that was
forced into bankruptcy due to the recession, plus people were not buying new cars.
A vast number of people feel that homelessness is an option. People have a choice to be
homeless or not. There are not a lot of good paying jobs but any job is better than none.
Everybody falls short in their life at one point or another, life is about brushing the dirt off one’s
shoulder and keep on going. People believe that as long as some of these homeless people can
take advantage of what the government has to offer, there is no need to work.
Similarly, children are suffering from poverty in America. According to Sherman,
(1991), “ Nearly 13 million children live in poverty” (Para 2). In rural America the poverty rate
of children is 22 percent--one out of every five (Sherman, 1991). In 1991, 13 million children
lived in poverty. Since that the time, the number of children living in poverty has risen.
Children signify an inconsistent contribution of the poor in the United States. They are
25 percent of the total population, but 35 percent of the poor population. In 2008, 15.45 million
children, or 20.7 percent, were poor. The poverty rate for children also varies substantially by
race and Hispanic origin, as shown in the table 3
Table 3
Children Under 18 Living in Poverty, 2008
Category
Number (In Thousands)
Percent
All Children under 18
15, 451
20.7
White Only
4, 850
11.9
Black
4,480
35.4
Hispanic
5,610
33.1
Asian
531
13.3
Non Hispanic
From the Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: Adapted from
U.S. Bureau of the Census Annual Report, 2009.
Poverty In The Unites States
As one can see, the Black and Hispanic community rank the highest amongst all ethnic
groups with children living in poverty. Statistics conclude that children are highly to live in
poverty then adults living in the United States. During the 1980s, when child poverty soared, the
poverty rate for persons 65 and older steadily declined, dropping nearly one-fourth (Sherman,
1991).
Many people believe that child poverty exists mainly in the urban communities and these
children belong to single families raised by mothers on welfare. According to Sherman, (1991),
“An analysis of Census Bureau Data by Northeastern University's Center for Labor Market Studies shows
that in 1989 only one in 7 poor children in America was a poor black or Latino child living in a femaleheaded family on welfare in a central city” (Para 9). In reality, all ethnic groups produce children
who live in poverty. One has to realize that all ethnic groups are living in urban areas for the
purpose of public housing that is affordable. A lot of children of all races are being raised within
a single parent household for whatever reason. In today’s society, with the economy on a
downward spiral, it is likely to see different ethnic groups living on the same block, intertwining
within the same schools, and maybe interracial relationships.
For some children, the consequences of poverty can be deadly Several years ago the
Maine Health Bureau found that poor children were more than three times as likely as other
children to die during childhood and estimated that 10,000 children die from poverty in the
United States each year (Sherman, 1991). Sherman further states, “The vast majority of poor
children do not die from poverty, but their health and development and eventual capabilities and
productivity as workers, parents, and citizens often are damaged by the deprivations of growing
up poor” (Sherman, 1991).
A child growing up poor does not stand a chance of becoming a productive citizen unless
they have determination and will power to succeed in life. Children living in poverty are most
Poverty In The Unites States
likely to drop out of school, serve jail time, or possibility dead. They are stereotyped by many
as under-achievers.
Society does not want to take responsibility for these children living in poverty.
Educators feel they can learn if they push forward and do not let their living situations defer
them from being successful. Growing up without both parents in the household is a hurtful thing
but that does not mean these children have to do things that are unethical. One does not have to
turn to a life crime just because they are raised by a single parent, live in public housing, or does
not having the nicer things that are displayed by the media.
Hurricane Katrina left a legacy of destruction, mental abuse, and people homeless.
According to Alter et al., (2009), “It takes a catastrophe like Katrina to strip away the old
evasions, hypocrisies and not-so-benign neglect” (The Other America, 2009). It takes the sight of
the United States with a big black eye--visible around the world--to help the rest of us begin to
see again (Alter et al., 2009). The citizens of the United States hope that Hurricane Katrina
would make the people of Washington realize that there is a problem with their system to help
people recover from natural disasters. Hurricane Katrina left a substantial amount of people
homeless, forced to move to other states, and suffering the hardships of poverty. The Bush
administration faced scrutiny for their lack of participation and support to help the people of
Louisiana recover from extinction. Alter et al., (2009), quotes a statement from Senator Obama
at the time, “I hope we realize that the people of New Orleans weren't just abandoned during the
hurricane, they were abandoned long ago to murder and mayhem in the streets, to substandard
schools, to dilapidated housing, to inadequate health care, to a pervasive sense of hopelessness”
(The Other America, 2009). Before the destruction of Hurricane Katrina, homelessness and
poverty were not topics discussed by media television. Nobody wanted to hear about poor
Poverty In The Unites States
people. The media’s main concerns were the war in Iraq, GDP growth, and stock market. The
incident of 9/11 received more attention and help from people across the nation verses the lack of
concern for the people of Louisiana. Today, there are numerous of people living in Louisiana
who has not recovered and living in the streets. Crime in Louisiana has risen as well as the
murder rate.
Poverty exists because of a poor economy, cutbacks in government funding, and
inflation on the cost of living. In certain states such as Michigan, jobs have become scares as the
economy continues to disintegrate. Detroit and Flint were two of the United States thriving cities
because of the automotive conglomerates that built successful businesses there. The demand for
American made vehicles decreased substantially which forced General Motors and Ford to cut
jobs in order to turn a profit and keep cost low. A Lot of people became unemployed and force
to work low paying jobs. The average wage is $7.40 an hour. Depending on the size of one’s
household and utility expenses, $7.40 an hour is not enough income monthly or yearly to live
hassle free. The average person making $7.40 an hour roughly makes $10 to $13,000.00 a year.
The government system that is set in place to help the homeless people is not working. A lot of
shelters have to close its doors early to the homeless because they do not have enough room to
house them. Funding is limited therefore, it is a first come first serve basics. Children are the
ones suffering the most. Living in poverty seems to have a negative effect on our children.
Studies show that single family household children are likely to self destruct. What are we doing
to help these youth? Nothing, the media refuses talk about the situation. Nobody is concerned.
Poverty exists for various reasons, whether we make bad choices in life or it is a situation that
was out of our control. However one decides to look at it, poverty is increasing rapidly and there
has to be a way to stop it from further consuming people’s lives and making it difficult to live.
Poverty In The Unites States
Reference
Alter, J; Contreras, J; Childress, S; Silver-Greenberg, J; Underwood, A; Wingert, P. (2009).
Newsweek (Pacific Edition), p14-20, 7p. Retrieved November 5, 2010,
from the MasterFile Premier database
Finley, S. (Jul/Aug2003). International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education (QSE),
p509, 23p, 9. Retrieved November 5, 2010, from DOI: 10.1080/0951839032000099525
NLCHP.org (n.d.). Homelessness and Poverty in America. Retrieved December 9, 2010
from http/www.nlchp.org
Sherman, A. (1991). Choices: The Magazine of Food, Farm &Resource Issues, 3rd Quarter,
p22, 4p. Retrieved November 5, 2010, from the MasterFile Premier database
U.S. Census Bureau. (2009). Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United
States: Statistics of Children Under 18 Living in Poverty: 2008
U.S. Census Bureau. (2007). Statistical abstract of Poorest American Cities: 2007
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2009). HHS Poverty Guidelines: Statistics of
The 2009 Poverty Guidelines for the 48 Contiguous States and the District of Columbia: 2009