Preview

Face Of Poverty In The United States Today

Best Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2518 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Face Of Poverty In The United States Today
Poverty in the United States

Liberty University
Introduction to Human Services
HSER 500
Dr. Alicia Akins

Abstract

Poverty is one of the most serious issues in the United States today. Those that are affected were once the minority of society is now emerging as the majority. The new faces of poverty would surprise many people. It is no longer the face of the pleading face of a middle-aged man on a city street holding up a sign that says “Hungry, Need Help.”, or the face of a young child in a classroom, whose only real meal today will be a free school lunch. It is also the sad face of a single mother who doesn’t have enough money to buy clothes for her children.
The truth is that the scope of poverty is evolving …show more content…
With all of the opportunities and resources this country possesses, there are millions of people who are unable to obtain the basic needs in life such as food and shelter. In fact the demographics of individuals have changed dramatically in recent years. They are now becoming part of the population living in poverty. (Lund, 2012, p. 213)
Poverty can be described in many ways, such as the state or condition of having little or no money, goods or means of support. Some measure their standard of living according to number of material items they possess, such as internet access, cable television, and luxury vehicles. Economic Indicators refer to poverty in statistical terms and numerations. In 2011 the poverty rate was 15%. 46.2 Million Americans living at or below the poverty line. However what these definitions and figures do not illustrate that the face of poverty is no longer that of the destitute or indigent individuals and families. Poverty is now becoming a part of mainstream …show more content…
(2007). Restoring the American dream: Fighting Poverty and strengthening the Middle Class [Journal Article]. Journal of Gender, Race and Justice, 10(3), p. 383.
Jacob, H. S. (2011). Reclaiming Middle Class America [Journal Article]. The American Prospect, 22(2).
Bartow, J. (2012). Contemporary Sociology: A Journal of Reviews [Journal Article]. , 42(2), 300-301.
Jones, W. C. (2013, January 7, 2013). Georgia Public Schools could move to student based funding. The Florida Times. Retrieved from www.floridatimes.com
Ladd, H. F. (2012). Education and Poverty: Confronting the Evidence [Journal Article]. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 31(2), 203-227. Retrieved from
Littlefield, M. (2008). The Black Church and Community Development: The next phase of Social Equality [Journal]. Western Journal of Black Studies, 29(4), 687-693.
Lund, C. (2012). Poverty and Mental Health: a review of practical policies [Supplemental Article]. Mental Health Law Weekly, 213.
Martin, M. E. (2011). Introduction to Human Services (2nd ed.). [Coursesmart.com version]. Retrieved from Boston, MA
McAlpine, C. H. (2008). Elder Abuse and Neglect [Special issue]. Oxford Journal of Medicine,
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Best Essays

    Week 6 Final Assignment Rohr
    • 2343 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Week 6 Final Assignment Rohr

    Poverty is an unfortunate situation for many. “Traditionally, poverty has been understood as a condition of severe deprivation – a condition that was more than inconvenience and which was likely to have adverse consequences for physical efficiency and well-being” (Sarlo, 2007, p.6). This paper will focus on the statistics of age, race and sex demographics that it affects in the United States, in addition to the many causes that can bring about this situational lifestyle. These causes include, but are not limited to recessions, substance abuse, the lack of employment, wage inequality, population increases, and the declining health of poverty stricken people. The lasting effects of poverty will also be examined to attain a better understanding of the various stakeholders that influence this issue. It is with this information that the possible solutions to resolve this dire living situation can be derived in order to establish a better means to equality in the United States.…

    • 2343 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Best Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Why Is The Great Gatsby Bad
    • 904 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Why Is The Great Gatsby Bad

    ”In 2014, the official poverty rate was 14.8 percent. There were 46.7 million people in poverty.” This statement from the US census is utterly shocking, to think that 46.7 million people not achieving “The American…

    • 904 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Poverty: The Silent Killer
    • 850 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Poverty: The Silent Killer

    Poverty is a significant issue in our world today where many cannot afford the basic necessities to stay alive. Approximately 1.2 billion people live in poverty and go to bed hungry every day. Poverty is well-known throughout the world; poverty may affect anyone who lives from month to month pay check. In addition, some poverty is so extreme that someone has to live outside and under a bridge with their clothes in a shopping cart and some poverty is where you can’t get food, shelter, and education, and medical assistance when they need it. People living in poverty are used to living in crowded conditions which occurs in exposure to infectious diseases, which results in deaths. Moreover, the lack of education results…

    • 850 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Social Welfare Programs Broken
    • 1454 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Social Welfare Programs Broken

    Poverty is not a monetary problem but a wide-ranging social issue that involves many factors including inadequate education, healthcare, and self-esteem. 12.5% of the population, more than 37.3 million people, suffer from poverty in the US and if something isn’t done soon, millions more will be pushed deeper into the poverty pool. The government has tried to create social welfare programs to end poverty and eradicate unemployment but these programs don’t address the main issues, only containing the problem. In recent years, the government has wanted to reduce the number of people on welfare and to cut back on funding for their social service programs. Although this is a difficult issue, after further examining the evidence, the government…

    • 1454 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Child Poverty In Texas Research Paper
    • 2163 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Child Poverty In Texas Research Paper

    The first is whether poverty should be defined in economic terms, or as part of a broader social disadvantage. The economic definition of poverty is typically based on income measures. The poverty line is calculated as the food expenditure necessary to meet dietary recommendations for children. It is then supplemented by a small allowance for nonfood goods according to the Census Bureau. Poor means lacking not only material assets and health. This also includes capabilities for social belonging, cultural identity, respect, dignity, information, and education. (United States Census Bureau, 2015)…

    • 2163 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Persistent Poverty In America
    • 68 Words
    • 1 Page

    Persistent Poverty In America

    In our failed efforts to put an end to poverty in America, it is still remains alive and well, leaving millions of Americans to subject themselves to strenuous acts just to feed themselves and their families. The problem of persistent poverty is a complex one that makes people living in America finding themselves unable to make ends meet, for themselves in the competitive, through no fault of themselves.…

    • 68 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Poverty In America Research Paper
    • 1037 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Poverty In America Research Paper

    The U.S. is among the richest countries in the world today, yet millions of people still live below the poverty level. The number of American children living in poverty is increasing day by day. “Poverty in America has become a great menace to children’s wellbeing as it affects them emotionally, socially, and even in their school performance (Wood 720)”. Poverty in America is mainly caused by lack of jobs and minimum wage. Moreover, the rise in the cost of living can be said to also cause poverty in the US. Indigence exists in America despite the fact that it is among the richest nations in the world and The Glass Castle illustrates a family that lived in poverty in the US.…

    • 1037 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Middle Class Is Falling Into Poverty In The United States
    • 831 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Middle Class Is Falling Into Poverty In The United States

    In the United States, known to many as the land of opportunity, is composed mostly of the middle class. The middle class, making up the majority of our nation’s population, is falling into poverty. As the rich are getting richer, also known as the top one percent, the poor are getting poorer. Falling into poverty can negatively affect people’s health, education and families eventually weakening economy and democracy. During the year 2010 about 15.1 percent of Americans lived under the official poverty line while another 100 million people were struggling to get by with low incomes making below two times below the poverty line (about $44,700 a year for four people).…

    • 831 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Poverty In America
    • 878 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Poverty In America

    Poverty has been on the rise in America, mainly because of the recession and now it is reaching new heights. Even though the government is trying to make more beneficial tax cuts, and find other various solutions, poverty levels continue to rise drastically. But to first find the solution ourselves we must first know what causes poverty and what it is. A simple definition of it is, poverty is the state of one who lacks a certain amount of material possessions or finances. Absolute poverty refers to the deprivation of basic human needs, which commonly includes food, water, sanitation, clothing, shelter, health care and education.…

    • 878 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Child Hunger In America
    • 1678 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Child Hunger In America

    One of the most devastating tragedies that both kills and makes people suffer all over the world is poverty. What many people do not realize is how widespread and serious this issue really is. In the United States one in seven households were food insecure last year which adds up to 17.4 million households and 16 million children facing the devastating effects of hunger. Getting the needed food and nutrition is critical to children's emotional and physical development and if no one tries to help who knows what will become of the millions of children who do not get the food and supplies that is required to live a normal life. Poverty not only effects children, but people in all parts of the United States from the most rural areas to big urban…

    • 1678 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Poverty in America
    • 2010 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Poverty in America

    Walking down the streets of New York, one may see someone who looks like they could use a bath, a meal, and most likely, a place to sleep. We recognize these people as homeless and know that they are on the bottom rung of the poverty ladder. While these are the most obvious group at the bottom, many people don’t realize that the neighbor they live next to could be below the poverty level also. They may have a place to live but they cannot afford to put food on the table. The child that a person’s son or daughter sits next to in class may not have had breakfast that morning because their mom and dad paycheck had to go to keeping the electricity on and paying the rent that month. Without assistance from the government, these families would not survive. Poverty affects more than 43.6 million people in the United States. (Kendall, 2013, 34) There are more commercials about supporting children in third world countries then feeding our own children at home in the U.S. We send millions to Somlia, yet the children living on our streets continue to suffer. Most Americans believe that we need to fix the poverty issues here before we attempt to try and fix other countries.…

    • 2010 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Poverty In The United States
    • 2924 Words
    • 12 Pages

    Poverty In The United States

    Throughout the last century, poverty has been a major issue in the society of the United States. The government has tried to help those who are living in poverty through numerous acts including Franklin D. Roosevelt's plans to get the country out of the depression or the welfare reform in 1996. Although the government has sought to ease poverty, mainly by creating government anti poverty programs, their methods are in fact ineffective. The Federal governments anti poverty programs as a majority is not working, the programs may very well work for a few people out of thousands, but that is unquestionably not enough. Furthermore the government's methods to eliminate poverty have caused people to become dependent on government anti poverty…

    • 2924 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Personal Experience: Poverty In The United States
    • 994 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Personal Experience: Poverty In The United States

    People from all over the world have seen poverty in their life. Poverty means lack in the position of money in the individual or the society which prevents them to have the basic needs of living like food, water, and shelter. Every country in the world has a percentage of poverty that shows how the country’s economy is affecting the people’s life. For example, my home country Yemen, has a high percentage of poverty that reaches 85% of the population. I have seen poverty in my neighborhood in daily basis which had shaped my point of view in how I see poverty. There are many stories in life that teaches us about poverty and its affects and we as individuals should fight that in every way possible.…

    • 994 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Individual And Social Causes Of Poverty In America
    • 895 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Individual And Social Causes Of Poverty In America

    Poverty is the state of being poor, and in America, over fourteen million people are unemployed according to the playspent website (n.d.). Poverty line is when an individual’s income does not cover necessities. Near poverty are individuals earning twenty-five percent above the poverty line (Boundless, 2016). There are two different types of poverty causes: individual and social. According to Boundless (2016), someone living in social property is probably illiterate since they do not have access to education. Social causes of poverty, also known as relative poverty, are more of lacking economic access. This includes lacking education, health cares, political power, and information access. Individual poverty, also known as absolute poverty, is on the poverty line. They could not afford to cover necessities.…

    • 895 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Epidemic Of Poverty
    • 1568 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Epidemic Of Poverty

    Poverty is affecting a significantly large amount of students worldwide and even though the United States is the richest nation on earth, poverty is currently having a powerfully negative impact; furthermore the numbers of those affected here are growing ominously. Author Ellen S. Amatea’s article states that in the United States alone, national…

    • 1568 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More

Related Topics