The Effects Of Poverty In The United States

Community change s something that is needed in many areas in the United State due to the high amount of people that suffer from poverty. When considering poverty many people only think about how adults are affected by job loss, mortgages, bills, and health care but they often do not consider the affects poverty has on youth. Many may not think poverty affects youth but it often does in almost all areas of life. Many people who life in poverty may have poor health and nutrition and may even lack health insurance and have access to less health care. Parents of children in poverty may be less nurturing resulting in less secure attachments because of the parental stress. Many adults in poverty suffer from adult depression, parental conflict which
can cause their children to have less social support and puts them at a higher risk for suffer from abuse, neglect, childhood depress, and behavioral problems. Living in a lower income area can also mean that there are less childcare options, less after school activities, a higher high school drop-out rate, and consequently lower college attendance. Lastly, being in poverty can result in more housing problems and poor neighborhood quality. All of which can be stressful on youth and puts them at a disadvantage compared to the majority, which is the middle class population. Even though many of the families in poverty do are able to depend on their neighbors through collective efficacy, that might not mean that their children are receiving the best influence and guidance. Despite all of the problems youth in poverty endure, Youth Advocates Program in Lebanon county offers a variety of programs to intervene and help youth get out of the cycle of poverty to have a more successful life.