Poverty in America Essay - 1197 Words

Everyone knows what the word poverty means. It means poor, unable to buy the necessities to survive in todays world. We do not realize how easy it is for a person to fall into poverty: A lost job, a sudden illness, a death in the family or the endless cycle of being born into poverty and not knowing how to overcome it. There are so many children in poverty and a familys structure can effect the outcome. Most of the people who are at the poverty level need some type of help to overcome the obstacles. There are mane issues that deal with poverty and many things that can be done to stop it. The Federal Government defines poverty as income that falls below the United States Poverty threshold. (Begun 95). If a person†¦show more content†¦In 1935 the government started the Social Security Act which gave workers benefits if they were fired or forced to quit their job. It also gave benefits to disabled workers.(Cooper 978 In the 1990s America saw more poverty than ever before . The increase in the manufacturing business helped by creating more jobs for workers. These workers then received benefits from working.(Cooper 981). The lowest level of poverty was recorded in 1973 with only 11.1 percent of America living at or below the poverty line. In America at that time there were twenty-three million people falling into this category. Today there are still about thirty-six million people considered poor. This is almost fourteen percent of the population. The big cities saw a bigger decline also. Nebraska was one of thirteen states in 1995 that had poverty rates below ten percent. The majority of the nation except Hawaii and Idaho, had falling poverty rates. The United States as a whole had a poverty rate of about 13.8 percent in 1995.(Poverty Rates 8). There are four types of poverty. The four main types of poverty are class, regional, cyclical and case. The types of poverty are different with everyone who is considered poor. The first type of poverty, class, refers to social classes. This is a low status compared to the rest of the nation. Ethnic customs and laws usually cause this. Ethnic minor ities are discriminated against and are a large portion of this type ofShow MoreRelatedPoverty in America840 Words   |  4 Pagesabout poverty’s history in America and its definition, the causes/reasons of poverty, the effects of poverty on America, and the salaries of people in poverty. Poverty is the state or condition of having little to no money or goods. In America, poverty started being a major issue in the late 1950s when it reached 22.4 percent of the American population. Throughout the 1960s, poverty steadily declined, and reached 11.1 percent in the year 1973. Over the next 10 years, poverty alternated between 11.1Read MorePoverty in America1093 Words   |  5 PagesPoverty in America Poverty, the state of being extremely poor, exists all over America! There are several different types of poverty, and the causes of poverty. Most people think of poverty as just somebody who is homeless and has no job, somebody who has no money to support the basic needs of life, and wears ragged clothing and lives under a bridge. What people don’t know is there are people living in poverty that have jobs and make money but live so poorly that they are categorized with peopleRead MorePoverty in America1999 Words   |  8 PagesPoverty in America A Social Problem 3/22/2013 Rebecca McNamara Abstract Poverty has been around as long as there has been an America. Programs have been set in place to help offset the issue, such as Food Stamps and housing. The government’s implementation of some of these programs is to ensure that the poor have a place to sleep and adequate meals to eat. There are issues with these programs that contribute to the furthering of poverty, but for the most part are more helpful than harmfulRead MorePoverty in America1874 Words   |  8 PagesPoverty is an epidemic that has swept the American nation many times over. Whether it be quietly lingering under the surface, or blatantly staring us in the face as it is in this current recession, it affects people across America on individual, community and national levels alike. While there are many causes and effects of poverty, it is important to view the issue of poverty and its causes from all angles when one seeks to tackle the problem. These factors include socio-economic status, mentalRead Morepove rty in america2346 Words   |  10 Pagesï » ¿ Poverty has always been with us from beggars outside the gates of Jerusalem to the mentally ill homeless woman in the park. America is known for our huge difference in culture and class. This is due partly to the dynamics behind the political decisions of this country. The president himself admits that America is more unequal than it’s been since the great depression and many of his own supporters say he has failed. America now has, by many standards, the lowest social mobility of all of the high-endRead MoreCause Of Poverty In America787 Words   |  4 Pagesyou can see, there are more than the basics of poverty. These poor people struggle on a daily basis to provide the needs of themselves and their family. Poverty affects adults and their children in so many ways. I believe that poverty should be one of the main focuses of America. I have deep sorrow for these people doing whatever they can to make money. I think that poverty needs to be decreased in the United States. I d on’t know how the people in poverty do it. They have a weight that they are carryingRead MorePoverty in Latin America1502 Words   |  6 Pages Poverty, or the inability to afford basic human needs, is an issue that is spread worldwide. There are people everywhere who cannot afford shelter, food, healthcare, or education. It seems easy enough to ignore the bum asking for change on the street, but it becomes near impossible in regions where whole families are begging on the street. This rings true in Latin America and it is extremely frustrating to see social inequality this extreme. This essay will examine how much poverty exists inRead MoreThe Socialization Of Poverty : America1552 Words   |  7 PagesThe Socialization of Poverty. Envision America different from what we know. A different, yet real America, which exists in a time unknown, an America that is no longer governed by hate and cruelty. Imagine parents no longer struggling to pay the bills, no people lying ill on the streets, or children starving at night. A time where a specific economic status does not evoke disapproval, crime, and suspicions. Imagine America healing and progressing from its earlier judgments and degradation of peopleRead MorePoverty And Its Effects On America1380 Words   |  6 PagesWhat are the main reasons there is so much poverty in America? In the past 30 years, poverty has increased drastically leaving many people homeless and helpless. Adults, as well as the children, are left on the streets to seek different ways to aid their families. If a working family member is injured, then it is up to the others to find ways to care for the injured and at the same time set food on the table. Many women also work to aid their families , however, when a woman works at a factory sheRead MorePoverty And Its Effects On America894 Words   |  4 PagesPoverty is one of largest problem in the whole world, because thousands of people are affected by this major concern. Poverty is an issue that inflicts many dangerous situations, such as, crimes, diseases, lack of literacy, hard labor, etc., and therefore, it is essential to resolute before it gets worse. For example, United States is having risen in unemployment rates, which indicates the early symptoms, that citizens have started submerging into poverty. In most of the poor countries crime ratio