Poverty in America
The Census Bureau’s annual social and economic data report on income, poverty and health insurance came out today, bringing mixed news about Americans’ unmet needs. On the plus side, the poverty rate fell from 12.6 percent to 12.3 percent -- 490,000 fewer people living in poverty. On the minus side, the poverty rate was still 12.3 percent, or 36,460,000 people.
One thing that often gets lost when we talk about poverty is the human face of it. Poverty is not a percentage. It’s a little girl who goes to school when she’s sick because she needs the free lunch. It’s a father who knocks on a neighbor’s door to ask for food for his children. It’s a family of four living in a tiny, noxious FEMA trailer that bakes in the sun and trembles in the wind. It’s a daily state of privation and insecurity endured by 36.5 million Americans, and the fact that we accept it is a serious moral issue. The decline in poverty is good news for 490,000 people, but that is dwarfed by the bad news of 36.5 million people still unable to meet their needs. We need to remember that when we order our political priorities.
PS, the adequacy of the Census Bureau’s poverty threshold isn’t something to be taken as valid on its face, but that’s a topic for another post.
Comments
The writer here has it absolutely correct. Poverty is not a percentage point, but then who can argue that having more than 40% of your communities population below the poverty line is a good thing. That is the case in Brownsville, Tx, which is once again, the poorest city in the U.S.
Posted by: Marco Grimaldo | August 29, 2007 03:01 PM
POVERTY IN AMERICA: Beyond the Numbers
To call attention to the needs of Americans trapped in poverty this holiday season, Catholic Charities USA will release findings of its annual survey showing how Catholic Charities agencies are working to address the pervasive issue of poverty in this country.
As one of the largest social service networks in the country, Catholic Charities agencies serve 4.1 million people living below the poverty line. That’s 1 in 10 people living in poverty. These agencies understand the consequences of poverty first-hand, and also know the solutions for helping individuals get on a path to self-sufficiency.
Please join us as we address the challenges facing those in poverty and the opportunities for reducing poverty in America by half by 2020.
Ø Gain a greater understanding of what’s behind the survey numbers
Ø Learn about successful evidence-based case studies for addressing poverty
Ø Take a state-by-state look at how and where Catholic Charities agencies are serving the greatest numbers of individuals in need of healthcare, food, employment, and housing services, as well as the many social services that build stronger families and communities
Ø Trace the trends in the needs of Catholic Charities’ clients since 2002
Ø Hear more about Catholic Charities USA’s Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America, an ambitious plan to cut poverty by half by 2020
Ø Find out about the 3Ps for Reducing Poverty—the way you can ensure that presidential candidates focus on this issue during the primary season and beyond
When: 10:00 a.m., Thursday, November 15, 2007
Where: Hall of the States
444 North Capitol Street, NW
Room 383/385
Washington, D.C.
RSVP: Monica Maggiano, Catholic Charities USA
mmaggiano@catholiccharitiesusa.org
Media
Contact: Shelley Borysiewicz, Catholic Charities USA
703/236-6218, sborysiewicz@catholiccharitiesusa.org
Posted by: colleen | November 2, 2007 11:43 PM
I am a single parent of two children on disability and I am expected to feed and clothe these children on less than 700.00 a month. When I go to get help from my local SSD they tell me I earn too much money for a three member family. If I weren't disabled I wouldn't have been approved in less than two months. Everyone knows how hard it is to receive disability. What I want to know is where is the logic in that? Who determines whats too much. I pay my bills so that we can have lights and water and a home in a good neighborhood and after that some months I'm lucky to have a hundred dollars left. I do receive 220.oo a month for food but that doesn't last two weeks in this day and time. I live in America and my children have gone to bed hungry. I don't mind it but I'm tried of my children doing without. It breaks my heart to tell my child, "not a toy or new clothes this month". I'm not a drug user, I don't drink, and I don't even have a ticket, much less a crimial record. I have morals and try to raise my children to be good citizens. My oldest daughter starts college to become a nurse. I'm trying to get her out of poverty. Sorry. Just had to vent my anger.
Posted by: asheborolady | September 8, 2008 10:06 PM