Poverty in America - 1999 Words

Poverty 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 harmful. While there is a chance that there will always be a poverty line that Americans will be under, there are solutions that can be implemented towards getting many of these people above it. Some options might include keeping jobs within the†¦show more content†¦While numbers and statistics may change, poverty itself does not. It has been around for as long as one can remember and will be here for many more to come. Programs The government has implemented programs to offset and help those below the poverty line. For the elderly, Medicare and Social Security are in place. This ensures that when the older adults cannot work anymore, they can receive health care and income they will need. Thus they will not be forced into homelessness and can still receive adequate medical care. Food Stamps are provided for many families in the hope that these families will not starve and can put filling, nutritious food on the table. According to the Food Stamp Act of 1977, this program was enacted to â€Å"â€Å"to alleviate hunger and malnutrition †¦ by increasing food purchasing power for all eligible households who apply for participation.† (usda.gov, 2013) Recipients can use these just like regular cash at any local grocery store. They also may receive Medicaid. This program provides for many the medical treatment they would not be able to afford otherwise. This is especially true for children and pre gnant women below the poverty line. Public housing is another program that helps to provide a roof over a family’s heads for reduced costs. Rent in some places can be quite high and a family of four may find it hard even to afford a small 3 bedroom house without breaking their pockets. Aid to Families with DependentShow 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 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. 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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 ratioRead MorePoverty Of America And Ireland1630 Words   |  7 Pagespopulation lives on less than $1.25 daily. Poverty can be displayed and treated in different ways, like the way it is measured or the way assistance is delivered. To provide evidence of this, the poverty in the countries of America and Ireland will be compared. From the Merriam-Webster dictionary, poverty is defined as â€Å"the state of one who lacks a usual or socially acceptable amount of money or material possessions.† In most communities, people who suffer in poverty are those that go without water, food