Poverty in America: what? why? and how?

POVERTY IN AMERICA WHAT? WHY? AND HOW?By Latagia copeland B.S.,A.S.

WHAT IS POVERTY? • Add your first bullet point here

• Add your second bullet point here

• Add your third bullet point here

POVERTY IS “Poverty is hunger. Poverty is lack of shelter. Poverty is being sick and not being able to see a doctor. Poverty is not having access to school and not knowing how to read. Poverty is not having a job, is fear for the future, living one day at a time.

• Poverty has many faces, changing from place to place and across time, and has been described in many ways. Most

often, poverty is a situation people want to escape. So poverty is a call to action -- for the poor and the wealthy

alike -- a call to change the world so that many more may have enough to eat, adequate shelter, access to education and health, protection from violence, and a voice in what

happens in their communities.”

• ~The World Bank Organization

THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL IN AMERICA IS……

•$40,890 for a family of 8 (in 48 states and D.C.)

• $51,120 for a family of 8 in Alaska

• $47,010 for a family of 8 in Hawaii

WHY IS POVERTY STILL AN ISSUE IN AMERICA?

For several reasons, including the following…..

LACK OF EMPLOYMENT (JOBS)

STAGNATING WAGES/SALARY

LACK OF EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES/QUALITY

ACCUMULATION OF WEALTH AT THE TOP

SOCIAL ISSUES (RACE AND CLASS RELATED)

HOW CAN POVERTY IN AMERICA BE

ELIMINATED?

There are several things that we can do, including

the following….

CREATE/GUARANTEE JOBS

RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE/INCOME

INVEST IN AFFORDABLE, HIGH-QUALITY CHILD CARE

AND EARLY EDUCATION

REFORM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND ENACT POLICIES

THAT SUPPORT SUCCESSFUL RE-ENTRY

SUPPORT PAY EQUITY

EXPAND MEDICAID

IN CONCLUSION As a person who grew up in poverty and have both seen and experienced poverty my entire life, this is a subject that is very close to my heart. I hope that this presentation provides

both information and a sense of empowerment to those effected; and more

importantly, to those not effected. poverty is indeed a global problem not just an American problem. It is a problem that I pray someday

is eradicated.

REFERENCES • http://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/esic/over

• http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/15poverty.cfm

• http://www.agjohnson.us/essays/poverty/

• http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/29/opinion/sunday/why-cant-we-end-poverty-in-america.html?_r=0

• https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/poverty/news/2014/09/17/97287/the-top-10-solutions-to-cut-poverty-and-grow-the-middle-class/

• http://theweek.com/articles/534655/want-end-poverty-americaits-pretty-simple