Everything You Need To Know When Dealing with Poverty

Did you know that 60% of us will experience at least one year of poverty in our lifetimes? This article details for you who experiences poverty and how poverty levels are measured. Also, you will learn about the causes of poverty and how to deal with it both at the local level and to address the actual root causes. To deal with poverty it is a continuous process to help people in need as well as for helping ourselves to avoid slipping into poverty.

Who Experiences Poverty and How Are Poverty Levels Calculated?  

According to recent surveys 60 percent of people will experience at least 1 year of poverty in their lifetimes. So the majority of us have a good chance of experiencing poverty some time in our lives. 

Interestingly, the U.S. government has a very simple way to calculate the poverty threshold and they have done it the same way since 1963.  “The calculation defines the poverty level for a family of four at three times a typical family’s food budget. It was based on the 1955 Household Food Consumption Survey, which found that the average low-income family of three or more persons spent one-third of its total after-tax income on food.” So based on this calculation adjusted for inflation, a family of four is determined to be living in poverty if their household income is $24,858 or lower. See USA Today’s Progress in fighting poverty in America has slowed despite recent economic recovery for more on poverty in America.

What Are the Causes of Poverty? 

There is general consensus that the basic causes of poverty center around the necessities of life like water, food, shelter, education, and healthcare. But the question is why are people lacking these basic necessities. Why are some people in a society doing well and others are not? Some reasons for this are “Inequities to include gender or ethnic discrimination, poor governance, conflict, exploitation, and domestic violence.” Some countries experience very high rates of poverty. This can be because of “…political upheaval, past or present conflict, corrupt leaders, and poor infrastructure …”. See World Vision’s Global Poverty Facts on the causes of poverty.

Dealing with the Root Cause of Poverty.

Poverty is rooted in a person or family not being economically sufficient.  Governments, organizations, and donors with access to vast resources are best at dealing with the root causes of poverty.  Root causes of poverty include:

• Quality Education. There is a strong correlation between having a quality education and not being in poverty. People with knowledge and life skills can realize their full potential. With a little hard work, they have the means to high-paying jobs and the capability to start a successful business. To get a quality, affordable education this means communities and colleges need funding to train teachers and build schools.
• Healthcare Access. If people are healthy and strong, they have more opportunities to break out of poverty. This means communities need to have adequate health facilities and trained health workers that are affordable to all.
• Water & Sanitation. Good water and sanitation, means healthy people who can become economically self-sufficient. Communities need to establish and fund the means to assure safe water sources and a healthy environment for their people.
• Economic Security.  A stable economy means less down cycles that send people into poverty. This means governments providing an environment for economic growth for all. This includes having a “safety net“, long-term and short-term, for unfortunate situations that can hit any of us. Economic security also means minimizing the effects of environmental disasters and of war. Economic security includes financial stability and liquidity where people of all incomes can access financing to start and sustain businesses.

See Plan International Canada’s 5 WAYS TO END POVERTY AROUND THE WORLD and Concern Worldwide USA’s SOLUTIONS TO POVERTY TO GET US TO 2030 for more on dealing with the root causes of poverty.

Dealing With Poverty At the Local Level.

What can we do right now to deal with poverty? There are countless ways we can help. Get involved with local government and organizations. The NY Community Trust Organization sums it up well on what we can do today to help people get out of poverty.

• Housing. People in poverty need “… affordable housing that’s safe, energy efficient, and close to public transit and parks. Homeless people need services and permanent housing to keep them out of shelters.”
• Food. Hungry people need to be fed. This can include “… helping emergency food systems run more efficiently to ease the way for more local food to enter the city, we get healthy food to those who need it most.”
• Jobs. Help people in poverty connect with good jobs. This includes helping job seekers have the skills employers demand. Local community and trade colleges are a great community resource.
• Social Work / Volunteer. You can become a social worker or volunteer to meet the needs of the most vulnerable.
• Secure Safety Net. Work within the community to assure that all members of the community can get the basics for themselves and their families.

For more information from Unvarnished Facts, see articles on poverty.