Poverty

March 1st ,2013

Instructor’s name

Poverty Essay

Poverty is all around us, but have you taken a look into what poverty is all about.

There is a major number of American families, and better yet children suffering in poverty. There is also a stronger risk of drug addictions while going through poverty.

What is Poverty exactly?

Poverty is the state of being extremely poor and/or very limited income. The Unite Census Bureau defines pverty by measuring a preliminary estimated threshold which varies by household size. Almost 22 pecent about 16 million children live in families with income below the federal poverty level which is $23,021.00 a year for a family of four and $18,310 for a family of three. Most of these children have parents that work but have very low wages and unstable employment leave their families struggling to make ends meet. Poverty can impede children’s ability to learn and contribute to social, emotional, and behavioral problems. Poverty also can contribute to poor health and mental health. Risks are greatest for children who experience poverty when they are young and/or experience deep and persistent poverty.

According to the U.S Census, the number of children living in poverty has gone up two million in only two short years. Today one out of every four American children are receiving financial help to be able to eat such as food stamp. Yet food now comprises only one-seventh of an average family’s expenses, while the costs of housing, child care, health care and transportation have grown disproportionately. They for people in poverty with a house hold to feed and can’t afford it. Low income rates for young children are higher than those for older children. 40 percent of children under the age of six years old live in low-income families, 3-compared to 37 percent of the children over age six. Parents of younger children tend to be younger and to have less education and work experience than parents of older children, so their earnings are...