PovertyPresentation and Research done by:

Regina Avery, Jennye Cooper, Marla Darimbang and Laura Helling

HSP-305 Human Services Professionals & Small Group Systems

What is Poverty? We all have an idea of what poverty is and maybe

even what it looks like, but how would you describe it?

According to Encyclopedia Britannica, “the state of one who lacks a usual or socially acceptable amount of money or material possessions. Poverty is said to exist when people lack the means to satisfy their basic needs” Great Depression (Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2012)

The basic needs described in the above definition could be:

◦ Food and Water

◦ Shelter

◦ Clothing

◦ Work with little pay/poor work conditions or lack of

◦ Or any other necessities

Poverty. (2012). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/473136/poverty

• Millions of people live without these things in their reach or don’t have them at all. Poverty has been a problem for hundreds of years, and so has the gap between the lower and upper class.

Can you Imagine a life without just one of those basic needs listed above?

What is Poverty? Poverty is present and actually more present here

in the US and in countries all around the world. The US Government Census (2012) has established

the poverty classification as the following: “People and families are classified as being in poverty if their income is less than their poverty threshold. If their income is less than half their poverty threshold, they are below 50% of poverty; less than the threshold itself, they are in poverty (below 100% of poverty); less than 1.25 times the threshold, below 125% of poverty, and so on. The greater the ratio of income to poverty, the more people fall under the category, because higher ratios include more people with higher incomes” (U.S Census, 2011).◦ There are several definitions on the Census website

that define what is considered Poverty and other definitions associated with it.

According to World Hunger Education Service, (2010) the United States poverty percentage was 15.1% in 2010. This is 46.9 million people in poverty.

Who May be effected by Poverty?• Children and Teens• Adults and Elderly• People of different Races/cultures

These are the Poverty Guidelines according to the US Dept of Health and Human Services:

Persons inFamily

Unit

48 Contiguou

sStates and

D.C. Alaska Hawaii

1 $ 9,570 $11,950 $11,010

2 12,830 16,030 14,760

3 16,090 20,110 18,510

4 19,350 24,190 22,260

5 22,610 28,270 26,010

6 25,870 32,350 29,760

7 29,130 36,430 33,510

8 32,390 40,510 37,260

For each additional person, add

 3,260  4,080  3,750

U.s. Census Bureau. (2011, September 13). Retrieved from http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/methods/definitions.html

The 2005 HHS Poverty Guideline. (2010, January 29). Retrieved from http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/05poverty.shtml

Causes of Poverty There are many factors in the causes of

poverty, and it all depends on the area and the causes.

Here are some of the top causes of poverty, according to the Doors to Diplomacy Web Project (2006):◦ Overpopulation: There are many major

cities within countries that have extremely high, uncontrollable populations and there are just not even jobs or resources to serve every citizen.

◦ Distribution of Resources: Resources are just not distributed throughout the world. This is a problem in high population areas and many developing countries.

Fight poverty. (2006). Retrieved from http://www.fightpoverty.mmbrico.com/poverty/reasons.html

High Standards of Living and Cost of Living: Think about the cost of living here! We think its ridiculously high, and Washington state has the highest minimum wage in the country and it’s hard to manage living arrangements here, think about the rest of the world. Here in the US, there are such high standards due to politics, celebrities, and the other millionaires that everyone wants that!

Causes of Poverty (Continued)◦ Inadequate Education: There are so many

countries that don’t have education at all, and we should be fortunate to have it here in the US. Some countries can’t afford good education. The US may need some improvements on education, but at least most kids are education K-12. There are kids in other countries of the world that have never been taught how to read due to lack of education in their region.

◦ Environmental degradation: This is the deterioration of the natural environment. This means that water is not up to quality to drink, soil is not up to quality to plant food, and surrounding environment is unsafe. Pollution from lack of education is also a cause in this area.

◦ Economic Trends: We all kind of have an idea of economic problems due to the recent recession, and this is a problem in many areas. Some countries are in worse shape than we are. Economic trends sometimes work with poverty. If economy is up, poverty is down, if economy is down, poverty is up. Similar to aggregate demand and supply in economics.

◦ Individual Responsibility and Welfare Dependency: Some people just depend on the system to help them and don’t know any other way of life other than living in poverty.

Fight poverty. (2006). Retrieved from http://www.fightpoverty.mmbrico.com/poverty/reasons.html

Effects of Poverty The effects of poverty are closely related to the

causes according to Fight Poverty (2006):◦ Lack of education development. According to UNICEF

(1999), “Nearly a billion people will enter the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names and two thirds of them are women”. This is a huge number!

◦ Homelessness◦ Pressure of Debt◦ Domestic Violence Abuse◦ Crime Increase due to lack of education◦ Drug Abuse ◦ Mental or physical sicknesses◦ And Lack of Opportunity

Some people grow up in poverty and don’t know anything different. They essentially may become use to it, and some enjoy living life in poverty.

UNICEF. (1999). The state of world. Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/sowc99/index.html

Global Poverty FactsDo we need to look at the world hunger problem in order to reduce poverty?

Knight, D. (1998). it is a myth that world hunger is due to scarcity of food. Retrieved from http://www.psrast.org/nowohu.htm Shah, A. (2010, September 20). Global issues. Retrieved from http://www.globalissues.org/article/26/poverty-facts-and-stats ww.psrast.org/nowohu.htm

World hunger is out of control yet there’s a sufficient global food resources. The ISSUSE - many are too poor to buy accessible food.

Global poverty line is $1.25 a day and 1.4 billion people live at this line or below.

Worldwide 80 % of the malaria victims are from Africa. Health problems: nearly ½ due to water sanitation

deficits in developing countries. Highest water use in the world: US about 600 liters a day and UK around 150 liters.

The richest 20 % account for three-quarters of world income.

Poverty Rate by Race/Ethnicity, states (2009-2010), U.S

United States

White 14% 27,512,700

Black 36% 13,378,600

Hispanic 35% 17,555,000

Other 23% 4,853,200

Idaho

White 16%212,000Black No sufficient Data Hispanic 39% 65,100Other No sufficient Data

Oregon

White 15% 460,700Black 43% 28,900Hispanic 37% 121,500Other 26% 81,500

Washington

White 12% 593,200Black 48% 100,000Hispanic 33% 223,600Other 23% 220,400

StateHealthFacts.org The Henry Kaiser Family FoundationsPoverty rate by race/ethnicity. (2010). Retrieved from http://statehealthfacts.org/comparebar.jsp?ind=14&cat=1&sub=2&yr=252&typ=2&rgnhl=1

• Income or consumption poverty• Human (under)development• Social exclusion• Ill-being• (Lack of) capability & functioning• Vulnerability• Livelihood unsustainability• Lack of basic needs• Relative deprivation

Terms used to describe

poverty

Maxwell, S. (1999, February 02). The meaning and measurement of poverty. Retrieved from http://www.odi.org.uk/resources/docs/3095.pdf

Approximately 790 million people in the world are

chronically undernourished,

2/3 of them reside in Asia and the Pacific.

12 % of the world’s population

uses 85% of its water and that 12%

does not live in the Third World!

Rich vs. PovertyGlobal Priority$U.S.

Billions

Cosmetics in the United States 8

Ice cream in Europe 11

Perfumes in Europe and the United States

12

Pet foods in Europe and the United States

17

Business entertainment in Japan

35

Cigarettes in Europe 50

Alcoholic drinks in Europe 105

Narcotics drugs in the world 400

Military spending in the world 780

Global Priority $U.S. Billions

Basic education for all 6

Water and sanitation for all 9

Reproductive health for all women

12

Basic health and nutrition 13

•Wealthiest 10% accounted for 59% of all the consumption.

GLOBAL PRIORITY SPENDING 1998

• Compare the 2 yellow charts.

• Notice costs to achieve universal access to basic social services.

Shah, A. (2010, September 20). Global issues. Retrieved from http://www.globalissues.org/article/26/poverty-facts-and-stats

How do we approach ending Poverty?Should we approach with a systemic change?

Indigenous People• Indigenous People - defined as bonded together primarily sharing resources, culture and experiences. • Make up 5% of global population, yet 15% of the world’s poor.

Poverty is not an economic trap; it’s political for indigenous cultures. “Indigenous people were politically excluded solely for racial reasons” stated Devarajan (2012).

Progress• Indigenous people of Chile are the only race to show progression against poverty levels. • 1996-2005 poverty fell from around 25 % to about 15 %.• Worldwide China holds greatest success among indigenous people by targeting regions/areas rather than people.• United Nations recently increased focus on indigenous people allowing them into politics.

Native Americans 2010 - 5.2 million in poverty• Native Americans run federal programs for education, homeland security and environmental protection.• Congress allocated $1.6 billion to Bureau of Indian Affairs to help pay for federal programs. Not all funds were paid.• The government has federal programs to help others.

Why is there such inequality of treatment today?The United States historically “took over their land and eventually condemned a significant of proportion of the native population to reservations and poverty” (Global Issues, 2012).

Freedman, E. (2012). Poverty rates strikingly high among indigenous populations. Global Issues. Retrieved from http://www.globalissues.org/news/2012/06/20/14078

Gross National Income # 1 United States: $9,780,000,000,000.00 We give (OECD) $23,530,000,000.00 in Economic Cooperation and Development aid to others # 2 Japan: $4,520,000,000,000.00 # 3 Germany: $1,940,000,000,000.00 # 4 United Kingdom: $1,480,000,000,000.00 # 5 France: $1,380,000,000,000.00 # 6 China: $1,130,000,000,000.00 # 7 Italy: $1,120,000,000,000.00 # 8 Canada: $682,000,000,000.00 # 9 Spain: $588,000,000,000.00 # 10 Mexico: $550,000,000,000.00

• States with highest public assistance Alaska, Maine, Vermont and Washington.

•States with lowest public assistance Louisiana, Alabama and Wyoming.Nationmaster. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.nationmaster.com/country/us-united-states/eco-economy

Adlers, L. (2011). 10 states with the highest poverty rates. Reuters/The Huffington Post DOI: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/21/poverty-rises-despite-end-of-recession_n_1023946.html

Every $1 in aid a developing country receives, over $25 is spent on debt

repayment. “Look above at how much we

give in aid”.

Washington Budget & Policy Center

Racial disparities in Washington – 2009 poverty varies drastically in communities of color in. Compared to statewide average. White and Asian communities in Washington State were lower than average.

Poverty was drastically higher among • Latinos - 24.8 %• Native Americans - 24.4 %• African Americans - 24.3 %

 Between 2007 and 2009, average participation in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program -SNAP (formerly food stamps) increased by 51 percent in Washington State.

Nicholas, A. (2010). New census data show rise in child poverty. Retrieved from http://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/new-census-data-show-rise-in-child-poverty-deep-racial-disparities

Poverty among adults – the working poor The working poor with children

are 4x more likely to live in poverty

Injury at work and work-related fatalities are higher for lower class workers

Jobs in manufacturing used to provide a stepping stone from poverty into the ranks of the middle class BUT many of these jobs have been outsourced overseas. This leaves many working poor in “service-sector” positions – restaurants, customer service, child care, cleaning. Ironically these are also the jobs that do not have health care, retirement, sick leave

Studies show a strong correlation between poverty and unhappiness

Home ownership and college are no longer a reality for the working poor

Privileged couples tend to have fewer children and invest more in them

Americans at the top live longer, maintain better health

The proportion of students from upper-income families has grown at the top 250 most selective schools

The affluent have an increased tendency to live apart in gated communities and even larger houses

Poverty among the elderly In the 2010 census, 15.9%

of elderly lived in poverty Older poor people suffer

more from chronic illness In 2009, the elderly spent

an average of 47% of their income on housing related expenses (mortgages, insurance, repairs or rent)

The poor are often delaying retirement due to:◦ Rising costs of healthcare

and prescription drugs◦ Social Security Benefits

can no longer adequately cover living expenses

On Forbes list of the top 10 richest people in America – 80% are age 60 or older

Wealthy people generally have longer life spans

There are considerable correlations between income, homeownership rate and house size

The RAND Organization notes a positive correlation between income and accessibility to healthcare - those with a higher Social Economic Status are more likely to see a specialist, maintain healthier lifestyles, and remain independent longer

The “feminization” of poverty According to 2010 census, poverty among women is at the highest in 17 years – 14.5%

Among women who head households, 4 in 10 (40.7 %) live in poverty

Most working class mothers see a doctor for the first time in the last months of their pregnancy. In comparison, wealthy women get top quality prenatal care throughout their pregnancy. As a result, infant mortality, birth defects and illness are higher among poor families

Among the elderly, poverty does not affect men and women equally◦ Men – 6.7%◦ Women – 11.9%

Why?◦ Lifetime of lower earnings due to wage

discrimination ◦ Out of job market due to childbirth/rearing◦ Less likely to have employer sponsored

retirement plans◦ Longer life expectancy

BUSINESSES THAT HAVE THRIVED IN THIS DEPRESSED ECONOMY:

Pawn shopsPayday loansCar repossessionsDiscount stores

(Walmart vs. JCPenney)Subprime lendersReverse mortgagesCollection agencies Reference: Rivlin, G. (2010). Broke, USA: From Pawnshops to Poverty,

Inc. – How the Working Poor Became Big Business. New York, New York: HarperCollins Publishers

Poverty and ChildrenIn 2007, more than 12.4 million

children live in poverty in the United States alone (Chilton & Rose, 2009). Poverty is actually more prevalent in households with children (Nord & Prell, 2007).

Effects of Poverty on Child Nutrition

According to the United Nation’s The Millennium Development Goal Report 2007, between 1990-2005, 27% preschool children were underweight (Pinstrup-Andersen & Herforth 2008).

Child malnutrition affects preschool children more than other household members and also puts the child at risk for poor development in school(Chilton & Rose, 2009).

• The mal-nutrition plays a role in the fact that children in poverty are 1.3 times more likely to have developmental delays or learning disabilities when compared to children who do not live in poverty (Brooks-Gun & Duncan, 1997, pg. 61).

Effects of Poverty on Child Nutrition Continued:When children are poorly fed, the

results are:◦Low motivation◦Short attention span◦Negative effect on physical development◦Negative effect on cognitive development

Photo: S. Alvarez. (2009). Retrieved from: http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/04/showcase-88/

Effects of Poverty on Child Development:

The Center on Hunger and Poverty at Brandeis University says that the malnutrition and environmental factors associated with poverty can permanently stunt growth, brain development, and cognitive functioning.

According to the Urban Child Institute, children experiencing or have experienced repeated or long-term poverty score lower on tasks measuring memory, selective attention, impulse regulation, and language skills than do children that do not live in poverty (“Children raised in,” 2012).

Ways you can make a difference! Organize a one-meal fast and donate the cost of the skipped meal Encourage restaurants, hotels, and schools to donate usable food instead of

throwing it away http://www.usda.gov/news/pubs/gleaning/seven.htm Learn about what local business are doing to provide internships for high school

students, then spread the word and support those businesses Assist low-income students find college-funding sources Pay a living wage if you employ people in your home or business Spread cheer – if your work place delivers holiday meals to families, consider

providing other services throughout the year. For example, you could organize a “Back-to-School” supply donation box.

Volunteer to deliver Meals on Wheels to senior citizens on a fixed income and people who are homebound

If you enjoy writing, offer to help a local nonprofit with grant writing, writing newsletters, etc.

Start a drop-box program to collect old cell phones for donation to domestic violence shelters

Resolve that every time you or a family member buys something, you will give away a comparable item

  Reference: Daley-Harris, S. & Keenan, J. (2007). Our Day to End Poverty: 24 Ways You Can Make a Difference. San Francisco, CA: Berrett-

Koehler Publishers, Inc.  

REFERENCES:

The 2005 HHS Poverty Guideline. (2010, January 29). Retrieved from http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/05poverty.shtml

Adlers, L. (2011). 10 states with the highest poverty rates. Reuters/The Huffington Post DOI: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/21/poverty-rises-despite-end-of-recession_n_1023946.html

Axelrod-Contrada, J. (2010). Poverty in America: Cause or Effect? Tarrytown, New York: Marshall-Cavendish Benchmark

Children raised in poverty are at greater risk for developing cognitive deficits. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.urbanchildinstitute.org/articles/research-to-policy/research/children-raised-in-poverty-are-at-greater-risk-for-developing

Chilton, M., & Rose, D. (2009). A rights-based approach to food security in the United States. American Journal of Public Health, 99(7), 1203-1211.

Daley-Harris, S. & Keenan, J. (2007). Our Day to End Poverty: 24 Ways You Can Make a Difference. San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc.  

Ferber, A., Jimenez, C., O’Reilly Herrera, A., & Samuels, D. (2009). The Matrix Reader: Examining the Dynamics of Oppression and Privilege. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill Higher Education

Fight poverty. (2006). Retrieved from http://www.fightpoverty.mmbrico.com/poverty/reasons.html

Forbes staff (September 21, 2011). The Richest People in America. Retrieved from: http://www.forbes.com/forbes-400/

Freedman, E. (2012). Poverty rates strikingly high among indigenous populations. Global Issues. Retrieved from http://www.globalissues.org/news/2012/06/20/14078

Future of Children, Volume 7, Number 2, Summer/Fall 1997, “The Effects of Poverty on Children,” page 61, Jeanne Brooks-Gunn and Greg J. Duncan

REFERENCES (CONTINUED) Hays, S. (2003). Flat Broke With Children: Women in the Age of Welfare Reform. New York, New York:

Oxford University Press Kennedy, M. (June 23, 2012). Home Economics for Retirement. Everett Herald Maxwell, S. (1999, February 02). The meaning and measurement of poverty. Retrieved from

http://www.odi.org.uk/resources/docs/3095.pdf Nord, M., & Prell, M. (2007). Struggling to feed the family: What does it mean to be food secure. Amber

Waves, 5(3), 32-39. Nationmaster. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.nationmaster.com/country/us-united-states/eco-economy Nicholas, A. (2010). New census data show rise in child poverty. Retrieved from

http://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/new-census-data-show-rise-in-child-poverty-deep-racial-disparities Poverty. (2012). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved from

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/473136/poverty Pinstrup-Andersen, P., & Herforth, A. (2008, August 11). Food security: Achieving the potential.

Environment Magazine, 50(5), 49-60. Rivlin, G. (2010). Broke, USA: From Pawnshops to Poverty, Inc. – How the Working Poor Became Big

Business. New York, New York: HarperCollins Publishers Shah, A. (2010, September 20). Global issues. Retrieved from

http://www.globalissues.org/article/26/poverty-facts-and-stats Smith, J. & Kington, R. (1998). The Relationship Between the Socioeconomic Status and Health of the

Elderly. Retrieved from: http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB5020/index1.html StateHealthFacts.org The Henry Kaiser Family Foundations Poverty rate by race/ethnicity. (2010). Retrieved from http://statehealthfacts.org/comparebar.jsp?

ind=14&cat=1&sub=2&yr=252&typ=2&rgnhl=1 UNICEF. (1999). The state of world. Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/sowc99/index.html U.s. Census Bureau. (2011, September 13). Retrieved from

http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/methods/definitions.html

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