According to the United States Census Bureau there were 43.1 million people in poverty across the entire United States in 2016, which is 3.5 million less than previously in the year 2015. The official poverty rate in 2016 was 13.5 percent and it was down 1.2 percentage points from 14.8 percent in 2015. In the area of Greene County where Waynesburg University is located and according to the United States Census Bureau once again states that there was 37,843 people living within the county in 2014, and of the total population there was 16.5% or 6,244 individuals living at or below the poverty line.
To put the poverty in a retro-spec understanding to those who do not suffer from poverty, according to and in conjunction with the Federal Poverty Guidelines, it states that a one person household is in poverty at or below 11,670. A two person household is in poverty or below at 15,730. A three person household is at or below the poverty line at 19,790 and a four person household is in poverty at or below 23,850.
I personally define poverty an individual who does not make enough funds at their job or jobs to support basic living expenses, like food, water clothing or shelter. I also consider people who suffer from poverty, to have little or no education. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary it states that poverty is the state of one who lacks a usual or socially acceptable amount of money or material possessions. Poverty is caused by many different things. The central causes of poverty in America are stereotyping, separation from social activities, lack of knowledge, employment skills, and education. The most commonly known cause of poverty is the loss of jobs because of the drop in the economy but poverty can also even be a result of no family support, lack of resources, Ill health, physical disabilities and personal reasons.
The reasons for homelessness is, in fact, caused by tragic life occurrences like the loss of loved ones, job loss, domestic violence, divorce and family disputes. Other impairments such as depression, untreated mental illness, post-traumatic stress disorder, and physical disabilities are also responsible for a large portion of the homeless.
I personally do not think that we as society can eliminate poverty as a whole, but I do think we can reduce the rate at which people are at poverty by helping the American people that suffer from poverty, find jobs, get more education like a GED, help build them resumes, give them interview experience or maybe sit them up in an apartment for a couple of months while they can get on their feet and become a normal member of society I also believe the homelessness can receive free meals, clothes and lodging throughout reach programs. These outreach programs include the American Red Cross, Good-Well, city food banks and a Cincinnati based non-profit organization named “City-Link”, As much as these outreach programs offer assistance to the citizens that suffer poverty, homelessness and hunger, it’s not up to the organization to find them, it’s up the individual on the streets to seek these services out. That is why I personally think as much as we try to help the American people by offering free services to those lucky individuals that suffer from poverty, homelessness and hunger; if they don’t seek the services out then we cannot help them. That’s why I am a strong believer in that it’s impossible to eliminate the poverty, hunger, and homelessness in the United States.
If I could make changes in the United States in the areas of poverty, I personally would try to find everyone on the streets a job of some short so that they can earn their own money, and not sit on the streets begging for handouts. Through finding them a job I would hope that they can save and earn enough money so they can survive on their own, and get out of poverty, but those individuals have to want to make changes in their lives or want to work.
Waynesburg Unity Trail 