Poverty in the United States Each day in America some people are forced to decide whether to pay their bills or buy food. This decision will affect the entire family. Anyone in America can easily transition from barely getting by to poverty. The National Coalition for the Homeless states that “being poor means being an illness, and accident, or a paycheck away from living on the streets” (Williams 85). Due to physical disabilities, economic troubles, and mental disabilities many people experience poverty every day.
People with disabilities, both physical and mental, face challenges daily. One of the most concerning challenges is how to get revenue for living expenses. Some people are born with physical disabilities, while others may acquire …show more content…
Like physical disability, poverty can be the result of mental illness or the cause of mental illness. People who live in poverty can suffer from depression or other mental illnesses. These people may have poor living conditions and live in fear of their safety. Living in a constant state of fear can cause a mental illness (McSilver 2). Mental illness can make it difficult to find and maintain a job. Proper medical care for mental illness may be difficult to access due to lack of transportation, or lack of money for healthcare needs. Many people with mental disabilities choose to deal with their problems with different addictions of illegal substances. Seeking help with addictions can be hindered due to lack of money, transportation, or lack of support (Williams 91). Because help is not accessible, many people living in poverty slip deeper and deeper into the life of an addict. These people need help in order to …show more content…
The word poor often makes a person imagine an un-employed, homeless person. But in reality, a survey found that one in four people who are homeless are actually employed (Williams 86) Low wages can be blamed for this factor in poverty. The National Coalition on the Homeless lists: a “decline in manufacturing jobs, erosion in the value of the minimum wage, and an increase in nonstandard temporary and part time employment” as factors that can lead to poverty and homelessness (Williams 86). Children can be an economic hardship on a family also even with two working parents, and even more so to single mothers. One study showed that “Children raised by never married mothers are seven times more likely to be poor (Williams 135). In 2014, 15.5 million children under the age of 18 were in poverty (“Hunger and Poverty Facts and Statistics” 1). All of these economic factors can lead to poverty, hunger, and
People with disabilities, both physical and mental, face challenges daily. One of the most concerning challenges is how to get revenue for living expenses. Some people are born with physical disabilities, while others may acquire …show more content…
Like physical disability, poverty can be the result of mental illness or the cause of mental illness. People who live in poverty can suffer from depression or other mental illnesses. These people may have poor living conditions and live in fear of their safety. Living in a constant state of fear can cause a mental illness (McSilver 2). Mental illness can make it difficult to find and maintain a job. Proper medical care for mental illness may be difficult to access due to lack of transportation, or lack of money for healthcare needs. Many people with mental disabilities choose to deal with their problems with different addictions of illegal substances. Seeking help with addictions can be hindered due to lack of money, transportation, or lack of support (Williams 91). Because help is not accessible, many people living in poverty slip deeper and deeper into the life of an addict. These people need help in order to …show more content…
The word poor often makes a person imagine an un-employed, homeless person. But in reality, a survey found that one in four people who are homeless are actually employed (Williams 86) Low wages can be blamed for this factor in poverty. The National Coalition on the Homeless lists: a “decline in manufacturing jobs, erosion in the value of the minimum wage, and an increase in nonstandard temporary and part time employment” as factors that can lead to poverty and homelessness (Williams 86). Children can be an economic hardship on a family also even with two working parents, and even more so to single mothers. One study showed that “Children raised by never married mothers are seven times more likely to be poor (Williams 135). In 2014, 15.5 million children under the age of 18 were in poverty (“Hunger and Poverty Facts and Statistics” 1). All of these economic factors can lead to poverty, hunger, and