Poverty is most definitely a social issue. As the self-touted greatest country in the world, in 2014 14.8 % of Americans were reported to live in poverty (DeNavas-Walt & Proctor, 2015). The land of opportunity is the land of misfortune for the 14.8% of Americans living in poverty. As a society, we often turn a blind eye to uncomfortable reality of the increasing problem of homelessness, food insecurity, and urban violence and degradation. Many Americans are turned off by government intervention of any kind, especially financial assistance for the underprivileged. However, the role of government is to provide financial support its citizens and prevent economic downturns (Fox, Garfinkel, Kaushal, Waldfogel, & Wimer, 2014). The government holds the responsibility to uplift and provide its citizens with stability and security.
