Hardship Vs Deprivation

When it comes to discussing the living conditions of Americans listed as households in the poverty classification, there is a difference between hardship and deprivation. Comparisons and research give us a clearer image of how to classify living conditions when it comes to poverty. In this portion, we will compare and contrast living conditions of the poor as well as the poverty-stricken. Comparing the major differences between the two will give more of an insight into what leads to the generalization of poverty when it pertains to living conditions. In 2010, it was reported that 103 million people equaled the total number of poor and near poor families combined (Edelman, 2012). Today’s poverty living conditions would be considered plush …show more content…
The living conditions of poverty-stricken households are less than adequate, with a lot of them having worst-case housing needs. Most impoverished households are earning substantially lower than the national average and are paying more than half of their earned income in rental fees. With no other alternative, millions of families are living on the edge of homelessness. Poverty is one of the top causes of homelessness. Contributing to the housing crisis and to homelessness is the current state of the economy and decreasing employment opportunities. In the last 20 years, the proportion of households with children paying more than 30% of their income on housing raised from 15% to 28% placing low-income families at risk of homelessness. As we see the housing cost on the rise, it poses an insuperable barrier for someone in poverty as most housing is out of their financial capacity. Poverty-stricken households go beyond just not having new toys or being able to afford the latest video game; most families of poverty sometimes go without food, warm clothing, healthcare, and even shelter. An astonishing 20.5 million people lived in extreme poverty in 2010, and 6 million had no income other than food stamps (Edelman, 2012). As the housing crisis continues to worsen during the recession, we will see more families of poverty become homeless. Relative deprivation may limit a person’s capacity for social achievement. Highly regarded economist Amartya Sen (2011) states, “Being relatively poor in a rich country can be a great capability handicap, even when one’s absolute income is high in terms of world standards.” When comparing the poor versus the poverty-stricken households it is apparent that living standards for both are falling for younger generations despite