Brittany Schell
Professor Broadous
PAS 113B
22 March 2012
Poverty in
American Families
In our nation today, poverty is getting to be
increasingly out of hand. Many American families are losing houses, cars, and
jobs. Not only is it affecting the parents, but the children as well. Children
are beginning to drop out of school to find jobs to help support the family. If
families cannot get accepted into a shelter then they are left with the option
of living on the street or in their cars. How do Americans prevent from falling
into poverty if our economy is failing entirely? This is a problem that may
take years to resolve, or even never resolved at all. Little by little can be
done to improve homelessness in America. Volunteering, for example, is the way
to start. Personally volunteering at L.A. Family Housing has opened my eyes to
what is really going on in our world today. Many Americans cannot support their
family and need help getting back on their feet. Programs such as L.A. Family
Housing are helping families transition out of homelessness and into a stable
financial life. Families that continue to seek help from shelters, find jobs,
and continue to receive education will be able to rise out of poverty.
Seeking help from shelters is a positive step in
homelessness because many shelters have great resources. L.A. Family Housing
has personal rooms for families where they can stay for up to six months or
even longer, if the family is in desperate need. They also provide breakfast,
lunch, and dinner every day. Residents do not even have to pay rent because the
shelter wants those who live there to save their money to be able to get back
on their feet in the future. Poverty among two-parent families makes up 15% of
the population (Ellwood p.82). Many families are in need of help and as
citizens we should do our best to lend a helping hand. In the book, Poor Support, Ellwood states that
two-parent families make it out of financial struggles faster than
single-parent families. Single parents need more help because not only do they
play the role of provider, but as nurturer too. Poverty is taking over this
country at a fast pace and as long as our economy continues to head in a negative
direction so will the lives of many American citizens.
Finding a job is import to those who are falling in to
poverty because a job is what will pay the bills. L.A. Family Housing provides
residents with classes on how to build a resume and be prepared for job
interviews. Resources such as this are improving the lives of those who have
lost everything. In this recession 7 ½ million people have lost their jobs
(PBS: Throwaway People). Not only are parents losing jobs, but children are
taking risks such as dropping out of school to obtain a job and help bring in
income for the family. A full-time worker earning the minimum wage would have a
yearly income of $8,500 – well below the $15,500 that is the poverty line for a
family of four (Axinn/Levin p.308). People cannot survive in conditions like
this. Losing jobs almost likely leads to the family using welfare checks and
food stamps. Anti-welfare activists in the 80’s suggested that welfare was bad
because families become dependent on resources such as this (Chappell p.199).
Many families probably do misuse the right to be on welfare, but in the end it
will not keep them afloat forever. Sooner or later those in poverty need to
find a job to survive.
Continuing an education is the key result out of poverty.
The more education you have the more likely you will prevail. Families in
poverty are suffering lack in education because children who are suffering are
dropping out of school. Many go to sleep hungry and have no electricity,
therefore making it harder to complete homework and to study (PBS: Throwaway
People). It is hard to think would if that was my child? Education is a very
important asset to one’s life and to not obtain any sort of diploma due to the
fact one cannot provide for their family is unfortunate. Within the past two years
2 million more children fell into poverty; that is 25% of the population (PBS:
Throwaway People). Children living in poverty may not be all that bad, even though
it may affect their entire lives and self-esteem, children can learn how
important it is to save money and receive a higher education.
Our government needs to find its priorities and use our
money for better necessities rather than wasting our tax dollars on things we
rarely need or use. Creating more jobs for many Americans can also be a
positive direction for helping those out of homelessness. Programs such as L.A.
Family housing can be a great investment for our country because it has all the
necessities families need to become financially stable once again. The more
help we have here in the U.S., the better. Those who are in need can do their
part by not falling into dependency on government programs. Helping those in
need can be the start in the positive direction to keep this country from
falling into poverty completely. Seeking help, finding jobs, and continuing on
to higher education can help fix our nations poverty problem. Continuing this
cycle for a period of time can result in our nation being the strongest it has
ever been. The only way to do this is if everyone takes a part in this role for
ending poverty.
Works Cited
Axinn,
June, and Herman Levin. "A Turn to the Right: The 1990's." Social
Welfare: A History of
the American Response to Need.
New York: Dodd, Mead, 1975. Print.
Chappell,
Marisa. "Relinquishing Responsibility for the Poor Families: Reagan's
Family Wage
for the Wealthy." The
War on Welfare. Philadelphia (Pa.): University of Pennsylvania, 2010.
Print.
Ellwood,
David T. Poor Support: Poverty in the American Family. New York: Basic,
1988.
Print.
"Throwaway
People." PBS. PBS. Web. 22 Mar. 2012.
<http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/gsearch.html?x=0>.
