Post #9

Around 13 million children (18% of children) in the United States are living in families that are considered poor by the federal poverty level. Between 2000 and 2005, the number of children living in poverty increased by more than 11%. Poverty has become an intergenerational problem, and the number of children living in poverty will keep growing from year to year as long as the federal government continues to not address the problem. The situation of parents is a large indicator of the future socio-economic status of their children.

Unfortunately, the current system in the United States punishes the poor and keeps them where they are. In the 1950s, it was found that families spend about a third of their income on food. This measure has become the grounds for the current poverty measure, and is very inadequate.

Poverty is still measured by multiplying food costs by three, but in reality, food comprises much less than a third of an average family’s expenses. The National Center for Children study says, “Research consistently shows that, on average, families need an income of about twice the federal poverty level to make ends meet.” Regrettably, there is no will to change the system. The poverty measure does not vary from state-to-state or between urban and rural areas, even though the cost of living from state to state and between urban and rural areas differs.

As the National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP) study states, “Since research is clear that poverty is the greatest threat to children’s well being, strategies that help parents succeed in the labor force can help children.” Support needs to be granted to families.

“19% of poor children lack health insurance—this is nearly double the percent of all children who lack coverage (10%).” Workers need access to benefits like health insurance, paid leave, and the ability to leave work to care for ailing family members. According to the NCCP study, “Policies such as earned income tax credits and regular increases in the minimum wage are critical to supporting income growth for low-wage workers.”

Parents need support and they need low-cost programs that will help with the development of their children. The NCCP study says “High-quality early childhood experiences can go a long way toward closing the achievement gap between poor children and their more well-off peers.”

Children across the US are living in poverty because of their family situations, and are not receiving the level of support they need to get out of their poor situation. The conditions of urban poverty, and poverty in general, are something that cannot be escaped.