US Poverty and Federal Poverty Guidelines

Poverty in America is one of the most destructive forces that surround us every day. What makes Poverty in the US especially destructive is that Poverty in America is an invisible problem. Do you know what the 2008 Federal Poverty Guidelines are? Do you know what the Federal Poverty Guidelines are period? People know there is Poverty in the US all around us, but don’t know who exactly may be affected by this problem in their every day life. Most people are also not aware of the lower middle class who may not be included in what the US poverty guidelines for a family of 4 are. Poverty, Hunger, and Homelessness are all serious problems that millions of our citizens are faced with every day. These are three problems that go hand in hand, are very often are combined in many cases in US Poverty.

The 2008 Federal Poverty Guidelines have not been easy to find on the web, so I had to get some figures from the 2006 Federal Poverty Guidelines provided by the HHS. According to the 2006 Federal Poverty Guidelines a family of 4 living at poverty line is a family making $20,650 a year. Imagine having to support 4 people on just $20,650 a year! It is almost impossible with today’s gas prices, food costs, housing costs, and all other expenses that add up to way more than $20,650 for a family of 4. One out of five Americans suffer from poverty. Close to 24% of those suffering from poverty are children under the age 18, and another 25% are seniors over the age 65. One of the most common types of poverty is generational poverty. That comes when a child is born into poverty and basically there is nothing it can do to avoid it. Just like we can’t control all the other things we are just born with. Poverty is also caused by economic conditions, mental illness, disability, lack of education or skill, substance abuse, domestic violence, natural or other disasters, crime, limited job opportunities, and many other issues.

When writing about Poverty in America, one could go on forever. Poverty in the US is an obvious problem that won’t go away unless people are taking action. Rock for Hunger is seeking to help individuals suffering from poverty through education. Our goal is to provide education to children born into poverty, and give the skills and motivation to end their generation poverty. Adult education is available as well, by helping adults with computer skills, interview skills, resume building, financial budgeting, and much more to come. There are a lot of great organizations out there taking action to end poverty in America. It is important to give to these organizations making a difference. There is no better gift to give than planting a seed of hope, and making a difference in the community, and our world.