What is Poverty?

WHAT IS POVERTY

Poverty is defined as the condition of having little money and few material possessions (Wikipedia , 2007 . People who live in poverty are deprived of the basic necessities for every day living , such as food shelter , and clothing . Poverty exists all over the world , with the highest percentage of people living in poverty in Sub-Saharan South Africa (Wikipedia , 2007 . Poverty even exists in the United States but at lower percentages . Poverty is an unacceptable way for people in today 's wealthy society to live , and a resolution to minimize the

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There are many factors that contribute to poverty : climate or environment , lack of employment , geographic factors , disease , living in third world countries that lack infrastructure , development , healthcare or education , crime , substance abuse , depression , and the list goes on and on . There are also factors that contribute to poverty that are generally overlooked such as loss of job , financial hardship , and death in the family . Many people in the United States who find themselves living in poverty did not start out that way , whereas in other countries people are born into poverty

In the United States , whether or not someone qualifies as living in poverty is determined by the United States Census Bureau . According to the Census Bureau , there are 48 possible poverty thresholds in the United States . This official measure of poverty in the United States was established by the Office of Management and Budget in the Statistical Policy Directive 14 established in May 1978 (Census Bureau 2007 . The United States has also established programs to assist those who live below the poverty threshold such as healthcare , welfare , and food stamps . People who live in poverty in other countries do not receive these types of benefits

The top three regions in the world for poverty are Sub-Saharan Africa South Asia , and East Asia and the Pacific . On a positive note the percentage of people living in poverty in these regions has decreased in the last ten years , but there are still a lot of people living without the daily necessities of life . In these regions a vicious circle of poverty has developed . Those who live in poverty do not have the necessary resources to pull themselves out of their current situation For example , starvation and poor hygiene leads to disease . The lack of healthcare means that these diseases can not be cured , and ultimately these people die at very young ages . Since 1990 , one-third of all deaths have been a result of poverty . This is the equivalent to 18 million people every year , or 50 ,000 people each day (Wikipedia , 2007

Another form of poverty that exists predominately in religious circles is called voluntary poverty or simple living . People who choose to live in poverty voluntarily do so in to reach a moral or spiritual state in which they believe can not be reached if they do not live in poverty . The main religions who embrace this type of poverty are Buddhism and...