Poverty

Questions to Consider

• What is poverty?– What does it look like to be poor?– Why is there poverty?– Where is there poverty?

• What does a person need to have an adequate standard of living?

According to the United Nations

• lack of resources• lack of capabilities

and choices• lack of security

• lack of adequate standard of living

• lack of rights (civil, cultural, economic, political and social)

What does this mean?

• lack of resources– Lack of materials necessary to survive

• lack of capabilities and choices– Lack of education and skills necessary to choose your

future

• lack of security– Consistent exposure to violence and ongoing conflict

What does this mean?• lack of adequate standard of living

– Safe and clean housing, healthcare and transportation are inaccessible (Standard of Living also encompasses resources, choices and security)

• lack of rights (civil, cultural, economic, political and social)– They are denied to you because of a weak or

oppressive government– They are inaccessible to you because you are poor

(lack an adequate Standard of Living)

How is the official UN definition used?

• Used to identify, assess and act effectively on global situations.

• Used as a standard or reference point across nations.

• Commonly measured as an income of $1 to $2 a day.

The United States

United States Definition of Poverty

• Minimum Wage: $7.25 per hour

  Two Adults

No children  $ 14,417

One child  $ 17,330

Two children

 $ 21,834

How does it all add up?• Health Insurance - About

47 million people (16%) were without health insurance coverage in 2006. This included about 9 million children.

• Federal Programs - In May 2008, 28,400,000 people collected food stamps.

• Need for Federal Funds - In 2007, 37.3 million people (12.5%) in the United States were in poverty.

Poverty in Mountain ViewAccording to the 2000 Census:•6.8% of the population and 3.6% of families in Mountain View had incomes below the poverty line in 1999.

•5.3% of native-born residents live below the poverty line.

•7.0% of foreign-born residents live below the poverty line.

•7.2% of those under the age of 18 were living below the poverty line.

•6% of Mountain View residents are below the poverty line vs. 12% for the whole state.

Teach-In Essential Questions

1. What is poverty?

2. Is poverty inevitable?

3. Is poverty best addressed through public or private efforts?