Poverty. Questions to Consider What is poverty? –What does it look like to be poor? –Why is...
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Transcript of Poverty. Questions to Consider What is poverty? –What does it look like to be poor? –Why is...
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?