Poverty

In my opinion, poverty continues to be a large social problem in America due to negative stigmas attached to the disposition and the government’s inefficiency to handle the cyclic occurrences associated with poverty that make it a struggle for most individuals or families to work their way out. Poverty has been associated a lack of effort to work, a statistical outcome of lesser developed environments, lack of personal responsibility, etc. Since the early 1600’s, the poor have been considered a nuisance to society. I believe that that view travels into the minds of the public and professionals (doctors, conservatives) and aids in the establishment of a caste system that makes the poor out to be individuals undeserving of compassion and assistance from those in more advantaged situations. Having experienced homelessness, I believe that although many who experience poverty have influenced their position, there are many who have fallen on hard times due to the high standards within market cost and economic declines. These articles give insight into specific poverty cases and services offered to alleviate disadvantages of the poor.

Article 1
http://poverty.suite101.com/article.cfm/community_outreach_programs_provide_assistance

Article 2
http://www.globalissues.org/news/2009/08/07/2435

Article 3
http://poverty.suite101.com/article.cfm/poverty_in_north_carolina

Article 4 (*video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vx760Wv2oS4

Article 5
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/62911.html

Article 6
http://www.news-record.com/content/2009/12/02/article/emergency_shelters_open_for_the_winter
Article 7
http://www.digtriad.com/news/local_state/article.aspx?storyid=102160&catid=57
Article 8
http://charlotte.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2009/09/07/daily29.html
Article 9
http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/state/story/161245.html