Poverty affects all of us.

Poverty really affects everyone—the rich and the poor, the developed and the developing, the young and the old. The less poverty there is in a particular nation, the more we will all benefit. Many people believe that poverty affects only the ones in the lower SES communities, as issues like adequate healthcare and living conditions never enter into the discussion. However, some people forget to realize that the more impoverished a nation, the more burden there is for everyone. For example, there are social government programs such as Food Stamps that exist to help those in poverty or are operating at or below the FPL here in America. Who pays for this? We all do as citizens of a particular nation in one way or another whether it is through taxes or some other way. We are ALL paying for it. Thus, it is in our best interest as a nation to work together in the local, state, and national level to find ways to decreasing the poverty levels.

Everyone needs access to the essentials that allow for living to be manageable. Besides clean water, healthy food, and decent healthcare, there are things like adequate housing and an access to education that deserves the same merit. We can start by educating ourselves about pertinent issues that affect our communities whether it is through learning about the health care problems we’re facing to volunteering at a local food bank or dedicating clothes to a Salvation Army. Some of us have more time than others, but we can all contribute to improving the poverty conditions in our own country. It just takes a little bit from all of us.