3.  15% percent of Americans make less than the official poverty level.  According to a December census poll, one in two Americans is classified as either low income, or earning below the poverty line.  Four out of 5 U.S. adults struggle with joblessness, near- poverty or reliance on welfare for at least parts of their lives.

4.  If you travel to India, the poverty is absolute.  You see people who literally have no money. They literally have no food to eat.

5.  It's a little bit more complicated in America because even though there is need, we don't actually have mass starvation.  Poverty in America is more an issue of a lack of basic necessities and a lack of security, such as an uncertainty as to where you're going to get food, an uncertainty as to how you're going to pay your bills, and it's about a reliance on either government institutions or overwhelmed private charities.

7.  People that work, and are still in poverty.  Roughly 10.5 million Americans fall under the category of “working poor”.  This is the highest level in over twenty years.  That’s roughly 7.2% of the labor force One third of the working poor work in the service industry.

8.  The living wage shown is the hourly rate that an individual must earn to support their family, if they are the sole provider and are working full-time.  Current Houston (Harris County) Living Wage: Hourly Wages1 Adult 1 Adult, 1 Child 1 Adult, 2 Children 1 Adult, 3 Children 2 Adults 2 Adults, 1 Child 2 Adults, 2 Children 2 Adults, 3 Children Living Wage$9.24$19.11$23.06$28.76$14.54$18.06$19.42$22.94 Poverty Wage$5.21$7.00$8.80$10.60$7.00$8.80$10.60$12.40 Minimum Wage$7.25

11. Monthly Expenses1 Adult 1 Adult, 1 Child 1 Adult, 2 Children 1 Adult, 3 Children 2 Adults 2 Adults, 1 Child 2 Adults, 2 Children 2 Adults, 3 Children Food$242$357$536$749$444$553$713$904 Child Care$0$446$717$988$0 Medical$131$467$486$468$317$462$437$449 Housing$661$892 $1,189$735$892 $1,189 Transportation$318$618$712$764$618$712$764$777 Other$77$177$224$292$134$175$197$230 Required monthly income after taxes $1,429$2,957$3,567$4,450$2,248$2,794$3,003$3,549 Required annual income after taxes$17,148$35,484$42,804$53,400$26,976$33,528$36,036$42,588 Annual taxes$2,065$4,274$5,156$6,428$3,259$4,045$4,350$5,120 Required annual income before taxes $19,213$39,758$47,960$59,828$30,235$37,573$40,386$47,708

12. Occupational AreaTypical Hourly Wage Management$42.43 Business and Financial Operations$28.52 Computer and Mathematical$35.38 Architecture and Engineering$34.34 Life, Physical and social Science$26.30 Community and Social Services$18.97 Legal$32.67 Education, Training and Library$22.81 Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media$19.04 Healthcare Practitioner and Technical$26.56 Healthcare Support$10.44 Protective Service$16.90 Food Preparation and Serving Related$8.49 Building and Grounds Cleaning and maintenance$9.38 Personal care and Services$8.71 Sales and Related$11.08 Office and Administrative Support$14.09 Farming, Fishing and Forestry$9.53 Construction and Extraction$15.35 Installation, Maintenance and Repair$17.66 Production$13.54 Transportation and Material Moving$12.83

13.  Because time spent in school is time spent NOT earning money – and while it may pay off in the long run, there’s the immediate problem of taking care of basic needs.  A college degree is not a guarantee of a job, much less a guarantee of a good-paying job.  In 2012, about 1.1 million people who made less than $25,000 a year, worked full time, and were heads of household had a bachelor's degree.

14.  Women workers are more likely to be poor than men.  On average, women make 77% of what men make.  Remember: most American businesses are small businesses, and many of those have inherited positions of power. …and early businesses were started by white males, because for much of our history – those were the only people who could.  Men leave. Only 18% of mothers in the United States are married.

17.  African American and Hispanic workers are over three times as likely to be poor as whites.  College graduates have a 2 percent poverty rate while workers without a high school diploma have a poverty rate 10 times higher at 20 percent.

18.  A food desert is an area where affordable healthy food is difficult to obtain, particularly for those without access to an automobile.  Food deserts are also noted in rural areas and are most likely to be found amid low- income communities. Some researchers link them to diet-related health problems in affected populations.  Oftentimes, supermarkets will be unavailable and the poor will eat fast food that’s priced higher and convenience store food.

19.  In the U.S., more than 3.5 million people experience homelessness each year.  35% of the homeless population are families with children, which is the fastest growing segment of the homeless population.  23% are U.S. military veterans.  25% are children under the age of 18 years.  30% have experienced domestic violence.  20-25% suffer from mental illness.

20.  People who are born into poverty, and are unlikely to get out of it. Usually on public assistance May have part-time menial jobs May have a disability May lack skills to find employment Many single mothers

21.  Many Americans work at low-wage jobs.  Single parent households: its difficult for them to earn a living income from the jobs that are typically available.  There is less cash assistance for low-income citizens In the mid-nineties, two-thirds of children received welfare. Now, only 27%.  That doesn’t mean there’s less need for assistance – it means there’s less money available.  Issues of race and gender mean higher poverty among minorities and families headed by single mothers.

22.  Poor Economy  Rising Cost of Food Food Prices have gone up 17% in the past five years Retail beef and pork prices are up about 7% and 5.3% respectively the past year.  Drug Use  Lack of Education A High School Diploma doesn’t go as far as it used to. On average, someone with just a high school diploma makes $28,000 a year. Compare that with $45,000 a year with a college degree.  Rising Cost of Health Care

23.  Not having enough space for the people that live with you.  Being poor is getting angry at your kids for asking for all the stuff they see on TV.  Being poor is having to keep buying $800 cars because they’re what you can afford, and then having the cars break down on you, because there’s not an $800 car in America that’s worth a damn.  Being poor is hoping the toothache goes away.  Being poor is not taking the job because you can’t find someone you trust to watch your kids.