Thursday, July 03, 2008

Poverty

37 Million Americans

5 comments:

James said...

Uh, yea, I can relate to some degree. It's not like when I was on the street, that wasn't fun. Praise God I'm not there anymore. So as for my situation now, I know things could always be worse. With gas prices the way they are, I have to plan my trips better and sometimes just not go everywhere I want to go. But if I don't, I may lose out on a sale. So I have to go. I could whine and complain, but that does no good, and it certainly doesn't put gas in the tank. I just know it is what it is for now, and I have to tighten my belt in other areas to compensate for it. I don't like it, but what am I going to do? I look for savings where I can. There's a newspaper here that has specials in it for 5 to 7 different grocery stores. If I clip adds of the items I like and take them to Wal-Mart they match the price, except for meat products to the grades and whatnot. Today I just bought 4 new button up shirts there for $3 each. For XXL that's incredible. Usually it's $3 more than other sizes, and today I found those nice shirts for $3 each. 100% cotton too. It can be work saving money where you can, but it's worth it, and it beats driving to all those different stores too. Anyway, enough from me. :-)

Jerri said...

Hey there James!

Thanks for posting your comment.

Yes, it's true that many of us can still scrape by month to month by tightening our money/budget belts; but for millions of Americans, this simply isn't so.

Families go hungry, homeless, and often find themselves bereft of the basic necessities of life.

I think that's so sad.....

....and so wrong.

James said...

Agreed, that is very sad. I know here in TX we have a "Lone Star" card to help with food. It's like a food credit card they don't have to pay back, and low income housing. I have some friends that live in one of those. It's roughly like $30 a month. They have periodic inspections and whatnot. I wonder why some folks can't qualify for those kinds of things, or what the problem actually is? We also have many food banks around here that give out food. Probably many of them either don't know about the programs, or they refuse to ask for them. I know in my case I was working, yet not making enough money to have a place (that was in 1986). But I didn't know there were options available to me, I was just a stupid kid. Although there were places I knew I could always eat for free. St Vincent De Paul's always gave out lunches every day and the Gospel Mission gave out food, but I never went there. I do feel bad for those who aren't able to get the help they need. Where the government can't do it, the church (you and me) should. I think therein lies the problem. People in general, and ultimately the church, have gotten used to the government doing much of what Jesus called us to do. We've (the church and people in general) started sending our help outside of the country when we have folks here who need help as well. Although it is way better here than in many other countries. I guess there will always be need. We just need to decide where to send the help, and from whom to expect it. Thanks for this great post. I really didn't realize there were that many in need. I would like to know the criteria that put all those folks in that number. Is it below a certain earning annually or something like that? That number is well over 10% of the American population. Where would I find that information?

Jerri said...

James, just click the Poverty banner, or click here: http://www.usccb.org/cchd/povertyusa/index.htm

This website will explain the numbers for you. It has all kinds of good information, including the Federal poverty guidelines and definitions.

There are many barriers that prevent folks from accessing social service resources...some are physical, while others are systemic. Still more apply and find that resources are limited and/or already spent.

Poverty wears many faces; but make no mistake, poverty is alive and well, prowling the streets of America and growling in the bellies of hungry men, women and children.

James said...

That's just such a large number. I never would have guessed that large an amount was even possible. That's why I asked about how they arrived at that number. Thanks again for sharing this. :-) James