As a part of Blog Action Day, I am taking a moment out of my blog to talk about poverty. Right now, there are thousands of bloggers giving their perspective on this incredibly large issue. I’m going to talk about poverty in America, and the stigma that comes with it.
But first, a revelation: I am poor.
This is something I have not told any of my internet friends. My offline friends already know, and the majority of them are in a similar boat.
I am not telling my story to illicit pity. I am coming forward to shed light on this everyday situation in America, and to remove some of the painful embarrassment that comes with it. No one likes being poor, and no one likes to admit it. Go to a soup kitchen one day and get a meal. Observe the people around you. The ones who are new will likely be red from the shame. The experienced ones will have a distant glaze in their eyes, resigned to their fate. Feel your own discomfort waiting in line. It is not easy knowing that you need help.
Now I can hear you twitching in disbelief. After all, I live in America – Strike One. I have a connection to the Internet – Strike Two. I have a roof over my head – Strike Three. Bonus – I’m a full-time freelancer, how can I be poor?
Let’s tackle these misconceptions one by one, shall we?
I Live in America
There’s not actually poor people in America, right? Sure, there’s the homeless, but everyday people who have homes aren’t poor, are they?
I believe that people who are poor in America are too ashamed to admit it, and would do anything to hide that fact. This includes spending what little money they do have, to fit in during social situations. I know this, because I’ve done it. I’ve worked daily for a job I hated, for very little money – minimum wage still leaves a family of one (!) under the federal poverty line. Then my fellow co-workers would invite me out for social situations, such as eating out or going for a drink or two. Did I have the money to go on these frivolous excursions? No. I did so anyway, so I would not have to admit that I couldn’t really afford it.
I Have an Internet Connection
You may wonder how I am writing this post to you now, on the internet. It costs money to get internet, right? Well I signed up under a deal where they won’t bill me for the next few months. Once they do bill me, I do not know how I am going to pay for it. As it is, the only reason I have this computer is because my mother gave it to me.
Originally, my parents (as gracious as they are) were going to cover the bill until my freelancing took off. It’s not going to happen now, because my father lost his job a few weeks back. He worked for a major car dealership who closed its doors and declared bankruptcy. They won’t be able to pay their bills this month. His unemployment is capped at about 25% of what he was making. His appointment to get signed up on food stamps is three weeks from now.
Poverty happens in an instant, and takes months to recover from. If not years. If not forever.
I Have a Roof Over My Head
There are thousands of people who do not have homes right now. I know what that is like. I was one of them, at different points in my life. One time my parents and I moved, and we spent a month living in our van. Another time, I was staying with friends, and we were hopping from hotel to hotel in the Las Vegas area, living off comps at the buffets. The last time was when I was newly married, and we lived in our car and his father’s truck for two months.
Now, I do have a place to call home. We are a month behind in rent. There is money on its way, but nothing has pulled through yet. I went to general assistance, and they are only able to pay less than half of the rent. My landlord wasn’t even going to accept it, until I called the lady at the assistance office and she applied a bit of pressure. They are very strict here, and in one more month they would start legal proceedings.
I’m a Full-Time Freelance Writer
You may wonder how I can be poor. I’m a freelancer, and can earn as much as my clients are willing to pay. Very true words, yet they haven’t kicked in yet. I have one gig that is overdue as of this writing, one who prefers to pay by check (instead of paypal) and a handful who are revenue share at the end of the month. Each day is a constant worry, as I check my paypal account and mailbox over and over.
The very reason I am freelancing full-time is that my real job is shut down for three weeks for renovations. I am eligible for unemployment, but will not receive my first check until we are up and running again. Everyone I know is hurting right now, and scrambling to come up with money that just isn’t there.
How to Help
So poverty in America is real. It happens every day to hardworking people who are not alcoholics or drug addicts. It happens through no fault of their own, and is an intense downward spiral. It is all anyone can do to keep from becoming depressed and giving up. Attempts to pull themselves up are difficult at best, and full of red tape, endless paperwork, and waiting. Watching bills pile up and knowing there is little you can do about it is enough to drive anyone to a nervous breakdown.
What can be done about it? Each person can help, in even the smallest ways. Here are some organizations that you can support, with your time or your money. These links are from www.results.org, who are doing everything they can to help end hunger.
America’s Second Harvest is an organization that provides emergency food assistance to more than 23 million hungry Americans each year through a network of over 200 food banks and food-rescue programs.
Center on Hunger and Poverty at Brandeis University promotes policies that improve the lives of low-income children and families. Center activities include research and policy analysis, public education initiatives, and assistance to policymakers and organizations across the country on poverty- and hunger-related issues.
Bread for the World is a nationwide Christian citizens movement seeking justice for the world’s hungry people by lobbying the U.S. leaders.
Congressional Hunger Center’s purpose is to ensure that the issues of domestic and international hunger remain at the forefront of national debate.
End Hunger Network is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to work with the entertainment community to create, stimulate and support media projects, programs, and events aimed at ending childhood hunger in the U.S.
Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) is a national research and public policy center whose aim is to eradicate hunger in the U.S.
Food Stamp Program, at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is the largest federal food assistance program in the U.S.
National WIC Association is a voluntary, nonprofit membership organization that represents state and local agencies that together provide quality nutrition education, breastfeeding support, health care and other referral services to over 7.6 million at-risk women, infants and children in over 10,000 WIC clinics nationwide.
Share our Strength is an anti-hunger and anti-poverty organization that mobilizes individuals and industries to contribute their talents to raise funds and awareness for the fight against hunger and poverty.
Tufts Center on Hunger, Poverty and Nutrition Policy is a set of programs that focus on food security, hunger, and poverty in the United States as set by the Tufts School of Nutrition Science and Policy.
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is a program under the Food and Nutrition Service that was created to help low-income women, infants, and children who are at risk for malnutrition.
Even if you do not have the means to donate money to these or other similar organizations, there are still things you can do to help wipe out poverty.
Volunteer. Spend some of your time at a local food bank, clothes distribution center, or soup kitchen. These places are desperate for people to distribute goods and organize fundraisers.
Make Dinner. Invite a friend over for dinner. Even if you aren’t sure if they are poor, do it anyway. If you think they might be poor, you’re probably right. They’d be grateful for the food, and will be happy to return the favor or pay it forward later.
Listen. People who live in poverty are dealing with a lot of stress and anxiety. Sometimes, they need someone to talk to. You can be that listening ear, and comforting shoulder.
Do a Favor. Poor people often have lots of appointments, with assistance agencies, food banks, and job interviews. Offer to watch their kids for a few hours. Pick up some extra foodstuffs when you do your groceries. Let them use your computer to look for jobs.
Keep the Ball Rolling. Poverty is not a one day topic. It is a daily experience for millions of people all over the world. Make a commitment to do something to help as often as possible. Mark it on your calendar. Spread the word to everyone you are in contact with. Do not let this important topic languish by the wayside.
