Americanized Poverty & Us
Immunity to the pressure of capitalism can come down to cycles of heredity in both racial and economic privilege. The last decade’s sociopolitical landscape has been littered with repressive ideological battles, ethnic-group distortion, vows of incivility, and violent attempts to maintain a free-flowing democracy. Our action-oriented minds are enveloped in opposition to the hate crimes, persecution, and direct oppression that our systems pursue. Climate change legislation is at the forefront of many major political delegations, and communities have devoted organizations to unraveling racial and religious violence. Though these issues are slowly and steadily gaining popular discussion and necessary adjustments, it seems our politics have become stagnant in the pervasive crisis of poverty and homelessness. Despite those living in these conditions making up 12% of the American population, our attention tends to the crises that are merely consequences of this larger social obstruction. Why have our mediums of change turned such a blind eye to the realities of homelessness? Instead of treating this global emergency as a norm or an environmental “given,” there needs to be a financial and political focus on this growing and pervasive social threat.
The State of Poverty
There is an unfortunate stigma surrounding the perception of those living in obscene poverty within the United States seeing that the country is known as the “Land of the Free”, with opportunities galore, financial accessibility at a global maxima, and a mixing pot of identities and adventure. But these successes and elaborate economic productivity only extend to those who benefit from them. Corporate greed in America serves as a direct proliferator of the repressive conditions of impoverished life, which is defined by individuals who have an average income of below $12,880 or a household income below $26,500 for a family of four. And as the top 8% of the U.S. celebrate their multi-million dollar incomes and private vacation homes, American society has adopted a pattern of dehumanization towards those struggling to adopt a capitalist-dependent lifestyle. In fact, our media portrays those in economically disadvantaged situations as deserving of their very conditions.”They must be addicted to drugs or a threat to their family’s stability”. Or we believe, for some twisted reason, that “they deserve to be in the place they are in.” But only around 20% of the homeless are dependent on some mind-altering substance, and a majority of them held lifestyles extremely similar to the rest of us. But not all “good” people are granted “good” lives; just as not all humans with poor intentions reap the consequences of their actions.
Thousands of families and groups of people struggle to access life-serving resources and supplement their basic needs. While cheaper goods and a wide range of markets continue to increase in the States, consistency in obtaining and preserving these short-term lifelines is next to impossible. Healthcare, clean water, and housing are not options if an income is unstable or similarly denied. Low-income individuals become dependent on uncertain structures of control. Many facing a state of poverty migrate to metropolitan areas (particularly most prevalent in California, New York, and Florida) to fend off the litter of the wealthy. Many homeless families face degrees of emotional and physical trauma due to the isolated and dangerous areas they are forced to reside upon. Among these, 90% of women in poverty have experienced some form of sexual assault, domestic violence, rape, or been forced into sex trafficking. The cruelty experienced by the homeless is vast and unrelenting, though this crisis seems to stand to further isolate communities of color. Although African-Americans make up only 15% of the general U.S. population, their racial group makes up 40% of those living in poverty. Almost 25% of the homeless are Hispanic or Latine, and Indigenous or Pacific Islander peoples, despite their small population, are overrepresented in groups of extreme poverty. This uneven demographic representation is further seen in the greater tendency of foreign-born individuals (immigrants) to experience these conditions better than their white and domestic-born counterparts.
America’s homelessness crisis reinforces cycles of intergenerational trauma, ethnic hardship, and mental and physical adversity for already disprivileged intersectional groups.
New York’s Shelter System
When searching for a comprehensive outlook on poverty in America, we can look to the sheltering and hardship within New York’s Homelessness System. In 1981, the state passed “a right to shelter” in the Callahan v. Carey case, which guaranteed a place to sleep to all individuals in NYC regardless of income or residence status. However, over recent months, there have been outcries and doubts expressed towards the overwhelming reality of their shelter-seeking population. The Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, requested that this mandate be adjusted from “the right to shelter for anyone who applies for it,” to a modification that would allow systems to refuse new asylum-seekers if the areas do not have the space, security, or staff to extend it to them. Over the last year, the city has struggled to find adequate sites to house individuals, spending over $1 billion on the establishment of 150 shelter sites and the occupation of over 140 hotels. New York is struggling to keep up with what policymakers have labeled a humanitarian crisis, which places both the city and shelter-seekers into uncomfortable and unhealthy situations.
Many of those in dire need of shelter are seeking asylum from religious persecution, violence, and natural disasters in Haiti, Central America, and places like Ghana, Ethiopia, and Cameroon. Some of these migrants recently crossed the South America-Texas border and were bussed over to New York last fall, which accounts for this influx of displaced people.
“Given that we’re unable to provide care for an unlimited number of people and are already overextended, it is in the best interest of everyone, including those seeking to come to the United States, to be upfront that New York City cannot single-handedly provide care to everyone crossing our border,” Mr. Adams says, as taken from the New York Times. “Being dishonest about this will only result in our system collapsing, and we need our government partners to know the truth and do their share.”
What this shelter system demonstrates is the catastrophe within the structures dedicated to assisting the health of those in poverty. Organizations insist on contributing, and states will stop at nothing to devote resources to their improvement — but at what cost?
Exploitation of the Poor
Lower-income communities in America are faced with socio-cultural ostracization and a seemingly constant abuse within the educational and economic sphere. The truth is, once these individuals are placed into a situation of misfortune and systematic dissociation, their displacement becomes an object of permanence for institutions and symbols of privilege. There are many forms in which this abuse comes, both directly and indirectly, which are important in considering how culturally embedded and normalized these practices really are.
Consumerism, Capitalism, and Housing
Though the excessive production of day-to-day goods has enhanced access to objects of social desirability, the things we need — not want — are in almost direct denial. Consumerist exploitation occurs when a person is overcharged relative to the value of the goods they purchased, which restrains their ability to purchase other, life-sustaining factions, and causes a buyer to become dependent on an objectively non-dependable market. Take, for instance, the sale of underdeveloped and health-threatening foods, hygiene products, or tools, which can be advertised improperly to families in need of more affordable subsidies. The harmful consumption of some of these products may cause pulls on different, stable measures of insurance or life-sustaining resources. This can also be seen within the harsh housing market in the United States, with the cost of living at an all-time high due to such high demands of living, and hardly a supply. A person may be charged well above the standard of living they are seeking out, yet they must yield to such inflated rates to ensure some sort of rate of return for the beneficiaries. Those who buy in — in a state of poverty or not — practically cough over the majority of a paycheck to keep a roof over their heads. And if they don’t, the system will find another family or person who is willing to.
Workplace and Security
This exploitative reality also extends to income and means of day-to-day social agreeability. In a professional setting, or one in which a profit is worked towards, if an employer sees one as unfit to provide a reasonable contribution or performance—which many in poverty struggle to maintain as a direct result of familial, health, economic, and social responsibility burdens—a persistent compensation is nearly unattainable. The fundamentals of capitalism are rooted in wealthy business owners attempting to put in as little as possible and derive a maximum from laborers. If individuals are not suited for this deeply oppressive way of life, they will not be extended the slight, life-proliferating benefits, required to persist in America.
Attempted Strides
Although there is a growing media-centric turn away from isolating the humanitarian crisis of poverty, there are organizations, corporations, and groups dedicated to this cause that are having resounding effects. In particular, the Circles USA, which is an organization made up of middle-to-high income volunteers that provides struggling and impoverished families the resources and opportunities necessary to advance their career and financial outlook.
On the other hand, federal legislation like the Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which provides monthly payments to those struggling with disabilities and those holding no income, the national food stamp program SNAP, and most popularly known, Social Security. These programs have been effective in curbing aspects of familial poverty and reducing the race gap in homelessness, though they do not alleviate the concerns of many unemployed workers as they intend to. Because some of these policies have not been updated since as far back as the 1930s, contemporary qualifications for unemployment insurance programs leave the most in-need ignored. Moreover, some programs, like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), require certain eligibility and can only sustain a few families for a short period of time — which does not elevate the long-term economic and social growth these communities are in need of.
Because the poverty crisis has become such a normality, prioritizing to update these policies and strengthening the resources extended in the past is not on the short-list of priorities for current U.S. legislation. Likewise, demands for these low-income groups and interest groups wishing to gain political influence, are clouded by the needs of middle-class groups and unions that can provide the resources for their causes to be successful.
Resources for the Rich
Wealth is a subjective and relative ideology. Viewing and reading this article is a pillar of privilege we often take for granted. In order to move forward and create a United States centered on the extension of wealth and non-stingy human needs, we must use our voices of traction and media privilege to shed light on those who are unable to.
Here is a list of organizations dedicated to helping those in poverty and without a home in America:
1. Feeding America: Feeding America is the nation's largest hunger-relief organization. They work diligently to address food insecurity and poverty by coordinating and providing meals to millions of Americans through their network of food banks and food rescue programs.
2. Habitat for Humanity: Habitat for Humanity is a renowned non-profit organization that focuses on affordable housing for low-income families. They build and renovate homes in partnership with volunteers and the families themselves, providing them with the opportunity to achieve stability and break the cycle of poverty.
3. United Way: United Way is a worldwide network of organizations that work to improve the lives of individuals and communities, with a particular emphasis on poverty. Their initiatives target education, income stability, and health, providing resources and support to those in need.
4. National Alliance to End Homelessness: This organization aims to prevent and end homelessness in the United States. They advocate for effective policies, provide research and resources, and work in collaboration with local communities and government agencies to find innovative solutions for housing vulnerable populations.
5. Goodwill Industries International: Goodwill is a well-known non-profit organization that supports individuals facing various barriers to employment. They offer job training, placement services, and other wraparound programs to help individuals secure sustainable employment and improve their financial stability.
6. Salvation Army: The Salvation Army is a Christian-based organization that provides a wide range of services to individuals and families in need. They offer emergency shelter, food assistance, addiction rehabilitation programs, vocational training, and more, helping people escape poverty and rebuild their lives.
7. Share Our Strength: Share Our Strength's mission is to end childhood hunger in the United States. Through their No Kid Hungry campaign, they focus on providing children in poverty with nutritious meals, advocating for better access to food, and educating families on affordable and healthy eating options.
8. Dress for Success: This organization aims to empower women by providing professional attire, career development tools, and a network of support to help them thrive in the workplace. Through various programs, Dress for Success helps women break free from poverty and achieve economic independence.
9. Meals on Wheels America: Meals on Wheels America is committed to addressing senior hunger and isolation. They provide nutritious meals to homebound seniors, along with daily check-ins to ensure their safety and well-being. This organization enables elderly individuals to stay independent and age with dignity.
10. Local Community Action Agencies: There are numerous local Community Action Agencies (CAAs) throughout the United States. These agencies offer a range of services and assistance programs, including energy assistance, job training, affordable housing, and childcare support. CAAs are great resources for individuals and families striving to overcome poverty.
Remember, this is just a small selection of the organizations committed to helping those in poverty in America. Many other incredible organizations exist at the national, regional, and local levels, working tirelessly to improve the lives of individuals and families in need.
Addressing the issue of homelessness in America requires concerted efforts from the wealthier members of society. Here are some practices for richer people to effectively use their privilege to help the homeless:
1. Education and Awareness:
Educate oneself: Gain a comprehensive understanding of the causes and realities of homelessness. This knowledge will enable informed decision-making and the ability to advocate effectively.
Raise awareness: Use your platform, whether through social media, public speaking engagements, or personal networks, to shed light on the issue of homelessness and its impact on the community.
2. Supporting Existing Organizations:
Donate financially: Contribute funds to established nonprofits that specialize in providing shelter, food, healthcare, and education to the homeless population. Monetary donations can significantly assist these organizations in expanding their outreach and services.
Volunteer time and expertise: Offer your professional skills to assist homeless shelters and organizations − legal expertise, project management, counseling, or other relevant skills can make an invaluable difference.
3. Creating Opportunities for Employment:
Collaborate with businesses: Encourage companies to develop programs that facilitate employment opportunities for homeless individuals, such as job training, apprenticeships, or internships.
Provide vocational training: Establish vocational training centers or partner with existing initiatives to equip homeless individuals with the skills needed to secure long-term employment.
4. Mentoring and Support:
Mentorship programs: Launch mentorship programs that help homeless individuals develop essential life skills, build confidence, and foster a sense of belonging.
Access to resources: Provide homeless individuals with access to job listings, affordable housing options, mental health services, and other necessary resources to help them regain stability.
5. Advocacy and Policy Change:
Engage with policymakers: Use your influence and resources to advocate for policies that improve affordable housing, provide adequate healthcare, mental health support, and social safety nets for the homeless.
Lobbying efforts: Support organizations working to influence local, state, and federal policies by contributing to their lobbying efforts and campaigns dedicated to ending homelessness.
6. Investment in Affordable Housing:
Fund housing initiatives: Invest in the construction and maintenance of affordable housing units, or partner with organizations that specialize in low-income housing projects.
Collaborate with local governments: Forge partnerships with local government bodies to support initiatives targeting homelessness, such as developing innovative supportive housing models or creating rent subsidies.
