Issue Statement and Identification of a Policy
Walden University SOCW
6361: Social Policy Dr.
13:53:24 GMT -05:00
, The United States of America has many social issues that may affect different
populations. Poverty is one social issue that affects many Americans. The word poverty is
associated with poor. When most individuals may hear the word poor they automatically think of
the less fortunate or even someone living out on the street. That may not always be the case.
Poverty has become more popular over the years and it is simply defined as the amount of
money, and resources one may have. Moreover the beginning of poverty dates all the way back
to the 1940s. Poverty was first introduced when it was discovered that different countries like the
United States have a higher household income than others (The development of poverty, 2017).
Furthermore, while poverty affects many populations the U.S census revealed that over 40
million U.S citizens were living under the poverty lines in 2017. Women and children are the
most affected by poverty. Majority of those women and children are African American
(Sauter,
2018).
Poverty is an issue that seems like it will never go away. There are many policies
designed to help those in poverty but the number of individuals living in poverty seems to keep
increasing as the years go on. Decision makers, and the public should be more involved with this
issue, because it is not right that there are numerous policies to help those living in poverty, but
those same resources and policies are not helping those living in poverty escape it. Individuals
need to realize how crippling it can be to live in poverty. Especially for children. Poverty is not
only associated with the less fortunate but it is also associated with crime. Zhao (2014), states
that the economic theory of crime demonstrates a direct correlation between poverty and crime.
We all know that money is the route of all evil, and it can cause individuals to commit crimes. A
lot of individuals living in poverty, especially males, feel like they have to find ways to provide
for themselves and their families. Some of the means to provide may result in them robbing
Walden University SOCW
6361: Social Policy Dr.
13:53:24 GMT -05:00
, The United States of America has many social issues that may affect different
populations. Poverty is one social issue that affects many Americans. The word poverty is
associated with poor. When most individuals may hear the word poor they automatically think of
the less fortunate or even someone living out on the street. That may not always be the case.
Poverty has become more popular over the years and it is simply defined as the amount of
money, and resources one may have. Moreover the beginning of poverty dates all the way back
to the 1940s. Poverty was first introduced when it was discovered that different countries like the
United States have a higher household income than others (The development of poverty, 2017).
Furthermore, while poverty affects many populations the U.S census revealed that over 40
million U.S citizens were living under the poverty lines in 2017. Women and children are the
most affected by poverty. Majority of those women and children are African American
(Sauter,
2018).
Poverty is an issue that seems like it will never go away. There are many policies
designed to help those in poverty but the number of individuals living in poverty seems to keep
increasing as the years go on. Decision makers, and the public should be more involved with this
issue, because it is not right that there are numerous policies to help those living in poverty, but
those same resources and policies are not helping those living in poverty escape it. Individuals
need to realize how crippling it can be to live in poverty. Especially for children. Poverty is not
only associated with the less fortunate but it is also associated with crime. Zhao (2014), states
that the economic theory of crime demonstrates a direct correlation between poverty and crime.
We all know that money is the route of all evil, and it can cause individuals to commit crimes. A
lot of individuals living in poverty, especially males, feel like they have to find ways to provide
for themselves and their families. Some of the means to provide may result in them robbing
