The Increase in Poverty and How it Effects Children
In addressing the issue of child poverty I decided to make blankets to donate to the Project Linus non-profit organization. This organization has over 300 chapters spread all over the United States. Each chapter collects blankets to distribute to children who are ill, traumatized or simply in need of something to provide comfort and security. Poverty has been a growing problem in the United States for a long time and with the economy today, it is only getting increasingly worse. It is unfortunate for the children who are born into poor families. Many of these children experience malnutrition and unsafe living conditions (Haerens, Bloom). It has been reported that there is an increasing number of children who are being moved into foster homes because their families are unable to pay their bills, which establishes unsanitary and unbearable living situations (Bloom). Bloom reveals that, “Study after study reviewed by Northwestern University law professor Dorothy Roberts in her book Shattered Bonds: The Color of Child Welfare shows that poverty is the leading cause of children landing in foster care” (Bloom). In her article, Bloom tells two tragic stories of mothers who lost their children to foster care because of their inability to maintain a safe living environment. Child-welfare workers, who are employed by the government, are responsible for the removal of these children. It is heart breaking to understand that these children are being separated from their families, but at the same time, the government is protecting these children by providing them with a safer place to grow. Not only is it an issue of safety but Haerens also reports about the health risks that children growing up in poverty face. It is important that people recognize how many children are separated from their parents and the hardships they face. Haerens further explains that poverty is one the principle causes of hunger. She goes on to say that, “The causes of poverty include poor people's lack of resources, an extremely unequal income distribution in the world and within specific countries, conflict, and hunger itself” (Haerens). The number of people living below the poverty line in developing countries and the United States are unable to make enough money to feed themselves and their children. It seems that malnutrition takes the biggest toll on children. Haerens writes that, “Children who are poorly nourished suffer up to 160 days of illness each year. Poor nutrition plays a role in at least half of the 10.9 million child deaths each year—five million deaths” (Haerens). The more informed people are, the more they can try to help, like the Project Linus organization.
The government has passed various laws and acts in order to try to combat the economic struggles our nation has faced over several years. President Lyndon B. Johnson passed the Economic Opportunity Act in 1964 in an attempt to help the unemployed get back into the workforce. Each section of the act deals with the necessary procedures in developing all kinds of businesses and corporations (Economic). One of the sections is devoted to getting young people involved in the workforce and helping them keep their jobs while enrolled in college. The document states,
The purpose of this part is to stimulate and promote the part-time employment of students who are enrolled as undergraduate, graduate, or professional students and who are in need of earnings from employment to pursue courses of study at eligible institutions, and to encourage students receiving Federal student financial assistance to participate in community service activities that will benefit the Nation and engender in the students a sense of social responsibility and commitment to the community (Economic).
It is especially important that young people are encouraged to hold a job while in school so that they will have money to properly raise a family when they are ready. Many people graduate with huge amounts of debt from their college tuition and then go on to attempt to start a family. It is important that people understand the commitment they are making when they have children. In another section of the document, the government addresses the minimum wages that should be paid to people in certain job categories.
All laborers and mechanics employed by contractors or subcontractors in the construction, alteration, or repair, including painting or decorating, of buildings or other facilities in connection with projects assisted under this subchapter, shall be paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing on similar construction in the locality, as determined by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with the Davis-Bacon Act (Economic).
It is essential that the government set these limitations in place in order to control part of the population’s income. With this document the government is regulating people’s salaries to help minimize the amount of people living below the poverty line.
President Johnson addressed the poverty issue again by getting the Food Stamp Act of 1964 passed by congress. This act outlines the Food Stamp Program, which provides vouchers for low-income families at certain grocery stores. With these vouchers, people with less money are able to afford food and other household items for their family (Food). The document states that its main purpose is,
To strengthen the agricultural economy; to help to achieve a fuller and more effective use of food abundance; to provide for improved levels of nutrition among low-income households through a cooperative Federal-State program of food assistance to be operated through normal channels of trade; and for other purposes (Food).
The act continues on to define what makes a family eligible for the food stamps. The Food and Agricultural Act of 1977 eventually surpassed the Food Stamp Act, which made it easier for families to qualify for receiving the food stamps (Food). These laws address our nation’s issue with poverty and are helping many of America’s citizens. Although these laws have been a great help to many there is still a problematic number of people still living below the poverty line and there are large amounts of children growing up in unsatisfactory living conditions.
The government has and still is creating all sorts of new programs for the benefit of America’s citizens. There have been many programs started that provide aid through job searching and training, like the Job Corps, which “was designed to give underprivileged teenagers and young adults the necessary training for long-term employment opportunities” (War). Today, the Job Corps runs their program in over 120 locations across the United States and is training about 100,000 people between the ages of 16 and 24 (War). There is another program called Head Start, which was designed to, “provide comprehensive educational and health services to preschool-aged children in low-income families. An estimated 23 million children have participated in Head Start since the program's inception in 1965” (War). Head Start is exactly the type of program that I feel contributes most to my community service topic. My topic addresses the issues that children face when growing up below the poverty line or in a low-income family. Project Linus is an organization that is geared toward providing comfort and security for these children. Head Start is focused on the education and health of children growing up with poor families. Being born into these situations, these children are not granted the same opportunities as those growing up in stable homes with working parents. Programs like Head Start give hope to these children and provide a basic education for them. With just a basic start in learning from this program, underprivileged children can then continue to stay in school and try to overcome the hard life that they were born into. President Johnson continued his fight against poverty by signing the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act in 1965 (War). This act established the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which “was created in 1965 as a Cabinet-level agency to increase homeownership, support community development, and increase access to affordable housing free from discrimination” (Marr). One of the main goals of the HUD was to recognize the decrease in housing affordability and find ways for poorer people to able to purchase homes. Later on, HUD assumed the role of a government agency that directs programs in battling the rise of homelessness (Marr). HUD continues this battle by providing funding for government programs (War).
My community service project does not directly confront the issue of the increasing amount of families living under the poverty line, but it does address the hardships that children face when growing up in poor conditions. It felt satisfying to be making something from scratch for the pure enjoyment of a child in need. I had never made a blanket before. The first one that I made took me a long time, but by the time I got to my third and fourth blanket I was getting the hang of it. I tried to make as many as I could while still putting in a great amount of effort in order to produce high quality blankets. I know the children must appreciate each blanket they ever receive but I want it to be obvious that I did the best I could. It feels great to receive a brand new blanket, but it feels even better to know that the blanket maker put in high quality just for you.
Works Cited
1. "Children Are in Foster Care Because They Are Poor." Foster Care. Ed. Debra Bloom. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2010. At Issue. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 5 Apr. 2011.
2. "Economic Opportunity Act (1964)." Issues: Understanding Controversy and Society. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 9 Apr. 2011.
3. "Food Stamp Act (1964)." Issues: Understanding Controversy and Society. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 9 Apr. 2011.
4. Marr, Matthew. "U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ." Issues: Understanding Controversy and Society. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 9 Apr. 2011.
5. "Poverty Is a Root Cause of Malnutrition." Hunger Notes (1 Mar. 2008). Rpt. in Malnutrition. Ed. Margaret Haerens. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2009. Opposing Viewpoints. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 10 Apr. 2011.
6. "War on Poverty." Issues: Understanding Controversy and Society. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 9 Apr. 2011.
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