The Paradox of Poverty

Unemployed individuals can access a Government program (Welfare) that helps them cover rent and food however they are often still barely getting by. When they are fortunate enough to get a job usually it is just enough to disqualify them from this finial aid and now they don’t make enough to cover their costs. The irony of this situation is that welfare is put in place to prevent people from experiencing absolute poverty, but in turn, it traps them with little help getting out. This resource provides an excellent explanation of this cycle and how so many people and families get stuck in this generational poverty trap. Furthermore, it offers a potential solution to this problem.

Breadline Kids: Dispatches (Poverty Documentary)

This documentary follows a few different families in Britain experiencing food insecurity. Rosie’s family uses the free book bank service as her mother is unemployed and unable to find a job. Consequently, relying on government aid to pay the bills. After paying rent and bills, she is left with 25 pounds to use for food. They don’t have a way to guarantee when or how they are going to get their next meal. In Naomi’s family, her dad is her only caregiver, he had to leave his job to care for her when she got diagnosed with leukemia. He is unable to work any extra time that he does have because it would make it so they didn’t qualify for benefits and the amount he would be making is nowhere near enough to cover their costs of living. They access food donations through a food bank and the brother uses the school food programs. At one point in time, the father could pay the bills and had a well-paying job. This demonstrates how anything can happen to anyone even if they never think it will. That’s why a service that provides breakfast before school and lunch during the day is crucial; if a child doesn’t have access to enough food to sustain them throughout the day, it has been shown to cause issues with their physical and mental health. Furthermore, this resource is a great look into the world of those living in the welfare poverty trap.

How Does “Toxic Stress” of Poverty Hurt the Developing Brain

 This short documentary follows Ruth and her family, whose father left for the country he originated from while the rest of the family stayed in America. The house they were living in was shot at in a random drive-by shooting, leaving her and the children traumatized. While all of this was going on, they were barely scraping by due to the father, who was the main provider, leaving; she had to sell the family vehicles to support them as long as she could. Eventually, she had to leave everything behind and move in with her mother. They investigate how poverty and the living conditions that come with it, can have long-term consequences for children’s brains and cognitive development.

The Brain on Poverty


Jessica Sharpe talks about how generational trauma affects the developing brain. She notes that the effects of poverty start in the womb. Poverty causes long-term stress, which is bad for the growing fetus. When the baby is born, the brain is already at a disadvantage. During the early childhood years, the attachment that forms between a child and caregiver can predict the kind of future relationships they will have. When there are many stressors, this relationship is often strained, which puts them at risk of having attachment issues in future relationships. Similarly, children living below the poverty line statistically read less, which adds to the developmental disadvantages. In turn, they become academically behind, a big factor in generational poverty. Sharpe also mentioned that kids in this situation often lack coping skills and have impulsive behavior and actions. The part of their brain that helps them think, solve problems, plan, get things in order and pay attention has not developed properly. When these children become adults, they will experience chronic or toxic stress, which raises the hormone cortisol in their bodies. This leads to health issues such as weight gain, diabetes, cardiovascular issues, the inability to fight infections, and early death. Poverty affects every single person, and every person has the ability to be part of the solution. With all the stressors that come with poverty, there is no doubt that it negatively affects an individual’s ability to be a parent. Ask teachers and parents about how they can be supported, as they work most closely with the kids. Sharpe mentions how empathy is a huge factor when dealing with impoverished and marginalized groups. You may not know what it’s like to live in poverty, but you might know the feeling of wanting a child to be happy, healthy, and safe. What can you do to make a difference?

Why is there still Poverty in America?

This resource by the Economist talks about how America is the richest country in the world and has a low unemployment rate, yet it still has so many people living in poverty. One-eighth of the population lives in poverty. Even though statistically poverty has decreased in the last several years, the nature of how it works has changed. Poverty used to be found mostly in inner cities but now substantially more people are living in poverty in the suburbs. Yet those areas allocate way fewer funds to that issue. Families are having to depend on charities to lessen to burden. Similarly, areas of poverty are becoming more concentrated. Being poor and living in a poverty-stricken neighborhood is worse than living in an integrated one as they might have a poor school experience or exposure to crime. Children are affected the most. They also take a look at the history of the safety nets put in place. The programs tend to benefit elderly generations rather than working-age adults and children. Think about how the future of society will be live if we don’t invest in our children. They are hoping to implement a child cash benefit similar to the one in Canada. However, people who are experiencing poverty are less likely to vote so often their voices aren’t heard and their issues are put on the back burner In a wealthy country like America it is more than possible to find a solution and have a strong economy.