Falling Through The Cracks: 3 Areas To Make Improvements In Poverty-Related Issues
Although there is increasingly more awareness regarding poverty-related concerns, there are many people steadily facing worsening situations. Poverty is typically a complex issue that can require a multifaceted approach to improve the situation.
Homelessness And Substandard Housing
When considering homelessness, there are often people who don't qualify for temporary shelter. Generally, there are more shelters available for women, especially those with children, leaving single men and men with dependents with fewer options for shelter. Housing assistance programs may be available in some localities, but the waiting lists can be years long. Additionally, certain groups are prioritized, such as people with children, the elderly, and disabled people, with those not fitting into any of these groups facing the possibility of not qualifying for housing assistance or being bumped further down the list.
Unfortunately, the housing available through these programs often has problems such as pests, poor construction, bad plumbing, and malfunctioning appliances. With many localities having vacant commercial properties, this is an ideal opportunity to expand resources to reduce homelessness and issues with substandard housing, since one building can easily be remodeled to accommodate many families.
Food Insecurity
Food insecurity can be an issue due to limited access to stores and/or a lack of funds to buy food consistently. Assuming a person qualifies for the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), these benefits may provide funds that are still difficult or impossible to stretch through the month. When affordable grocery stores are not available, especially for those who rely on walking or public transportation, many people in the community rely on privately owned stores.
Rarely do these stores offer fresh produce, meat, and other hearty food options, and when they do, the price is often much more expensive than a comparable item at a retail chain, adding to the burden of trying to budget SNAP benefits. Local organizations have limited resources and often rely on donations, but they try to fill in the gaps for individuals and families. Coordinating with local farmers could be a way to create a mobile farmers' market that may stop in a central location each week. Those in the community that would otherwise have little access to better-quality foods would be able to buy items each week, at a reasonable price, and using SNAP.
Educational And Training Opportunities
Providing more educational and training opportunities in impoverished communities may give some people the chance to find employment or better-paying employment. When considering the types of educational or training opportunities to provide, they need to make sense for the community you are trying to serve. Many people who are facing economic hardships do not have the means of attending school for years in hopes of securing their dream job.
Educational and training opportunities need to be applied, whether you are preparing people to be self-employed, learn a trade, or find entry-level opportunities in the allied health professions. If there are any opportunities for paid on-the-job training, this is an added bonus. While people are preparing for more practical employment opportunities, they can continue to be encouraged to pursue additional education when the timing is right. Working closely with major businesses can afford people in the community opportunities for internships or training with the anticipation of a job offer at the end.
Poverty is a complex problem that will not drastically improve overnight. By addressing some of the major areas where people may fall through the cracks, communities can begin to make progress in their fight against poverty. Reach out to an anti-poverty nonprofit organization, like Last Hope Foundation, for more information.
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