Poverty is a growing problem in the United States and worldwide. Millions of people are affected daily. According to Lizbeth Caceres, the American dream is flawed. She came to America from Nicaragua 25 years ago with the hope of a better life. All of these years later she is still stuck in a minimum wage job with basically no benefits. She has been living with a very serious heart condition that her job only worsens. Lizbeth currently works for the McDonalds located in the Pentagon. She is constantly on her feet and moving during her workday. She earns $8.50 per hour. She has no health insurance benefits, no retirement, or any other benefits that help improve her financial status. It has been extremely hard for Lizbeth to pay for the $100.00 …show more content…
It is a sickness that keeps many people from moving on in life and trying to obtain a better life with increased income and benefits. Poverty is most commonly measured in three ways; income, assets, and socioeconomic metrics. Income inequality is the main and underlying issue of poverty. The wealthy might be living paycheck to paycheck but are typically living “comfortably” paycheck to paycheck (What is Poverty?). The wealthy have health insurance benefits, retirement, and an overall security of basic …show more content…
Being poor affects everything about a person. It changes their point of view on pretty much everything, without the resources that most wealthy families have a kid won’t get nearly as many opportunities in life. Poverty can impede one’s ability to learn and contribute to social, emotional, and behavioral problems. It can also contribute to poor health and mental health. The lack of safe places for children to congregate and play is a reality faced by many families that are poor throughout the United States. Kids that live in poor neighborhoods are less likely to participate in sports or after school activities (Understanding