“Poverty is the extent to which an individual goes without resources”

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Excerpted from Payne, R. K. (2013) A Framework for Understanding Poverty

Types of Poverty

1.  Situational

2.  Generational

3.  Abject

Resources Needed to Overcome Poverty

1. Emotional Strength: The ability to withstand the emotions that come with surviving on a daily basis and deal with the obstacles we face.

2. Financial: The money and credit to provide food and shelter for the family. 

3. Mental/Cognitive: The ability to think for ourselves and develop solutions to everyday problems.

4. Spiritual: The ability to obtain guidance from a church, religious, or spiritual entity or mentor.

5. Physical: The time, energy, and focus to take ideal steps to better ourselves physically and medically.

6. Support Systems: Obtaining support from family and friends, as well as support systems in the community.

7. Relationships/ Role Models: Developing relationships that can offer support, advice and a new perspective on handling everyday problems.

8. Knowledge of Hidden Rules: Developing an understanding of the expectations and hidden rules of the various social situations. For example, how to conduct oneself in a meeting. 

9. Language/Formal Register: An understanding the phrasing and sentence structure of the various social classes.

2020 Federal Poverty Level Chart
US Department of Health and Human Services

Household Size      Income Per Year

1 person               $12,760
2                             $17,240
3                             $21,720
4                             $26,200
5                             $30,680
6                             $35,160
7                             $39,640
8                             $44,120

What We Know

1. It's normal if a person, or family, has no idea how not to be poor anymore

2. It's normal if a person, or family, has a desperate need to feel connected

3. It's normal if a person, or family, is primarily motivated by their relationships

4. It's normal if a person, or family, has their long-terming planning thwarted by constantly living in "survival mode"

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