What Actions the Could the Poor Take to Escape Poverty?
· Unionize
· Educate
· Vote
· Riot
· Pool their money – form credit unions
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs:
Physiological Needs (food, water, air, sex)
Safety Needs (shelter/safe conditions)
Needs of Love, Affection and Belongingness
Needs for Esteem
Needs for Self-Actualization
Generational Poverty
Family has never owned land
Never knew anyone who benefited from education
Never knew anyone who moved up or was respected in a job
Highly mobile
High family Illiteracy
Focus is on making it through the day
Working-Class Poverty
Working, but rarely have money for any extras
Most do not own property
Live pay check to pay check
Few have health care
Focus on making it two weeks or through the month
Immigrant Poverty
Have little or no resources
Face language and culture barriers
Seem to do have a stronger sense of self and often do better than those born into poverty in
America
Poverty is viewed as a system problem
Situational Poverty
Surrounded by people who are educated or able to earn a living wage
Attends school regularly and has health care
Has crisis (health, divorce, etc.) and income drops
Generally is able to make it back to middle-class
Has not internalized the poverty as personal problem
Does not recognize advantages of growing up middle-class
Can be harsh judge of those in generational and working class poverty
What Does Poverty Teach?
Many people living in the crisis of poverty are sent messages through their interactions that impact their perspectives of what is possible. Here are some of the messages taught to people living in generational, working-class poverty, and immigrant poverty:
No one cares
Everyone seems smarter
People who are making it must be better then me
We don't belong anywhere
People like us do not get educated
We don't have what we need to break out of poverty
There is no one to help
* New Opportunities for Serving Children and Families Without Homes * The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Children & Youth Act * * Homeless Outreach Promoting Educational Success (HOPES) * Collaborative , Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) * Causes of Homelessness * Lack of affordable of housing * Due to economy and foreclosures * Lose of employment * Poverty * Health problems * Domestic violence * Natural and other disasters * Abuse/neglect/abandonment (unaccompanied youth) * Issues Facing Children & Youth
Experiencing Homelessness * Mobility - loss of structure, routine, stability * Trauma and loss * Deep poverty (deprivation, hunger) * Higher rates of developmental delays * Higher rates of chronic and acute health problems * Mental health issues: stress, anxiety, and depression * Disrupted or stressed attachments to caregivers * Invisibility * Developmental Factors
Compared to non-homeless children, homeless children have: * Greater developmental delays (language, motor-development, and/or social skills) * More learning disabilities * More mental health problems * Higher frequency of withdrawal, shyness, separation anxiety, short attention disorder, flat affect, aggression, hoarding, anxiety in response to changes in environment or staff absences, concern over getting enough food, and sharing toys * More physical health problems * Common Signs of Homelessness * Frequent moves * Attendance at many different schools * Inability to pay fees for school related activities or school supplies * Behind academically * Erratic attendance or tardiness * Numerous absences * Inability to contact parents (no phone/address * Chronic hunger * Fatigue (falls sleep in class) * Increased vulnerability to colds/flu * Poor/short attention span * Lacks preparation for school (homework not complete, no school supplies or books) * Poor self-esteem * “Mature” beyond years *
