The Problem of Poverty

More than thirty-seven million Americans live below the official poverty line (which is now $21,203 for a family of four), and more than 13.3 million children are poor in this country. Inequality has reached record highs – it is greater than at any time since 1929. Growing portions of the nation’s wealth have been concentrated in the possession of a small fraction of households, while a full 30 percent of us are trying to get by on incomes less than 200 percent of the federal poverty line (or about $42,000 for a family of four). Well before the current crisis, 6 million low income households were paying more than half their income on rent and utilities, or lived in severely substandard housing. Over the course of a year, more than 35 million people in 12.6 million households could not always afford adequate food. Now, increasing unemployment, high prices for gas and food, and a continuing foreclosure crisis are putting growing numbers of families at risk, exacting a high moral and economic cost on all Americans. The problems faced by economically struggling people have been exacerbated by lack of affordable child care, health care, transportation, and other structures necessary to make sure work pays; dangerous predatory lending practices; barriers to unionization; cuts in social spending; and exclusionary politics at all levels that hobble meaningful public participation and accountability in government.

It does not have to be this way.

Given the persistence of poverty over recent decades, it is understandable that many Americans consider cutting poverty an impossible task. This is not true. Throughout our history, there have been periods when economic gains were more equitably shared, and we significantly reduced poverty—periods when a strong near-full-employment economy was combined with governmental and private initiatives to lift all Americans up. Between 1964 and 1973, for example, poverty fell by more than 40 percent. Between 1993 and 2000 it fell by 25 percent. Our experience has taught us a lot about effective strategies for poverty reduction. Now is the time to capitalize on these lessons, add new thinking to respond to changing times, and aggressively tackle the problem in order to eliminate poverty in the United States.

From Poverty to Prosperity: An Achievable Goal

The Half in Ten campaign believes that a clear goal and tested strategies to achieve it are crucial for success. Accordingly, setting a 50 percent reduction goal is our first step toward eliminating poverty. We can accomplish that goal if we deepen and expand the public will to move forward, and if we channel that will toward proven policy solutions. To do this, we must update the public’s perception of poverty and change the course of federal, state, and local governing by encouraging policies that promote decent work, provide opportunity for all, ensure economic security, and help Americans build wealth over their lifetimes.

Half in Ten Convening Partners | Four Fundamental Principles | Policy Solutions