It's a huge cost. Experts agree that, whether a person is born into poverty or ends up there because of circumstances, climbing out is difficult for a number of reasons. The mind-set of the working poor, especially single mothers, is one of those reasons, Berkley noted. You can only learn what you are taught. So, no matter what happens to you, it's probably what you deserve.
Poverty can be cyclical.
The children of those living in poverty often grow up to join the ranks of the working poor. Poor children face a variety of daily challenges, from not having enough food to lacking school supplies. A child begins to learn he or she is a failure, and that idea becomes familiar, expected and accepted. It's two steps forward and one step back. It's a long, slow process, which is why we are failing as a society.