Poverty is cyclic. The system designed to help the poor survive prevents them from becoming self-reliant through convoluted regulations and demeaning practices. The NOC is founded upon the belief that it is possible to recover from poverty. Improving the mental and spiritual health of a low income person is crucial to his or her ability to become physically and economically healthy. Two critical means for improving mental and spiritual health are counseling and education.
Women living in poverty face many challenges to becoming independent and self-reliant.
They must develop a healthy self-confidence and motivation that will lead to personal development. They must take the initiative when pursuing their educational needs. They must recognize the limitations of having little or no experience in the workforce. They also often struggle with mental illness or periods of mental anguish. Depression coupled with anxiety attacks are relatively common among women in poverty.