The United States Census Bureau defines poverty as a condition characterized by severe deprivation of basic human needs, including food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health care, shelter and education. According to their most recent estimate, 43.1 million Americans lived in poverty in 2015 - that's 14.3% of the population. For children under the age of 18, the poverty rate was even higher at 21.4%.
There are a number of ways we can reduce poverty in America. Some suggestions from experts include:
1. Investing in early childhood education and care. High-quality early childhood programs have been shown to improve school performance and future earnings potential for low-income kids.
2. Making sure all Americans have access to affordable health care. A recent study found that nearly half of all working adults in the U.S., or about 41 million people, cannot afford basic medical care. Lack of access to quality health care can worsen existing health problems and lead to new ones down the road.
3. Expanding job opportunities for low-wage workers through things like increasing the minimum wage and investing in job training programs. Research shows that raising the minimum wage would lift millions of American families out of poverty and help close the income gap between rich and poor households. And while some argue that job training programs are too expensive or don't work, a 2016 study found that every dollar invested in certain types of training programs generated up to $17 in economic benefits for society as a whole (including things like increased tax revenue and reduced spending on social welfare programs).