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January is also National Poverty Awareness Month
According to the U.S. Census, nearly 38 million people lived in poverty in 2022, which accounts for about 11.5 of the country's population. According to the State of Michigan over 1.5 million Michiganders, or 38 percent of households, struggle to afford the basic necessities of housing, child care, food, technology, and more. Such staggering numbers are why a month-long initiative to raise awareness and call attention to the growth of poverty in U.S. is so important.
There are many examples of how poverty is manifested in our culture, and why it has such a devastating and long-range impact for many. Households and individuals impacted by poverty are more likely to face hunger and malnutrition. They often have limited access to education and other basic services, deal with social discrimination and exclusion, suffer from one or more disabilities, and feel as if they have restricted access to participation in the democratic process.
The good news is that there are ways to combat poverty. Many local charitable organizations support families by helping them to get access to emergency supplies and resources and/or starting low-income households on the path to self-sufficiency. As Nelson Mandela said, “Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the action of human beings.”
Sources: America's Charities, Heartland Alliance
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