The problem of increasing poverty is one of the major political issues in the United States, which became especially agile after the appearance of the COVID-19 pandemic due to the difficult economic situation all over the world. Today, there is a growth in the number of Americans living below the poverty line and facing a variety of challenges, struggling to afford the most necessary resources, such as medical services, food, and housing. The problems of these people are also accompanied by a high level of stress, which makes the situation worse as it leads to negative consequences for health, including even mental problems, which, in turn, impact the entire society. To eliminate the problem of poverty, there is a range of measures to be done, including an increase in the minimum wage, programs for helping people in employment, and the availability of healthcare.
The number of people living below the poverty line is increasing all over the United States. One of the reasons for it is the size of the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, which has not changed since 2009 (“How Increasing the Federal Minimum Wage”). In most counties, a person with an annual income of $12,760 or less is considered as living below the poverty line (Stebbins). The problem leads to the growth of crime rates, a decrease in the quality of education, and, as a result, fewer employment opportunities. According to a study by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), “raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025 would increase wages for at least 17 million people” and lift approximately 900,000 out of poverty (Selyukh par. 1). President Biden has stated that this shift should be gradual over the next several years not to cause more damage to the economy. According to the CBO’s expectations, in 2025, the poverty threshold will be $21,260 for a family of three and $26,850 for a family of four (CBO). The increase in the federal minimum wage can presumably reduce the poverty and increase the quality of people’s lives.
Employment is another solution to the problem as the availability of job places can help people make the living. It can be done through multiple programs, including skill-enhancing training programs and a strong unemployment insurance (UI) system, which guarantees temporary partial replacement of wages to unemployed workers below the poverty line. Moreover, such projects as The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which is the nation’s most important anti-hunger program, also contribute to poverty reduction (“Chart Book: SNAP”). The initiative is aimed at helping people who require food assistance and promoting health. There are also numerous benefits from programs, targeted at encouraging people to work as there are many healthy people who simply do not have a desire to be employed. Such initiatives as the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (TANFP) help people in need, although, they limit the time of the assistance they provide and make people work (Haskins). Numerous studies have proven that there is a strong dependence between employment and living standards, thus, the increase in work rates plays one of the most important roles in reducing poverty.
The last factor with a big impact on the problem is the availability of healthcare to all the residents of the country. It is proven that low quality of life leads to the development of various illnesses as the poor cannot allow even the most basic medical services to stay healthy. In its turn, it leads to the appearance of more complicated issues, which require more expensive treatments. From this perspective, strong health systems should be aimed at improving the health status of the entire population, especially the poor with limited access to medical care. To cope with the problem, local hospitals and health departments should help in providing food resources, vaccinations, installing safety equipment, and other services to low-income households. Managing health insurance coverage is another important option in the strategy of eliminating poverty. For example, according to an analysis in Health Affairs, in 2014, it helped to reduce the rate by approximately one-quarter, which “equates to lifting more than 14.4 million people out of poverty” (Broaddus par. 1). Thus, providing people with access to medical assistance is one of the important ways for solving the problem.
In conclusion, the problem of poverty is an important issue for the government of the United States as the number of people living below the poverty line is high and increased after the appearance of the pandemic crisis. To cope with the situation, there is a wide range of measures, that needed to be implemented. The first opportunity is increasing the size of the federal minimum wage as it has not changed since 2009. The second option is providing residents with job opportunities, assistance in times of temporary unemployment, and special training programs for skills development. The last important issue is access to healthcare for the poor not to let them develop severe conditions, which would require costly treatment. Applying these key principles may help in coping with the problem of poverty in the country.
Works Cited
Broaddus, Matt. Health Insurance Coverage Reduces Number of People in Poverty. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. 2017. Web.
“Chart Book: SNAP Helps Struggling Families Put Food on the Table”.Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 2019, Web.
Haskins, Ron. Helping Work Reduce Poverty. Brookings. 2017. Web.
“How Increasing the Federal Minimum Wage Could Affect Employment and Family Income”. Congressional Budget Office, Web.
Selyukh, Alina. $15 Minimum Wage Would Reduce Poverty but Cost Jobs, CBO Says. NPR. 2021. Web.
Stebbins, Samuel. Poverty level: These are the Cities in Each State Hit the Hardest by Extreme Poverty. USA Today. 2020. Web.