Northland Assistance Center

Poverty Facts

What is poverty? Who are the poor? Why are people poor?

Well, poverty, the poor, and the reasons people are poor is as complex a discussion as who came first, “the chicken or the egg?” Many of us have beliefs about why people are poor, but do we really understand this multi-dimensional concern? I believe, in order to understand poverty, one need examine their beliefs, have information, and talk to those living in poverty. To further understand poverty or any other subject matter, one needs to also view the issue in context and consider the historical, environmental, structural, political, cultural, familial, and individual beliefs, perceptions, and understandings of the issue.

The state of being poor is more than just a lack of financial resources to meet basic needs such as food, clothing, and shelter. It often includes a lack of time, healthy family and social relationships, education, employability, healthcare, attitudes of inferiority, information, access, isolation, and social exclusion, which affects a person’s sense of self-worth and dignity. Frequently, when a person’s sense of self is filled with inadequacy, deprivation, and inferiority she or he perpetuates this state of mind, often becoming tired, and many times give up on any other way of living.

The leading reasons people request help and/or emergency financial and food assistance includes recent unemployment, single-parent household, low-wage earner, medical condition, domestic violence, disability, elderly, and mental illness. The human costs of poverty include low birth-weight babies, increased illness, family disintegration, increased mental illness, increased violence, and so on, which is too high a price for a community to pay. Northland Assistance Center recognizes the affects of poverty on the individual, family, and community and works with those requesting assistance to identify strengths, educate, and provide resources addressing their needs in an effort to encourage empowerment principals, self-sufficiency, and healthy interdependence, which support the notion that we all need each other to meet our varied needs.