Position Of Poverty

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Poverty, also known as the silent killer, exists in every corner of the world. In fact, almost half of the world’s population lives in poverty. According to the United States Census Bureau, there were 46.7 million people living in poverty the year of 2014 (1). Unfortunately, thousands of people die each year due to this world-wide problem. Some people view poverty as individuals or families not being able to afford an occupational meal or having to skip a meal to save money. However, this is not the true definition of poverty. According to the author of The Position of Poverty, John Kenneth Galbraith, “people are poverty-stricken when their income, even if adequate for survival, falls radically behind that of the community”, which means people …show more content…

Some people that live in poverty do not have anywhere to call home, others “die quietly in some of the poorest villages on earth, far removed from the scrutiny and the conscience of the world” (Shah 1). “The modern urban household is an extremely expensive thing” (Galbraith 508); this is why we, the people, should provide safe and affordable shelter for families in need of an improved shelter or a shelter at all. A variety of organizations exist to construct homes for low-income individuals. These organizations include both faith-based enterprises and secular groups. In either case, these organizations tend to utilize donated supplies, cash support and volunteer labor to build durable, safe homes for economically disadvantaged individuals and families. One of the most popular organization is an ecumenical Christian ministry, Habitat for Humanity. Habitat for Humanity began constructing homes for poor families in 1976. By the end of 2009, the organization constructed over 350,000 homes in 3,000 communities around the world. During the period from its founding through the end of 2009, Habitat for Humanity provided safe, comfortable homes for over 1.75 million people. As you can see, this organization has improved the lives of many and continues to do so. Providing homes for the people in need of a safe shelter will improve the success of society and lead us out of

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