Poverty In Distressed Communities

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The Distressed Communities Index of 2017 reports that “one in six Americans lives in an economically distressed community (Fikri & Lettieri, 2017, 9).” That is over 52 million people. This is problematic because living in economic distress can have serious consequences. Many distressed communities have a very low standard of living and community members often experience both mental and physical health problems. Living in economic distress can also have social consequences that can have a negative impact on relationships. The situation is such that many people wonder why the poor don’t simply abandon these distressed communities. In fact, many feel that “the proper response to dwindling rural towns and impoverished communities is to urge residents to leave (Jones, 2018).” So why don’t they?
Some people believe that the answer to this question lies in the so-called culture of poverty. The phrase dates to the 1960’s and describes the idea that the poor possess a set of values that perpetuate the cycle of poverty. However, social scientists rarely think of poverty in these terms, focusing instead on the structural explanations for poverty (Heise & Suh, 2014). Despite this, …show more content…

The Distressed Communities Index of 2017 suggests that distressed communities are often “alienated from the benefits of the modern economy (Fikri & Lettieri, 2017, 4).” Consequently, many of the poor in question may lack the resources to relocate. This is especially likely when one considers that the average American has less than $1,000 in savings and that for many people, poverty is a matter of deprivation (Dayen, 2017). In other words, the poor lack “the material benefits considered to be basic necessities in a society (Oxford Dictionary, n.d.).” Many households live below the poverty line and the rates of unemployment are much higher than the national average. Most adults in distressed communities are not educated beyond high

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