Poverty Cycle

Ever heard of the term Poverty Cycle? 

​I know some of you have heard of the term poverty before, but have you heard of the term “the poverty cycle”? Income is usually never a fun topic to talk about, but it is really important to talk about when discussing food pantries and why it is so difficult to pull one’s self out of poverty.

Hello everyone! Happy fall 2020!

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For those unfamiliar with the Redford Interfaith Relief organization, we serve low-income people in the Redford community and its surrounding areas. We serve a very vulnerable population. I think it valuable to talk a bit about what poverty means to many of our clients.


I know some of you have heard of the term poverty before, but have you heard of the term “the poverty cycle”? Income is usually never a fun topic to talk about, but it is really important to talk about when discussing food pantries and why it is so difficult to pull one’s self out of poverty.


The poverty cycle refers to the phenomenon where families stay in poverty for several generations. The poverty cycle speaks of how difficult it is to get out of poverty once you are born into it. The way our current social and economic system works makes it extremely difficult, almost impossible for those born into poverty to ever become financially stable. But how can this be? Isn’t the American dream the ability to become whatever you want?


I created this graphic below to try to demonstrate the complex nature of why and how people cannot get themselves out of living in poverty. Simply put, children growing up in poverty are more likely to experience malnutrition (from hunger and lack of access to healthy foods), lack of access to education, illness from unsafe water and poor sanitation, unsafe homes, and inadequate healthcare. These issues can cause lasting problems, including health, emotional, and behavioral problems, making it nearly impossible for people to ever become financially stable themselves.


The good news is there are many resources to help people living in poverty! Medicaid, WIC, and SNAP are a few programs that aim to provide low-income people with health insurance and food purchasing benefits. However, the poverty line is set so low that many people have to choose between working more hours and losing these benefits. This creates a paradox where people work more hours and become further behind in bills and have less purchasing power. This is because working more means they are kicked off out of their benefits and then they have to make up for the loss of those benefits out of their own pocket. So, working more may mean less money for some people.


 I was to dispel the myth that people who receive these types of benefits are “lazy.” In reality, well over the majority of people who receive these benefits work, some even work multiple jobs to provide for their families. However, the minimum wage is set so low that someone who works full-time at the minimum wage still struggles to afford to provide for themselves and their families.


 I also think it is valuable to try to put yourself it someone else’s shoes and think about the struggles of growing up in poverty. If you do not have money to buy a car, how could you get to work or get a job? If where you live does not have transportation, how do you afford to move if you do not have a job? 


This is the reality of so many people. Without resources to change their circumstances, it is nearly impossible to ever get out of poverty. This is why organizations like Redford Interfaith Relief are so pivotable for this vulnerable population. We help break the cycle of poverty to help families and individuals achieve self-sufficiency. I hope this helped give people a different perspective on poverty and maybe even a little more empathy towards others.