Malvin Roix M.

Orense Speech
Yr. II St. Agatha

POVERTY

Poverty is the lack of enough income and resources to live adequately by community
standards. It causes suffering among millions of people. It remains the most critical social
problem that needs to be addressed. Government and private organizations have tried to reduce
or eliminate poverty but it remains a widespread and serious problem.
Poverty stricken people suffer from lack of many things they need. Many of them cannot
buy the food, shelter, clothing & medical care that they need. Neediness causes malnutrition &
poor health. It also produces feelings of frustration, hopelessness & a loss of dignity & self
respect. The poor have less economic & potential influence than other people have. Poverty
breeds poverty. Their culture is associated with culture of poverty their customs, values &
attitudes. Poverty reduces their economic & social contributions. Poor people cant work
productively. In some cases, poverty is also associated with crime. Urban slums have high rate of
violent crime & drug abuse.
Economic forces and change in labor requirements cause poverty. Inflation reduces the
amount of goods that money can buy & people whose incomes fail to keep in pace with prices
can afford less. Advances in technology may cause unemployment and poverty among workers
where jobs are taken by machines. Poverty may also strike a community where a major business
moves or closes, leaving workers jobless. Social forces also contribute to poverty. Many
women become poor after they have become widowed, divorced or separated from their
husbands. Some lack education, job experiences & skills they need to support their family.
The best way to fight against poverty is through measures to improve job opportunities.
It includes efforts to reduce unemployment by promoting economic growth and stability to keep
the demand for workers high. Educational programs are designed to give the poor the
knowledge and skills they need to support themselves. Social welfare and public assistance
programs provide money, food, medical care, cash aid, nutritional program, housing program and
other aids like social insurance programs. The fight for poverty continues. Its elimination may
seem impossible but it can be reduced with the helping forces of the government and the people.