The term “poor” is incredibly subjective. To someone experiencing homelessness or hunger, a person living in subsidized housing may seem relatively comfortable. However, by the standards of most Americans, my childhood and early adulthood were marked by financial struggles. Following my parents’ tumultuous divorce when I was just nine, I spent a significant part of my life beneath the poverty line—the invisible line dividing the privileged from the underprivileged. My mother worked multiple jobs to support us, yet there were times when our needs went unmet, leaving us in a perpetual cycle of scarcity.
For me, being poor is the acute embarrassment I felt when my fifth-grade crush laughed as he saw my mother paying with food stamps. It’s the stifling heat in our un-air-conditioned apartment, where the thrift-store sofa bed’s springs jabbed at my back. It’s the emptiness in my stomach that echoed in our bare cupboards and the unappetizing taste of powdered milk and cheap peanut butter.
Being impoverished means pawning anything of value out of desperation or counting pennies to scrape together enough for a meal. It’s filling every container—bathtub, sink, and buckets—with water before it gets shut off. It’s living in an apartment with no electricity, knowing that the eviction notice on the door gives you a mere 30-day grace period to find a solution before you face the streets. It’s sitting in a plasma donation center, calculating when you can donate again for that much-needed cash.
Poverty also means using public restrooms for basic needs and pocketing toilet paper because you’ve run out at home. It’s enduring the judgmental stares and assumptions that you must be lazy or incompetent—just “get your act together.”
At 18, I questioned why happiness was so tightly linked to financial stability. As I sat in my first apartment with my boyfriend, I realized that money dictated whether we had food, utilities, or even a phone. There were times when our power was shut off for days, leaving us in a cold, dark home. When it was finally restored, we faced further setbacks—our phone was disconnected, our food spoiled, and we were left with little more than a few crackers to get us through the day.
Living in poverty is not merely a financial state; it’s an emotional burden, an invisible weight you carry daily. It’s the constant stress of choosing between rent, utilities, or groceries. It’s knowing your credit score is forever tarnished due to unpaid bills. It’s the exhausting chase for income, often leading to choices that compromise your values, just to keep a roof over your head for another month.
Understanding poverty requires experience. Many misconceptions exist around welfare and government assistance. It’s crucial to note that not everyone on welfare is exploiting the system. Many, like my mother, genuinely utilize these resources as a lifeline during tough times. Poverty does not stem from personal choice—no one willingly chooses to struggle for the basics of life.
The path out of poverty is far from straightforward. It often feels like being trapped in a deep hole, where every small victory is met with new challenges. Fixing your car may lead to losing your job, and just when you can afford a meal, another emergency arises. Long-term planning becomes a luxury you simply cannot afford, and saving money is nearly impossible.
It’s important to recognize that those who have not lived in poverty can never fully understand its complexities. While you may empathize, there are aspects of financial hardship that remain hidden, like the impossible choices between essential items like feminine hygiene products and food.
Additionally, the criticism that poor people shouldn’t indulge in “luxuries” like cigarettes or coffee is misplaced. In the face of overwhelming stress, small indulgences often provide a much-needed escape.
Poverty can ironically be expensive. Overdraft fees and the inability to buy in bulk only exacerbate the financial strain. It’s a cruel cycle where the lack of funds leads to further financial penalties.
What impoverished individuals need is not sympathy but genuine compassion. They require assistance that acknowledges their humanity, not judgment for their circumstances. Supporting programs that help those in need is vital, as is a commitment to helping throughout the year, not just during the holidays.
Consider donating a box filled with everyday essentials like coffee, toiletries, or even toilet paper to a local shelter. Your contributions, no matter how small, can make a significant difference. For those facing financial hardship, even the smallest gestures can feel invaluable.
In summary, poverty is a complex and multifaceted issue that requires compassion and understanding from those who have the means to help.