Only a Community Can End Poverty - National Poverty Awareness Month
Nearly 60 years after the US declared a war on poverty, rates remain persistently high. It is a myth that the government alone can solve it. We have identified ten ways that institutions can take action to reduce poverty in their community.
Why It Matters. Poverty is a pervasive issue affecting each member of our society, from the rise of social costs to deepening inequality and poor health outcomes. National Poverty Awareness Month is a time to unite as a community and acknowledge that we can only end poverty by working together and leaning into our shared humanity.
For too long, we have relied on the government to address poverty. Both local and federal government programs have spent countless billions to address this issue, and yet millions of people still live below the National Poverty Plan Standards (NPPS), lacking necessities like food, shelter, clothing, and medical care. This translates into more than 75 million people struggling to make ends meet daily.
After many years of effort, we must acknowledge that it is a myth that the government alone can solve this dire societal issue.
So, if not the government, who can address this issue?
First, we need to think of ourselves as part of a community, not just as individuals. Once we resolve to think of poverty as a societal issue and not an individual one, we can then start to identify solutions to create opportunities and achieve real change in our communities.
Rather than depending on the government to fix the problem of poverty, we need to think about how our community sectors & institutions can take the lead to address change.
What if local businesses “banned the box” on job applications and didn’t consider an individual’s criminal history when hiring? What if a local CPA firm hosted free tax prep courses at a church to ensure families take advantage of tax credits and avoid unnecessary filing fees? Or what if the local elementary school began a curriculum to teach financial literacy to sixth graders so that they could start developing skills and habits that would stay with them through adulthood?
These are only some of the ways that community institutions can profoundly impact poverty in their community. Read on for more.
10 Ways Community Sectors & Institutions Can Take Action To Reduce Poverty
Business. Work with local faith groups and universities to develop innovative childcare partnerships, so your employees do not have to spend large portions of their paychecks on childcare.
Civic Association. Invest in low-income communities by sponsoring job fairs there and encouraging your members to bring their companies and those of their connections. In addition, provide paid internships or apprenticeships that have the potential to lead to full-time jobs.
Educational Institution. Share your parent-raised funds with schools in your region that raise less and cannot offer enrichment activities or provide books and other resources to their students.
Faith Community. Recruit people and organizations from within your membership and external networks to design innovative health and medical programming for those living below the NPPS in your region.
Government Agency. Support your employees by offering financial education workshops and wealth-building information.
Health Care Provider. Increase access to low-cost medical care through payment plans, sponsorship, and partnerships with other organizations.
Individual/Family. Donate your time to help with housing construction for families in need.
Nonprofit Organization. Build partnerships and/or create programming to interrupt the cycles of violence, incarceration, and trauma experienced by those in poverty.
Person with Lived Experience. Volunteer formally or informally as a healthcare patient advocate to help individuals with limited income to access high-quality healthcare.
Philanthropic Organization. Bring together government officials and impacted communities to prioritize investments in transportation.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many ways we can lean into our shared humanity to address the issue of poverty. This article is the first in a series of posts where we will explore the different ways that institutions can take action in their communities. But you don’t have to wait until our next blog to get started. Visit the National Plan to End Poverty for action plans and learnings so you can make a difference today.
