Poverty, Hunger, and Homelessness Research Paper

Poverty, Hunger, and Homelessness - Research Paper Example Poverty, Hunger, and Homelessness According to Nelson, the climate change is one of the roots of poverty among communities. This is because it results in hunger, droughts, and floods. Lack of shelter is a global challenge and comes from an inadequate income which does not allow people to afford the available housing. Conflicts, overpopulation, natural disasters are among the factors that lead to hunger, poverty, and homelessness in underdeveloped countries. Criteria of Poverty and Homelessness Poverty may not always refer to the lack of financial resources only. Poverty goes beyond the amount of money that one owns. Several measures that constitute the criteria for identifying poverty among people have come up. The measurement and analysis of the poverty level proves its significance for analytical, cognitive, and policy-making purposes, as well as for evaluating and monitoring purposes. Various concepts of well-being exist, and this report focuses on three of its aspects. Firstly, the poverty state where an individu al possesses inadequate resources to meet their daily needs. It is based on the comparison of individual’s income, consumption, education, and other constituents. Secondly, this report focuses on inequality in the distribution of income among the population. This argument is based on evaluating the premise that in the society individuals occupy different positions. Finally, the welfare-being evaluation of the overall level of inequality, in terms of monetary and non-monetary dimensions of the population, shows the poverty level (Coundouel 77). The World Bank estimates that in developing countries, millions of families survive on 1.25 dollar a day or less. In addition, it indicates that poverty and hunger results from poor economic and political systems in a country. The federal government uses the income threshold to establish the poverty level in a community. The Census Bureau for Statistical Purposes uses the thresholds to establish poverty. According to Coundouel (78), the government classifies people according to â€Å"their residence, ethnicity, and other demographic characteristics†. A state of homelessness is when a person does not have a permanent residence. Poverty Level in Terre Haute According to the United States Bureau of Statistics and Census, the poverty level in Terre Haute is estimated at 25.2%. Indiana ranges around 14% when compared to the national poverty level of 15%. According to Nelson (24), the poverty level in Terre Haute exceeds Indiana’s average and the national average. The Indiana’s government uses a below the poverty line as an economic benchmarking and a poverty threshold. This shows that a majority of the population lives in poverty. Homelessness Level in Terre Haute Homelessness in Terre Haute is at seven percent with Indiana’s homelessness at eleven percent. The high rate of homelessness is immensely contributed to by inadequate finances and inadequate incomes which do not allow people to aff ord building of good housing. The National Shelter Shelter rate comparison between Terre Haute and Indiana shows that Indiana rates exceed those of Terre Haute. Fifty eight percent of homeless people in America live in shelters and makeshift housing. The financial and economic crisis in America has led to the increasing rate of poverty and hunger. In 2011, over seventeen million people faced a crisis of food shortage. Arguably, the poverty level in America ranged around fifteen percent in the same year of 2011. The United