Extreme Poverty In America

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Extreme poverty is an ever-growing problem in America, affecting millions of families each year. With the rising cost of living, inflation, and stagnant wages, many Americans are struggling to make ends meet for their families, leading to a cycle of poverty that is difficult to break out of. Finding a job that pays enough to sustain a family has become increasingly difficult. According to a study conducted by the Brooking Institution, an estimated 14.1 percent of households in the United States fall below the poverty line, with many families living on less than $24,000 per year or $1.25 a day continuously facing difficult challenges in meeting basic needs such as food, housing, and healthcare. In order to address the issue of extreme poverty, …show more content…
“In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, federal policymakers created a temporary paid family and medical leave program in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act”. “Though Families First limited benefits to COVID-19 related reasons and did not cover all workers, it recognized that workers need to be able to take time off to attend to their own health, the health of family members, and other caregiving responsibilities without losing their wages or jobs, and that employers’ voluntary efforts to provide paid leave are insufficient to protect public health and the economy”(Romig & Bryant, 2021). This is an example of paid leave programs that the government should be setting into place to help low-income families. There are many benefits to these paid leave programs. It provides new parents with paid time off to care for their newborns or recently adopted children and contributes to healthy development and enhances families’ economic security. Paid medical and caregiving leave lets workers care for themselves and loved ones when they are sick or injured. It also reduces financial