Abstract
This paper introduces, discusses, and analyzes the topic of poverty in Illinois. Specifically it discusses the Elimination of Poverty Act and its purpose, with some suggestions for making the Act more effective. First, the paper takes a look at the goals of the Illinois Commission on the Elimination of Poverty. Then several approaches to breaking the cycle poverty are suggested, such as a greater emphasis on education and restructuring taxation. Finally, the author encourages the community at large to involve itself in combating poverty. Other members of the population at risk for poverty are also described. The paper concludes that Commission on the Elimination of Poverty Act seems like a good step forward, but it remains to be seen if the Commission can actually reach its goals and reduce poverty in the state.

From the Paper
"The Commission on the Elimination of Poverty, created in an Act by the Illinois Legislature, has some lofty goals. It wants to reduce poverty by at least 50 percent by the year 2015 throughout the state. The Commission plans on reaching these goals by making recommendations for programs, policies, and statutes, and help control poverty in a number of ways. The Act notes that over 1,400,000 people in Illinois live in poverty, and over 687,000 people live in extreme poverty (Editors 1). Can the Act possible make a difference in a state that has some of the highest poverty rates in the country, some of the highest tax rates, and as many people living in poverty as some major cities in the United States? In addition, can it really reach its goals when the economic recession is adding even more instability to the state, which has one of the biggest budget shortfalls in the entire nation? How can the state overcome its own budgetary crisis to help those in need? These are tough questions the Commission is going to have to face."

Tags:Illinois, working poor, asset poverty, children, elderly

Abstract
The paper discusses how many people in Canadian society are rather uncomfortable talking about poverty, perhaps because we Canadians, despite all our lofty rhetoric, have done a poor job of providing for the less fortunate despite many opportunities to do so. With this in mind, the writer of this paper looks at how the views he formerly held on poverty changed profoundly after reading the initial four chapters of Dennis Raphael's text, "Poverty and Policy in Canada: Implications for Health and Quality of Life". Specifically, the writer answers seven questions that explore his own images of poverty in Canada and their maturation, his perceptions of social exclusion as a pernicious aspect of poverty, his present-day understanding of what constitutes appropriate poverty measures for a nation like Canada, his awareness of the pervasiveness of poverty and its threat to so many within this land, his new-found comprehension of why some groups are wretchedly poor in a dominion that is among the wealthiest states in the world, and his own experiences with people grappling with poverty and how the findings of Raphael's text corroborate patterns and trends he saw before but never took the time to absorb into his being. What the writer believes the paper will uncover is that most people see poverty as something that happens elsewhere in the world, does not impact most of the people they know, is a product of poor work habits and "sloth" rather than poor social policy, and is a matter our nation's policy-makers are diligently seeking to overcome. The writer highlights how in truth, most Canadians are completely wrong on many things that have to do with an issue we should all be taking very seriously.

From the Paper
"Many people in Canadian society are rather uncomfortable talking about poverty, perhaps because we Canadians, despite all our lofty rhetoric, have done a poor job of providing for the less fortunate despite many opportunities to do so. With this in mind, the following paper will look at how the views I formerly held on poverty changed profoundly after reading the initial four chapters of Dennis Raphael's text, Poverty and Policy in Canada: Implications for Health and Quality of Life. Specifically, I will answer seven questions that explore my own images of..."

Tags:canada, poverty, raphael

Abstract
This paper discusses the controversial issue of poverty, poverty in the USA, what poverty in a developing country such as Ethiopia is, what the solutions appear to be for ending poverty, and who is ultimately responsible for poverty. The paper concludes that poverty is something best resolved through education and informational exchange across countries and that the blame for poverty should not be affixed to those who are poor, but to those in government whose poor decision-making have exacerbated poverty in some communities.

Tags:poverty, america, ethiopia

Abstract
This paper reviews Colleen Purdon's bookf "Rural Women Speak about the Face of Poverty" which shows that women living in rural areas have as much problems with poverty as women living in urban areas. The paper further notes that while women are affected by poverty, little research has been completed on the problems that rural women who live in poverty have. The report shows why women live in poverty, the problems women have that are caused by poverty, the research methodology used, and the recommendations to help women who live in poverty.

From the Paper
"A review of 'Rural Women Speak about the Face of Poverty' written by Colleen Purdon (2002) shows that women living in rural areas have as much problems with poverty as women living in urban areas and in some cases, the problems of poverty are even worse. "Women are also affected by poverty in different ways, depending upon their age, race, ethnicity, linguistic background, ability, sexual orientation, citizenship etc." (Morris & Gonsalves, 2007, par. 2). While women are affected by poverty, little research has been completed on the problems that rural women who live in poverty have. The report shows why women live in poverty, the..."

Tags:women, rural, poverty

Abstract
This paper looks at the factor of poverty as a risk-factor for poor health, especially since poverty can have cascading effects on following generations. The paper looks at several studies linking poverty on a variety of health issues. It defines the overall issue by viewing the health care-poverty linkage through successive sociological perspectives, in order to define the issues within a public interest focus. In the end, while the paper suggests that real solutions remain elusive, it offers that any solution needs to deal with both the realities of care providers and care recipients for any solution to be successful.

Outline:
Introduction
Poverty Related Effects on the Individual
Poverty Related Effects on the Health Care System
The Functionalist Perspective
The Conflict Perspective
The Interactionist Perspective
Global Poverty
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Preventative health care is of primary importance to the Functionalist Perspective. By following an astute program of preventative measures, including regular checkups, inoculations against disease and the like, illness, disease and injury can be limited. The individuals within society will thus continue to remain functional and contribute to the overall well being of society with a minimum of lost time and expense. At the same time, living and working conditions should be brought to healthy standards, minimizing unhealthy conditions. Programs should be in place to educate and encourage individuals and groups in eating and living in a healthy way. "

Tags:Health care, sociology, poverty, sociological perspective

Abstract
The paper reveals that all members of female-headed households are at a higher risk than any other group to live in poverty. The paper further reveals that median family income in female-headed households is not only below the poverty threshold but is only 60 percent of the median income for husband and wife families (Walters & Abshire, 1995). The paper asserts that poverty cannot be measured solely in economic terms since there are a wide variety of social problems associated with poverty ranging from social stigma to lack of access and opportunities in the larger society. Most especially, the paper notes that poverty results in the most serious psychological distress that a single mother can experience (Williams, 2004).

From the Paper
"All members of female-headed households are at higher risk than any other group to live in poverty. Median family income in female-headed households is not only below the poverty threshold but is only 60 percent of the median income for husband and wife families (Walters & Abshire, 1995). Poverty cannot be measured solely in economic terms since there are a wide variety of social problems associated with poverty ranging from social stigma to lack of access and opportunities in the larger society. Most especially, poverty results in the most serious psychological distress that a single mother can experience (Williams, 2004). Just as poverty..."

Tags:poverty, class, race

Abstract
The paper posits that Malawi is probably best described as a hell on earth but, from the viewpoint of children, poverty is an obstacle that must be confronted by certain alternatives. The paper relates that Malawi has every problem related to poverty that can be imagined. To show the extent of this poverty, the structure of this paper moves from micro to the macro level. The paper then discusses how children have learned patterns to cope with poverty; the paper questions if there is any better means that can be used beyond what the children themselves are doing. To answer that question, the paper uses the sociological perspective of symbolic interaction to understand how children see and attempt to change their poverty.

From the Paper
"Malawi is probably best described as a hell on earth but, from the viewpoint of children, poverty is an obstacle that must be confronted by certain alternatives. Malawi has every problem related to poverty that can be imagined. To show the extent of this poverty, the structure of this paper will move from micro to the macro level. Children have learned patterns to cope with poverty. When we consider all the problems facing Malawi, is there any better means that can be used beyond what the children themselves are doing? To answer that question, the sociological perspective of symbolic interaction will be used to understand how..."

Tags:poverty, concepts, society

Abstract
This paper looks at a number of things that reading Dennis Raphael's book, "Poverty and Policy in Canada", have brought to this writer's attention. Specifically, the ensuing few pages highlight the writer's own new-found awareness of the pervasiveness of poverty in Canada and what factors - political and economic - appear to be perpetuating it. Additionally, the paper looks at some actions ordinary Canadians can take to reduce poverty in this country. The paper concludes that poverty has grim implications for those suffering from it - and also for those who stand idly by and allow it to persist.

From the Paper
"Over the past several years, the issue of poverty has gradually muscled its way to the forefront of Canadian public discourse - most likely because the working wages of literally millions of Canadians can no longer keep pace with the dramatic rise in the cost of living. More than that, as our population ages, and as it is the elderly (among other groups) who are especially vulnerable to poverty, the problem of poverty and the strain it places upon our social welfare net will become more and more pressing as the years march by. With all this in mind, the following paper will look at a number of things that reading Dennis Raphael's book, "Poverty and...""

Tags:poverty, canada, policy

Abstract
This paper examines a number of issues involving the poverty of children in the UK. First, the author examines statistics of poverty and its immediate consequences. Then the paper points out possible long-term consequences of children raised in poverty, such as health and education. Also considered are the causes of poverty. A study of the city of Derry and its children living in poverty is a focal point of the paper. The paper concludes citing the growing gap between those with viable incomes and those living in dire circumstances.

From the Paper
"According to the Government, joblessness is the primary cause of poverty, thus helping people into the employment arena is central to its anti-poverty strategy (Tackling). Rather than targeting unemployment, the Government has targeted "joblessness,' with policies designed "not to create shops, but to influence who gets them and how well off people will be in work" (Tackling). The two key themes in the Government's active labor market policy are individualization of support to help people into work and the use of compulsion (Tackling). However, the Government has "introduced the toughest benefit penalties ever faced by unemployed people, and the extension of compulsion could distort an undermine the effectiveness of employment services" (Tackling). "

Tags:children, poverty, UK, unemployment, health, education, children-at-risk

Abstract
Since 1971, poverty in Canada has increased substantially. Poverty is differentiated especially by gender since women in poverty far outnumber impoverished men and wages also are vastly different based on gender (Beneria and Feldman 1992). This paper attempts to understand the forces and circumstances that can explain this increase. This involves various intersecting forces but the focus here will be gender. A feminist perspective reveals that women represent an underclass of Canadians who are denied access to the programs that might enable a substantial income change.

From the Paper
A'A A'A A'A A'A A'A A'A Poverty in Canada: Stratification by Gender Since 1971, poverty in Canada has increased substantially. Poverty is differentiated especially by gender since women in poverty far outnumber impoverished men and wages also are vastly different based on gender

Tags:women, poverty, race