30 Things about Poverty

1. There is a difference between USA poverty and third-world poverty: http://visual.ly/all-poverty-not-created-equal Poverty level in the USA is roughly $11,000 a year, adding $4,000 per person in the household: http://www.vhcf.org/looking-for-help/. Minimum wage (a decent living) in Brazil is $4,000, let alone those living in poverty. The official world poverty line is $2 a day or $750 a year: http://data.worldbank.org/topic/poverty
2. There are different kinds of poverty: Eric Jensen’s “Teaching With Poverty in Mind” lists: a. Situational poverty (from a crisis or disaster), b. Urban and Rural poverty (Each have their different needs), c. Generational poverty (in the family for a while, not equipped to move out of poverty), d. Absolute poverty (day-to-day survival), and e. Relative poverty (not meeting society’s average standard of living.)
3. Some poverty is relative, as is wealth, as an internal measurement compared to those around you
4. The solutions for each kind of poverty are different, and cannot be lumped together.
5. For those in deep poverty, the main reasons are a. Decreasing national/local prosperity b. Health/death shocks and natural disasters c. Failure of initiative (agriculture) d. Family problems/expenses e. Asset depletion: http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=195
6. The main reasons for poverty in the USA are: a. Divorce/separation b. Out-of-wedlock child c. Earnings Fail: http://theruggedindividualist.wordpress.com/2012/04/25/revisiting-poor-in-america-a-graphic-essay/
7. Poverty is often transient. Most people are in and out of poverty, or kinds of poverty, depending on circumstances, rather than it being a permanent place of destitution http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=195
8. There are often mind-sets that go along with the level of money you perceive yourself to be in. Those in poverty often value relationships and entertainment first. Those in middle class value work, achievement, and material security. Those who are wealthy value security, privacy, and maintaining their wealth: http://www.ahaprocess.com/store/more/excerpts/book_CrossingtheTracks.pdf and http://www.ahaprocess.com/store/more/excerpts/book_Framework.pdf

9. Poverty mind set	Middle class mind set	Wealthy mind set
   People are the objective	Things are the objective	Legacies and pedigrees are the objective
   Money is to be used and spent	Money is to be managed	Money is to be conserved and invested
   Sense of humor is highly valued	Achievement is highly valued	Connections are highly valued
   Emphasis is on social inclusion of people they like	Emphasis on self-governance and sufficiency	Emphasis on social exclusion
   Food is about having enough: quantity	Food is about liking it: quality	Food is about presentation
   Clothes are valued for individual style and expression	Clothes are valued for quality and acceptance: good label	Clothes are valued for artistic sense and expression: good designer
   The present time is most important	The future is most important	The past, traditions and history is the most important
   Decisions are made in the moment based on feelings or survival	Decisions are made on future ramifications	Decisions are made on basis of tradition and decorum
   Education is valued but not reality	Education is crucial for climbing ladder of success	Education is a necessary tradition for maintaining connections
   Language is for survival	Language is for negotiations	Language is for networking
   Family tends to be matriarchal	Family tends to be patriarchal	Family depends on who had the money
   Sees the world in a local setting	Sees the world in a national setting	Sees the world from an international perspective
   Love is based on whether the person is liked	Love is based on achievement	Love is based on social standing and connections

10. The graph above is a generalization, and each person may be a mixture of groups, but everyone has their own rules and values from how they were raised, and they often hinder success
11. To move from poverty to middle class or middle class to wealthy “mind set,” an individual must give up relationships for achievement (at least for some period of time) http://www.ahaprocess.com/store/more/excerpts/book_Framework.pdf
12. In changing a mindset:

13. Rich people	Poor people
    “I can create my life”	“Life happens to me”
    Think big	Think small
    Focus on opportunities	Focus on obstacles
    Associate with positive, successful people	Associate with negative, unsuccessful people
    Are excellent receivers	Are poor receivers
    Constantly learn and grow	Think they already know
    Think long-term	Think short-term
    Talk about ideas	Talk about things and people
    Embrace change	Are threatened by change
    Take calculated risks	Are afraid to take risks
    Continually learn and grow	Think learning ends with school
    Believe they must be generous	Believe they can’t afford to give
    Work for profits	Work for wages

14. http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2011/11/01/what-are-the-differences-between-the-rich-and-the-poor/
15. There are four common ways that people move out of poverty: a. An insight, goal, and determination to change b. A particular talent or skill c. A relationship with someone who guides and supports d. The pain of living in poverty: http://www.connectionsaustin.org/pihaustin/Poverty%20Issues_files/The%20hidden%20rules%20of%20class.pdf
16. To help those in generational poverty, child sponsorship has been proven to work (like through Compassion, World Vision, Living Stones) because “It expands children’s views about their own possibilities. We help them realize that they are each given special gifts from God to benefit their communities, and we try to help them develop aspirations for their future.” –Wess Stafford, Compassion Int.
17. “Band-aid” help (go in, fix/build/change something, get out) doesn’t help in the long run, although is necessary in certain situations, especially situational poverty/health issues. It reinforces the idea that they can’t do it alone
18. Here is an interesting look on being poor (in the USA): http://whatever.scalzi.com/2005/09/03/being-poor/
19. Understand, overall, how blessed you are. If the world were shrunk to 100 people, 7 would have a college degree, 17 couldn’t read. 48 people would be living off of $2 a day or less. 22 would not have electricity, 13 would not have safe drinking water: http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2010/04/27/the-best-sites-that-show-statistics-by-reducing-the-world-the-u-s-to-100-people/
20. Understand and enjoy statistics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbkSRLYSojo Hans Rosling makes it funJ
21. Do you really want to know a little about poverty? Take the rice and beans or $2 a day challenge for a week or a month
22. You will (probably) never really know what poverty truly feels like. You can read this list, and have the resources to access it and understand it. That means you have been given at least a basic education, skills, and resources in the world. You can go out and “experience” poverty, but you always know that if it came down to it, someone or somehow you could provide for yourself. Those in deep poverty do not have that assurance.
23. www.live58.org  says we can end extreme poverty, and has a plan: “In the past thirty years, extreme poverty has been cut in half. In 1981, 52% of the world’s population lived in extreme poverty, but by 2006, that number was 26%”
24. Top 10 reasons why NOT to listen when Jesus says “Sell your possessions and give the money to the poor:” (by Ash Barker in “Make Poverty Personal”)

• But then who would support the missionaries?
• God has called me to minister to the rich
• It is on my to do list, I just have to finish (fill in the blank)
• Jesus only asked him because he had a problem with possessions
• Jesus only asked him because he didn’t have a family
• Actually, you can get the camel through the gate—if he gets on his knees
• But Jesus wants me to have the best
• I would do it, if Jesus made it clear he WANTED me to
• I give 10%, He wants MORE?
• Giving money to the poor is bad stewardship—they would use it for booze

1. 12 Steps to solving poverty (By Paul Polack "Out of Poverty")

• Go where the action is (stop pitying poor people)
• Talk to the people who have the problem and listen to what they say
• Learn everything you can about the problem's specific content (learn about the poor around you, as well as global poverty and what can be done)
• Think big and act big
•  Think like a child
• See and do the obvious (when you know the people, you know the problem, and sometimes a solution)
•  If somebody already invented it, you don't need to do it again (help whatever is already going on)
• Make sure it has positive measurable impact that can be brought to scale, reaching a million people and make their lives measurably better.
• Design to specific cost and price targets
• Follow practical three year plans
•  Continue to learn from your customers
• Stay positive: don't be distracted by what others think

1. Go and learn about groups/people/organizations that are working to end poverty. Might I suggest Living Stones? www.buildinglivingstones.blogspot.com
2. Read “Half the Sky” to get stories and statistics of what is really happening with the women of the world: “Because men typically control the purse strings, it appears that the poorest families in the world typically spend approximately ten times as much (20% of their income on average) on a combination of alcohol, prostitutes, candy, sugary drinks, and lavish feasts as they do on educating their children…perhaps it seems culturally insensitive to scold the poor for indulging in festivals, alcohol, or sweets that make life more fun. Yet when resources are scares, priorities are essential…and the simplest solution is to reallocate spending.” Which is why most social and government services are now going through the women, because the money is more likely to get to the children.
3. At the end of “Half the Sky,” they call for three pragmatic steps: $10 billion for educating girls, $19 million to give iodized salt to pregnant women (which would raise IQ at least ten points in impoverished children born), and a $1.6 billion plan to eradicate obstetric fistula (which normally happens from harsh rape or when a baby gets stuck during birth and permanently cripples if not treated—but is treatable). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRfDzznfEOU
4. People are doing things to end poverty. It can be done—this guy put a price tag on it. Here is a philosophical and intelligent view of things: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onsIdBanynY
5. “Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of Justice” –Nelson Mandela
6. “It is poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish” –Mother Teresa
7. “Let us be the ones to say we are not satisfied that your place of birth determines your right to life. Let us be outraged, let us be loud, let us be bold.” –Brad Pitt
8. “It is not just the kids that are here, needy and needing. It is the whole family. And even if you don’t help us, do something. Anything. God is always showing us something we can do for someone else. Take the step in front of you, and see where it takes you…but don’t stand still. We are working with those who are considered and treated as the trash of the world. The unwanted. The child that is dirty and strikes his hand in your face and asks for money, making you feel uncomfortable…those everyone else has thrown out—of mind and heart. It is not about money, it is about action. Doing what you can where you are Do whatever comes to your mind when you ask God honestly, What would you have me do?” –Patricia, one of the Living Stones workers

Ok...the numbering got all screwed up. But I promise, there really are 30 things.