Poverty
Poverty is everywhere. There are numerous individuals who walk down the streets everyday and stand on highways with their picket signs because they either need shelter, food, or clothes . The government has tried to stop the increase of poverty by establishing programs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which gives low income families who meet the eligibility requirements monthly food stipends. Welfare or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families is a program as well that gives monthly stipends to families. Lastly, Medicaid is another program that provides affordable health insurance to low-income adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults and people with disabilities. An estimated 16% of South Carolina’s population experienced poverty in 2018 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This number puts South Carolina above the national average of 14.1% and in the top quartile of states and territories with the worst percentages of their populations experiencing poverty. This burden is multiplied when considering the individual experiences of poverty among residents of the Palmetto State. According to the Economic Development, Education and Local Government Finances in South Carolina public record it states that “ In 2019, 19.2% of the children ages 5 to 17 in South Carolina lived in poverty , the 8th highest poverty rate for this age group among the 50 states”.
Low Income Housing
Housing Authority is another program in the United States that helps to decrease poverty as well . Housing Authority helps provide decent, safe rental housing for low-income families, the elderly, veterans and persons with disabilities. Their mission is to provide housing without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, physical or mental handicap, familial status, national origin, or other protected class. An increasing number of individuals and families are struggling to meet their basic need for shelter. According to the most recent federal data, nearly a quarter of South Carolina renter households spend more than half their income on housing. According to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development there are approximately 1.2 million households living in public housing units, managed by some 3,300 HAs. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) administers Federal aid to local housing agencies (HAs) that manage the housing for low-income residents at rents they can afford. HUD furnishes technical and professional assistance in planning, developing and managing these developments.
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