Homelessness and Poverty
Today 1.5 Billion people in the world, mostly women and children and Indigenous Peoples, live on less than one dollar a day. In the U.S., the wealthiest and most powerful nation by far, 37 Million of us "live in poverty" and several million more are dangerously close to being below the poverty threshold established by the government. The economic disparity in our country is appalling.
But the people in the struggle - the struggle to just live - are more than statistics and numbers. They are real souls struggling to keep food on the table, to pay the rent, to get healthcare, to get an education, to find work, to enjoy our society. It is our hope that this project can help to illuminate the reality that so many of us are facing each day. And perhaps we can all do our part to alleviate this great challenge to our generation.
Statistics
- Today 1.5 Billion people in the world, mostly women and children and Indigenous Peoples, live on less than one dollar a day.
- This is while the world's wealthiest 20% account for 86 percent of the global consumption of goods and services.
- The annual income of the richest 1% is equal to that of the poorest 57%.1
- At least 24,000 people die every day from poverty and malnutrition.1
- In 2005 Black unemployment rates remained at 10.8 % while white unemployment decreased to 4.7 % making black unemployment 2.3 times more than whites.
- Regarding home ownership - the homeownership rate for Blacks was nearly 50% as opposed to more than 70% for Whites. Further, Blacks are denied mortgage and home improvement loans at twice the rate of Whites.2
- The U.S. Census Bureau Press Release regarding Poverty Statistics3, attests to the terrible lot that African Americans have faced in a capitalist United States. Between 2003 and 2004 the median household income remained unchanged at $44, 389. The median income for Black Households was $30, 134, the lowest among ethnic groups.
- Further, the nation's official poverty rate rose from 12.5% in 2003 to 12.7 percent in 2004. There were 37.0 Million people living in poverty (decided by a suspect poverty threshold) with again, Black having the largest percentage at 24.7.
1Justice, Peace, and Creation Team - World Council of Churches (Geneva 2005) AGAPE Background Document p. 9
2Executive Summary State of Black America 2005, National Urban League April 6th 2005
3Released August 30th 2005. All stated statistics are for 2004
|
