POVERTY IN THE UNITED STATES
Major poverty policies, changes, and effects over time
The Colonial America was heavily influenced by the English laws. The first policy to be enacted that pertained to poverty was
the Elizabethan Poor Law of 1601 (Trattner, 1999). This law, also called Outdoor Relief, stated that local towns and family
members were responsible in assisting the needy of the community as a temporary aid (Barusch, 2012). After the War of
Independence, local relief organizations were overwhelmed with request to assist the many widowed, orphaned, or disabled.
New York led the Nation with setting up the Committee on Superintendence of the poor. By 1824 New York enacted the Poor
house Act. One or more poorhouses were to be constructed in each county. Many families lived in the poorhouses during harsh
times, leaving once employment was obtained. Many elderly never moved out of the poorhouses. After the Civil War, newly
freed African Americans required assistance, employment, and education. The United States War Department developed a
Bureau of Refugees Freedom and Abandoned Lands. This was the first time the Federal government offered assistance to the
American people. Although it was in place for only six years it proved that the Federal government had the ability to assist the
American people. The Industrial era increased employment and raised the standard of living. Some of the American people
obtained huge fortunes during this ear while others experienced working for low pay, poor working condition, and/or more
poverty. The Charity Organization Society (COS) was developed to investigate the worthiness of the poor and refer those
'worthy' of relief to the appropriate agencies (Barusch, 2012).
By the Twentieth Century, those who made huge fortunes from oil and railroads controlled the governments and industry.Care
of the poor was left to private charities, and outdoor relief was minimal. The Progressive era presented a change in the role of
the government. Leaders set out to ease the suffering of the industrial laborers, and the poor through child labor laws, health and
safety laws, antitrust provisions, and establishment of the progressive income tax. Between 1911 to 1935, individual States
adopted the widow's pension law giving cash assistance to mothers with dependent children. The stock market crash of 1929
lead to the Great depression. During the Great Depression, President Hoover felt the economy was sound and once confidence
was up prosperity would return. Therefore he felt public assistance was not necessary at this time. The next election President
Franklin D. Roosevelt took office. He understood the economic calamity. He saw relief as a matter of public duty, not charity.
President Roosevelt proposed his New Deal emergency relief programs. The first program was the Federal Emergency Relief
Act (FERA) operated by public agencies to provide relief to those unemployed. Other programs enacted that did not last for long
was the Civil Works Administration (CWA) and the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The Social Security Act enacted in
1935, was the only program to continue after this era and is still assisting the American people at this time (Barusch, 2012).
the Elizabethan Poor Law of 1601 (Trattner, 1999). This law, also called Outdoor Relief, stated that local towns and family
members were responsible in assisting the needy of the community as a temporary aid (Barusch, 2012). After the War of
Independence, local relief organizations were overwhelmed with request to assist the many widowed, orphaned, or disabled.
New York led the Nation with setting up the Committee on Superintendence of the poor. By 1824 New York enacted the Poor
house Act. One or more poorhouses were to be constructed in each county. Many families lived in the poorhouses during harsh
times, leaving once employment was obtained. Many elderly never moved out of the poorhouses. After the Civil War, newly
freed African Americans required assistance, employment, and education. The United States War Department developed a
Bureau of Refugees Freedom and Abandoned Lands. This was the first time the Federal government offered assistance to the
American people. Although it was in place for only six years it proved that the Federal government had the ability to assist the
American people. The Industrial era increased employment and raised the standard of living. Some of the American people
obtained huge fortunes during this ear while others experienced working for low pay, poor working condition, and/or more
poverty. The Charity Organization Society (COS) was developed to investigate the worthiness of the poor and refer those
'worthy' of relief to the appropriate agencies (Barusch, 2012).
By the Twentieth Century, those who made huge fortunes from oil and railroads controlled the governments and industry.Care
of the poor was left to private charities, and outdoor relief was minimal. The Progressive era presented a change in the role of
the government. Leaders set out to ease the suffering of the industrial laborers, and the poor through child labor laws, health and
safety laws, antitrust provisions, and establishment of the progressive income tax. Between 1911 to 1935, individual States
adopted the widow's pension law giving cash assistance to mothers with dependent children. The stock market crash of 1929
lead to the Great depression. During the Great Depression, President Hoover felt the economy was sound and once confidence
was up prosperity would return. Therefore he felt public assistance was not necessary at this time. The next election President
Franklin D. Roosevelt took office. He understood the economic calamity. He saw relief as a matter of public duty, not charity.
President Roosevelt proposed his New Deal emergency relief programs. The first program was the Federal Emergency Relief
Act (FERA) operated by public agencies to provide relief to those unemployed. Other programs enacted that did not last for long
was the Civil Works Administration (CWA) and the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The Social Security Act enacted in
1935, was the only program to continue after this era and is still assisting the American people at this time (Barusch, 2012).
In 1950, Aid to Families with Dependent Children(AFDC) was enacted. Along with this program The Department of Health,
Education and Welfare and Aid to the Permanently and Totally Disabled was developed. The number of Americans on
assistance doubled from 1960 to 1970. In 1962, President Kennedy signed into law a Public Welfare Amendments to Social
Security Act. They provided federal support for state provisions of social services, such as casework, job training, etc.) to AFDC
recipients. Thus the idea of individual change is pivotal in reducing poverty. Food Stamp Act was passed in 1964, provided
vouchers to the needy for the purchase of food products. President Johnson declared "unconditional war on poverty" in his 1964
State of the Union address (Barusch, 2012). This war reflected the belief that poor families needed training and encouragement.
It did not offer money or jobs to the poor. In 1968, President Nixon improved social service programs by the expansion of the
Food Stamp program, the establishment of cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs), creation of Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC),
and the consolidation of three categorical assistance programs (old-Age Assistance, Aid to the Blind, and Aid to the Permanently
and Totally Disabled) into Supplemental Security Income (SSI). President Carter agreed with the antiwelfare belief that those in
proverty need assistance in finding jobs not monetary supplements. President Reagan declared that the War on Poverty had
been won. The Welfare Reform Act underwent revisions without fundamentally being altered. President Clinton authorized the
most sweeping welfare reform since the Great Depression. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act
of 1996, presented reductions in SSI. Food Stamps, and other federal assistance. In 1997, the Balanced Budget Act restored
SSI payments. President Bush signed into law the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) in 1990, it was designed to eliminate
discrimination and allow persons with disabilities get back into the work force (Trattner, 1999).
Education and Welfare and Aid to the Permanently and Totally Disabled was developed. The number of Americans on
assistance doubled from 1960 to 1970. In 1962, President Kennedy signed into law a Public Welfare Amendments to Social
Security Act. They provided federal support for state provisions of social services, such as casework, job training, etc.) to AFDC
recipients. Thus the idea of individual change is pivotal in reducing poverty. Food Stamp Act was passed in 1964, provided
vouchers to the needy for the purchase of food products. President Johnson declared "unconditional war on poverty" in his 1964
State of the Union address (Barusch, 2012). This war reflected the belief that poor families needed training and encouragement.
It did not offer money or jobs to the poor. In 1968, President Nixon improved social service programs by the expansion of the
Food Stamp program, the establishment of cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs), creation of Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC),
and the consolidation of three categorical assistance programs (old-Age Assistance, Aid to the Blind, and Aid to the Permanently
and Totally Disabled) into Supplemental Security Income (SSI). President Carter agreed with the antiwelfare belief that those in
proverty need assistance in finding jobs not monetary supplements. President Reagan declared that the War on Poverty had
been won. The Welfare Reform Act underwent revisions without fundamentally being altered. President Clinton authorized the
most sweeping welfare reform since the Great Depression. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act
of 1996, presented reductions in SSI. Food Stamps, and other federal assistance. In 1997, the Balanced Budget Act restored
SSI payments. President Bush signed into law the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) in 1990, it was designed to eliminate
discrimination and allow persons with disabilities get back into the work force (Trattner, 1999).
Current state of poverty polices
Current polices in place to help eliminate or alleviate poverty are Social Security, Medicaid, Food Stamps, Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families, and Housing Assistance. In 2010, President Obama enacted a Health Care Reform Act making changes to the medicare program. This
health care act is to preserve Medicare, some predict that if changes weren't made it would not survive the future population. We need to
maintain the current policies, whether run by the government or by turning them over to private companies. At this time, current government
officials need to be cautious of how they proceed, the economy is down, people are out of work, homes are in foreclosure, and poverty is on the
rise.
Families, and Housing Assistance. In 2010, President Obama enacted a Health Care Reform Act making changes to the medicare program. This
health care act is to preserve Medicare, some predict that if changes weren't made it would not survive the future population. We need to
maintain the current policies, whether run by the government or by turning them over to private companies. At this time, current government
officials need to be cautious of how they proceed, the economy is down, people are out of work, homes are in foreclosure, and poverty is on the
rise.
Michigan representative interview
The area Michigan State Representative for New Baltimore, Michigan, where I live, is Representative Andrea
LaFontaine. At the time of working on this project, Rep. LaFontaine has taken a well deserved vacation. In her
absence her Legislative aide Eric Ventimiglia, took time out of his busy schedule to discuss his opinion on
poverty.
Patty: "What is your opinion on current policies that affect poverty.....Welfare programs, economy, foreclosure on housing, etc?"
Eric Ventimiglia: "My opinion on current policies affecting poverty is that between public forms of assistance and private sector
non-profits, is that individuals in need have many places they are able to turn for aid. The programs that currently exist provide a
safety net for the general public, however it would be naive to believe that within the programs there exists a degree of fraud and
abuse. For example, the recent stories in the news showing the withdrawal of cash assistance at casino's or individuals
collecting aid who had recently won the lottery. As an individual within the policy-making body-and responsible for the
expenditure of taxpayer dollars, it is incumbent upon the legislative body to work to root out the fraud and abuse. This is
important to not only ensure the sanctity of the programs, but to ensure the taxpayer dollars that are being spent are helping
those who are in need. To that same extent, the many numerous programs that exist at the federal, state, and local level have
made great strides over recent decades to eliminate duplicative overhead, allowing those dollars to be better spent on the actual
program."
Patty: "Have you had the opportunity to discuss issues on poverty with other Representatives or in your office?"
Eric Ventimiglia: "The issue of poverty is one that is often discussed by the elected officials as well as the bureaucrats within
state government. As previously mentioned, there have been a number of high-profile cases regarding use and abuse of public
assistance programs. To that extent, the legislative body has made a number of changes to eliminate these abuses. But those
conversations and legislative changes are not limited to fraud/abuse. During work on a piece of legislation pertaining to
unemployment insurance, Rep. LaFontaine successfully offered an amendment that allowed an unemployed individual to earn a
part-time income without losing all of their unemployment benefits. I mentioned naivety earlier, and I would also say that it would
be naive to believe that every government program has been successful or is working the way they should. So the legislative
body is constantly working on reforms and looking at ways the programs can be altered. And as with all politics-many times the
legislators will disagree on exactly how the programs can be 'improved'."
Patty: " I would like to thank the office of Representative Andrea LaFontaine and Eric Ventimiglia, Legislative Aide for their time
and consideration in discussing the topic of poverty for this project!"
LaFontaine. At the time of working on this project, Rep. LaFontaine has taken a well deserved vacation. In her
absence her Legislative aide Eric Ventimiglia, took time out of his busy schedule to discuss his opinion on
poverty.
Patty: "What is your opinion on current policies that affect poverty.....Welfare programs, economy, foreclosure on housing, etc?"
Eric Ventimiglia: "My opinion on current policies affecting poverty is that between public forms of assistance and private sector
non-profits, is that individuals in need have many places they are able to turn for aid. The programs that currently exist provide a
safety net for the general public, however it would be naive to believe that within the programs there exists a degree of fraud and
abuse. For example, the recent stories in the news showing the withdrawal of cash assistance at casino's or individuals
collecting aid who had recently won the lottery. As an individual within the policy-making body-and responsible for the
expenditure of taxpayer dollars, it is incumbent upon the legislative body to work to root out the fraud and abuse. This is
important to not only ensure the sanctity of the programs, but to ensure the taxpayer dollars that are being spent are helping
those who are in need. To that same extent, the many numerous programs that exist at the federal, state, and local level have
made great strides over recent decades to eliminate duplicative overhead, allowing those dollars to be better spent on the actual
program."
Patty: "Have you had the opportunity to discuss issues on poverty with other Representatives or in your office?"
Eric Ventimiglia: "The issue of poverty is one that is often discussed by the elected officials as well as the bureaucrats within
state government. As previously mentioned, there have been a number of high-profile cases regarding use and abuse of public
assistance programs. To that extent, the legislative body has made a number of changes to eliminate these abuses. But those
conversations and legislative changes are not limited to fraud/abuse. During work on a piece of legislation pertaining to
unemployment insurance, Rep. LaFontaine successfully offered an amendment that allowed an unemployed individual to earn a
part-time income without losing all of their unemployment benefits. I mentioned naivety earlier, and I would also say that it would
be naive to believe that every government program has been successful or is working the way they should. So the legislative
body is constantly working on reforms and looking at ways the programs can be altered. And as with all politics-many times the
legislators will disagree on exactly how the programs can be 'improved'."
Patty: " I would like to thank the office of Representative Andrea LaFontaine and Eric Ventimiglia, Legislative Aide for their time
and consideration in discussing the topic of poverty for this project!"