Poverty Level in the US

Did you know that recent reports indicate that the poverty level for those living in the United States for a family of four was $21,200 per year? There are currently more than 37 million people in the United States that are currently living below the poverty line. The Federal minimum wage provisions for covered, nonexempt employees are contained in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) the Fair minimum Wage Act of 2007 included phased increases to the federal minimum wage. The current federal minimum wage for work performed for 2008is currently at $5.85/hr and raises in July 2008 to $6.55 per hour. Here in the States of those 37 million people only 10% of them go hungry each night, those who are mentally disabled, those who live on the streets and have fallen between the cracks of society.

Although the federal government has mandated a Federal minimum wage, many state and local government contracts abide by a Living Wage. The Living Wage for most Maryland Contracts is currently around $9.62 per hour for those individuals who are involved in service contracts such as food services, janitorial contracts and general grounds keeping maintenance

There are numerous programs available to those 37 million people who fall below the poverty level. The unfortunate things for these 37 million people is that many do not know how or where to get assistance. Many do not know that there are an abundance of programs available to assist them in their time of need. Although there are many Federal programs available, that should not lead these people to believe that poverty and Federal Assistance should be a way of life, generation after generation.

I honestly feel that these programs should be made available to be used for a limited time frame and not as a way to go through life. These programs should be available to assist those who are capable of finding employment should be employed and working and not sponging off the rest of the country. However there are still many people who are physically or mentally disabled and they should indeed be given the entire assistant that this country has to offer.

Many of these programs can be found by going to Department of Health and Human Services, http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/index.shtml, some of the programs are listed below:

Department of Health and Human Services:
Community Services Block Grant
Head Start
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
Community Food and Nutrition Program
PARTS of Medicaid (31 percent of eligible's in Fiscal Year 2004)
Hill-Burton Uncompensated Services Program
AIDS Drug Assistance Program
State Children's Health Insurance Program
Medicare - Prescription Drug Coverage (subsidized portion only)
Community Health Centers
Migrant Health Centers
Family Planning Services
Health Professions Student Loans - Loans for Disadvantaged Students
Health Careers Opportunity Program
Scholarships for Health Professions Students from Disadvantaged Backgrounds
Job Opportunities for Low-Income Individuals
Assets for Independence Demonstration Program
Department of Agriculture:
Food Stamp Program
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
National School Lunch Program (for free and reduced-price meals only)
School Breakfast Program (for free and reduced-price meals only)
Child and Adult Care Food Program (for free and reduced-price meals only)
Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program
Department of Energy:
Weatherization Assistance for Low-Income Persons
Department of Labor:
Job Corps
National Farm worker Jobs Program
Senior Community Service Employment Program
Workforce Investment Act Youth Activities
Department of the Treasury:
Low-Income Taxpayer Clinics
Corporation for National and Community Service:
Foster Grandparent Program
Senior Companion Program
Legal Services Corporation:
Legal Services for the Poor