“Following in the footsteps of the New Deal, 30 years later, Lyndon B. Johnson declared a “war on poverty,” implementing sweeping anti-poverty policies including the creation of Medicare, Medicaid, and food stamps.”

During the past 50 years the federal government has significantly increased the spending per person in poverty but the percentage of people in poverty has not significantly changed. We need to figure out why and determine how to make an impact before throwing more money at the problem. Star Parker of Center for Urban Renewal and Education (CURE) states “Low-income America isn’t suffering because of insufficient government dependence but because of insufficient independence — ownership.” In my opinion, urban development (gentrification) is a significant impediment to low income earners owning a home.

Other poverty causes are poor education, single parent families, large families and lack of employment opportunities — especially in the rural South.