From someone who has been through it…My boyfriend wondering everyday if he is going to have to steal from people to get his next meal. Being scared of getting jumped or killed everyday. Having a job, working full-time and still only making 250.00 a week. People being afraid of being shot and killed in their own neighborhood. Asking for spare change in the cold, snow, rain, sleet and thunderstorms. Wondering if you will have a warm and safe place to sleep tonight with your babies. Being afraid of being mugged, shot or robbed. Women fighting for their children, begging the State for help. Some get the help some don’t. Yes there are shelters but they are ALWAYS full.
Poverty is women and children scared no one will protect them. Some knowing they are minutes away from living in the streets due to domestic violence or eviction. Poverty is hopeless when you have no place to live, no transportation, no job, you don’t even have bus money. Poverty is reaching out to the state for help and having them take your babies because you are a failure and can’t take care of them, they even tell you it is neglect. Of course they offer no help only condemnation and ridicule. This is what poverty looks like from poverty.