Poverty is the lack of basic necessities, including food, shelter, clothing, and safe drinking water. Poverty is a worrying problem that many people are unaware of. It is widespread and more common than we think. It affects many people around the world and needs intervention. The U.S. Census estimates that in 2017, 13.4% of Americans, about 42 million, lived below the poverty line. This percentage has increased over the years. I want to ensure that those who are not financially stable have the opportunity to earn little to support themselves. I propose that Congress take action to reduce poverty and increase economic security. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayWhen it comes to poverty, people with little or no income are the ones affected. USA Today states: “Both personal responsibility and structural pressures can lead to poverty, and experts often argue which influences poverty the most. But some factors outside of an individual's control – including being a woman, black, Hispanic, a child, or disabled – are an indicator that one is more likely to live in poverty” (Sauter). These groups are more likely to grow up in unhealthy homes, poor neighborhoods, or poor school systems. The poverty rate for women is 14.5%. Women face challenges in the workplace, such as being paid significantly less than men, which puts them at greater risk of poverty and financial hardship. According to USA Today “in the second quarter of 2018, women earned 81.3% of the average income of men” (Sauter). This pay gap between men and women persists even when qualifications and tasks are equal. Women are more likely to work in low-paid jobs due to care work, for which they are unpaid. On the other hand, single mothers end up in poverty due to the costs incurred in having a child. Low-income women are more likely to have unwanted pregnancies, which will likely drive them into poverty as they are unable to provide for themselves or their children. Children cannot earn money on their own, so they depend on elders to support them. out of poverty. USA Today states, "Compared to working-age adults or older adults, children are much more likely to live in poverty: 18.4 percent of Americans under 18 live in poverty, compared to 12.6 percent of youth among those aged 18 to 64 and 9.3% of the elderly” (Sauter). These statistics are increasing because parents are unable to provide for their children and leave them free to earn little on their own. Disabled people are also at risk to address poverty. This causality can go both ways. As USA Today states, “those who have a disability are at greater risk of becoming poor, and those who are poor are at greater risk of becoming disabled” (Sauter). People with disabilities cannot work, leaving them on the streets without income. In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed to provide financial security to those suffering from a condition or disease The hiring of people with disabilities continues. In general, they have difficulty finding a job and earning “above poverty wages.” Race has an impact on whether or not you live in poverty. 19.4% of Hispanics and Latinos live in poverty. The high poverty rate for Hispanics and Latinos is due to low education and income levels. USA Today states that, “Only 16.0% of Hispanic and Latino adults.