62 Years of Fighting Poverty

Four years ago, I stumbled upon a statistic that stopped me in my tracks. No matter the policies,
the funding, or the political leadership, one number remained unchanged: 11%. For over six
decades, the U.S. poverty rate had hovered around this figure.
How could this be? Hadn’t we learned anything from history? I set out to find the answer.
My first book, Follow Me, examined poverty in America from 1960 to 2022, covering ten different
presidential administrations. Each leader had a unique approach to tackling poverty, from
sweeping welfare reforms to ambitious social programs. Yet, despite their efforts, poverty levels
fluctuated only slightly, never dipping below 11% for long.
It became clear that poverty wasn’t just an economic issue—it was a persistent, systemic
problem embedded within our society.
Population and Poverty Trends
While examining policy changes and economic shifts, another thought struck me: Could the
size of a state’s population influence its poverty and homelessness rates?
To explore this, I turned to the numbers.
● In 1790, the U.S. population was just 3.9 million.
● By 2025, it is projected to reach 343.6 million.
Population growth was obvious. But when I compared these figures with poverty and
homelessness rates in various states and cities, the results were startling. It wasn’t the most
populated states suffering the most—it was often the least populated ones.
The Data Tells a Story
Between 2021 and 2023, the national poverty rate remained around 11%, with approximately
37.9 million people living below the poverty line.
However, the states with the highest poverty rates weren’t the largest ones:
● Mississippi: 19.1%
● Louisiana: 18.6%
● West Virginia: 16.7%
● Kentucky: 16.4%

Despite their lower total populations, these states had disproportionately high levels of poverty
and homelessness. In contrast, states with much higher populations (California, Texas,
Florida, and New York) had lower poverty percentages.
A Crisis in Every State
The trend extended to homelessness as well:
● California had the highest homeless population at 181,394 people.
● New York followed with 103,200.
● Washington and Texas also ranked high, though they had fewer total cases than
expected given their population sizes.
● Meanwhile, some of the highest homelessness rates were in smaller states like
Mississippi and Kentucky, despite their lower populations.
The numbers painted a clear picture: poverty and homelessness do not simply correlate
with population size. There are deeper forces at play.
What are the Root Causes?
Historians, economists, and policymakers have debated why poverty persists. The most
commonly cited factors include:
● Systemic discrimination (racial, gender, disability-based disparities)
● Income inequality (limited access to high-paying jobs)
● Healthcare and education gaps (poor investment in public services)
● Economic instability (industries disappearing, jobs not keeping up with inflation)
● Geographic disparities (states with fewer resources struggle more)
These issues, compounded over generations, make poverty a cycle rather than a temporary
setback.
What Does This Mean for the Future?
As the U.S. population continues to grow, will poverty and homelessness remain unchanged?
Based on the data, the answer is concerning:
● States and cities with high poverty and homelessness rates continue to struggle,
despite economic growth elsewhere.
● Funding and policies have yet to significantly impact poverty numbers in the long
run.
● Without systemic change, the national poverty rate is unlikely to dip below 11%
anytime soon.

What to Do Moving Forward?

If we are serious about addressing poverty and homelessness, we must:
1. Rethink how we distribute resources. States with the highest poverty and
homelessness rates need more targeted funding and support.
2. Prioritize education and job training. Investing in long-term solutions can help break
the cycle of poverty.
3. Strengthen public-private partnerships. Governments alone cannot solve this
crisis—collaboration with businesses, nonprofits, and communities is crucial.
4. Continue researching and refining policies. We must learn from past mistakes and
implement data-driven solutions.
Poverty and homelessness are not just statistics—they are the lived realities of millions of
people. As our population grows, we must ask ourselves: Are we willing to make the bold
changes necessary to truly reduce poverty? Or will we continue to accept the same
numbers year after year?
The answer lies in what we choose to do next.