Poverty

A Social Issue


What Is Poverty?
Poverty is a condition where a persons basic needs arent meet such
as food, clothing and shelter.
Poverty has two types:
Absolute poverty
Relative poverty- Occurs when people do not enjoy a certain
minimum level of living standards as determined by government.
(enjoyed by the majority of the population). (Karger & Stoesz, 2014).
Policies That Address Poverty
Each State has its own poverty laws.
Michigan has the MPLP- Michigan Poverty Law Program is a joint coalition
with Legal Services of Southeast Michigan & U of M law school.
MPLP provides services to local legal aid programs and other poverty law
advocates.
MPLP mission is to support the advocacy of field programs; to coordinate
advocacy for the poor among the local programs; and to assure that a full
range of advocacy continues on behalf of the poor. MPLP provides state
support services to local legal services programs and other poverty law
advocates.
MPLP is legally and programmatically separate from, but coordinates its
work with the UMLS Clinical Law Program and the Michigan League for
Human Services (mplp.org, n.d).

Poverty Laws
MICHIGAN STATUTES AND
CODES Act 146 of 1925 - RELIEF
AND SUPPORT OF POOR
PERSONS (401.1 - 403.8)
AN ACT to revise and consolidate
the laws relating to the relief
and support of poor persons; to
prescribe
penalties for violations of certain
provisions of this act, and to
repeal certain acts relating to
poor persons.
History: 1925, Act 146, Eff. Aug.
27, 1925.(lawserver.com, n.d).
Poverty Law
American Recovery &
Reinvestment Act
Broad investments to alleviate the
poverty made worse by economic
crisis.
Strengthen Families
Expand Opportunity

The Act includes 20 billion increase
for the SNAP (formerly food
stamps). Funding for WIC Women,
Infants, & Children
2 billion for Neighborhood
Stabilization to help maintain ailing
communities.
1.5 billion in Homeless Prevention
Increase in unemployment
insurance income & Supplement
Social Security Income, tax breaks,
new resources for TANF (White
House.gov, n.d).
Who Dictates Poverty Laws?
A combination of local, state, and federal government dictate policy.

All three branches of government have the ability to make laws.
1.The Congressional branch can make laws through legislation. 1.A member of either the House or Senate may introduce a
bill and it must be approved by both. If similar but different bills are passed by the House and Senate, a conference
committee will attempt to reconcile the differences and then both will vote on the same thing. Before it can be a law it
must also be approved by the President or, if he does not sign the bill, the House and Senate can vote on it again and if
they both pass it by a 2/3 majority it becomes law.

2.The Executive branch can make laws as when the president issues executive orders. 1. Executive orders don't carry as
much weight as congressional laws but they mean a lot more when Congress passes an executive order.

3.The Judicial Branch can make laws through the precedent of Marbury vs. Madison. The precedent allowed the court
systems the power to declare acts of the state, legislative, and executive branches of the federal government null and void
if they violate the Constitution. Two different thought ways of thinking about the courts making laws. (White House.Gov,
n.d.).


How Long Has The
Policy Been In
Place?
The current relief and support law of the
poor has been in place since August 27,
1925.
The American Recovery and Investment Act
has been in place since 2009(White
house.gov., n.d).
Interview Results
Unfortunately I was unsuccessful in interviewing a advocate or
legislator concerning the issue of Poverty.
I contacted Sterling Heights City Council Deanna Koski via email &
telephone
I also visited Warren MI City Hall and asked to speak with a elected
officials Steven Warner & Robert Boccomino to interview them about
the issue of poverty I was declined a interview and told no one was
available.

Reflection of Interview Attempts
I the beginning when I set out to do the interview I thought I would
be successful because Counsel would see a citizen doing something
positive in the community, but this mindset was cut short by either
no responses or me being declined.
The problem was either the officials were to busy or with law officials
being exposed for their misdeeds in office they were reluctant to
interview thinking it was a set-up.
Bibliography
What is poverty? definition and meaning. (n.d.). BusinessDictionary.com.
Retrieved September 24, 2014, from
http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition
Netting, F. E. (2012). Social work macro practice (5th ed.). Boston, MA:
Pearson Education.
Poverty. (n.d.). The White House. Retrieved September 24, 2014, from
http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/poverty
Description of MPLP Services. (n.d.). Michigan Poverty Law Program.
Retrieved October 8, 2014, from
http://www.mplp.org/MPLP/About/MPLP_description


Bibliography
Michigan Laws - LawServer. (n.d.). LawServer. Retrieved October 8, 2014, from
http://www.lawserver.com/law/state/michigan/mi-laws/michigan-statutes
Karger, H. J., & Stoesz, D. (2014). American social welfare policy: a pluralist
approach (Seventh ed.). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458: Pearson