America's definition of poor is much different than other countries. If you are low income here and are not a total irresponsible fuckup, you'll eat and have housing assistance, probably a phone and even a car of some sort, or you'll have public transportation. Unfortunately, a large percentage of those who are homeless and without food, are afflicted by alcoholism, drug addiction, and mental health issues, making it impossible to manage, no matter what they have. Many homeless around here have been evicted from section 8 housing because they couldn't even manage to pay their small portion, the part that is not subsidized. They also sell their EBT benefits for cash to by alcohol or drugs, so rather than eat, they get drunk or high.
I can agree to some extent, especially the point about being 'poor' in the US often being magnitudes above poverty in third world countries. Not too many people in America starve to death unless it is kids who cannot provide for themselves, or those with medical issues including mental health that intentionally avoid eating. There are food pantries and soup kitchens in many communities if you know how to look and are not too proud. Many are just ignorant of help that is available to homeless and destitute folks.
On the other hand, these are also the ideas that are easily exaggerated by the disconnected parties trying to downplay the day-to-day living situations of those in deep poverty.
My situation could definitely be worse, but month-to-month, I have very little room for error and none for "play". My fixed income is ~$10k annually now, but at least it is something.
It took Social Security a full decade to find me 'administratively' disabled, so all of my work credits from jobs had expired (5yrs from when you stop working). Because of this, I do not get actual 'Disability'. I am considered technically disabled by Social Security now, but I am only eligible for SSI because I had 0 work credits left by the time I was finally approved.
I had to fight for a decade to get even that, and of course as soon as the SSI benefits started, other benefits that I had been receiving such as food stamps were cut because my income was no longer 0.
I do not get housing assistance but I am on waiting lists for subsidized housing in several cities or counties here in my state. I have been on these wait lists for more than 5 years now and have never heard anything, though I contact them every 4 to 6 months to check up and try to keep my name on someone's mind, I guess.
I do not have the option of moving to another area unless it is as cheap or cheaper than here, and not many places in the US are.
I won't even get started on my medical issues, including complications being on Medicaid with a state-assigned HMO that risks my life because they don't approve coverage for filling prescriptions of insulin when needed, etc.
My point is that while living in poverty here is do-able for anyone with half a mind for digging up resources and doing what is needed to get by...it isn't easy and involves a lot of jumping through hoops and daily stress and anxiety.
The people who are incapable of managing the mazes and stressors are the ones who will fall through the cracks, whether it's due to mental health problems or simply 'giving up' after tiring of the processes of trying to survive in this kind of financial state.
I am lucky to still be in a situation of living together and sharing expenses with my mother, who is also on disability. The thought in the back of my mind about how things are going to change if/when she passes are not pleasant, and causes a lot of worry about the future.
I see myself needing to find a shoebox apartment or shared dwelling, and it makes me sort of understand why some people actually prefer and choose to simply be homeless instead. I don't exactly have that option due to my health.
/sigh.
Edit for 'funny' side-note: When I joined Anandtech, I was still gainfully employed and working fulltime, and my income was as much as 4x what it is now, heh. I've never been rich but I lived comfortably. What I do now is somewhere between living and basic survival. The disability started ~12 years ago.
The closest thing we have to a downvote now is the laugh emoji. Some people use it to denote finding the post absurd, not actually inducing laughter. Very imperfect, because some posts are just plain funny and make you laugh. You have to be discerning in interpreting the use of those 4 vote emojis:
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