PovertyPoverty is a common problem that many Americans face and has been a serious problem for centuries. Every year, people are at risk of going hungry. Combating poverty is not an easy task; many underlying issues need to be addressed. Fortunately, policies are in place to help reduce the negative effects of poverty; However, some policies could make people more dependent on government assistance. As a result, this could lead to increased taxes to support these policies and programs. Poverty is very common and widespread around the world. The unanswered questions that arise regarding poverty are what can be done to solve it, what are the causes of poverty and is it possible to eliminate it completely. Based on my research and personal experiences, government assistance and housing are some solutions to reduce poverty. With unemployment increasing in the United States, people are struggling to make ends meet and are therefore relying heavily on unemployment benefits. Unemployment checks allow people to support their families and pay their monthly bills while they look for work. My friend James has worked for Safeway for about eight years and was laid off with a wife and two-year-old daughter to support. With the unemployment check, he was able to temporarily support his family until he found a job that would allow him to support his family permanently. Indeed, in 2010, unemployment benefits kept 3.2 million people above the poverty line, or about $17,300 for a family of three. A report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) provides some insight into what might happen to people who exhaust their benefits (Kaufmann). ...... middle of paper ...... Poverty: a little help for the long-term unemployed? | The nation. Np, May 8, 2012. Web. March 26, 2014. .Kittle, MD “Fraud Remains a Problem in Extended Unemployment Compensation Programs” Watchdog.org. Watchdogorg RSS. Np, January 8, 2014. Web. March 26, 2014. .Newsom, McKellar. “Violations and vouchers: interview with a Section 8 police officer.” BiggerPockets RSS blog. Np, August 25, 2012. Web. March 26, 2014. .Stillwater, Jane. “HUD “Section 8” housing: the revenge of the trailer trash? OpEdNews. Np, January 14, 2007. Web. March 26. 2014. .