Poverty in the United States is a very real problem. Every year, the number of individuals living in poverty increases. In 2015, according to official government statistics, 43 million Americans lived below the poverty line for $24,000 per annum for a family containing two adults and two children. Despite constant economic growth since 2007, when this figure was 30 million, poverty has remained stubbornly consistent.
This is largely due to an increase in lower-wage employment outside of salaried work, which reduces household income despite increasing spending every year on goods such as housing, childcare, healthcare, education, etc. This increase can be seen directly correlated with both GDP growth and inflation.
Problems in the Big Easy
As Hurricane Ida made landfall, hospital officials were quick to evacuate their facilities in the bayou region. With hundreds of beds now out-of-service for residents from Houma and surrounding areas affected by this storm. There are not enough accessible healthcare resources available throughout Louisiana if you live outside these regions or upriver on the higher ground like New Orleans near Lake Pontchartrain (which was hit worse).
Dr Ryan Shelton is very concerned about access to effective healthcare due to heavy damage done across southern Lafourche Parish, where many people lost power.
Hospitals on the coast are still struggling to recover from recent storms, but Louisianans may need them now more than ever. Louisiana faces an outbreak of coronavirus that has hospitalized residents, and emergency room visits have gone up after two hurricanes in a row – one with flooding rains. At the same time, another caused damage across much of their state last year like Hurricane Ida did earlier this year when it struck land.
The Poverty Picture in New Orleans
While a 14% poverty rate may not seem like a big number, consider that the national average poverty rate is around 11%. So in a city where population estimates hover around 391,000, roughly 80,000 – 83000 people in New Orleans are living in poverty or below the poverty line.
A further look into that 14% shows that over 40% of those people are under 18. Around 21/% of New Orleans families are living in poverty. Most of these families are classified as “Asset Poor,” meaning they do not have enough assets (specifically net worth), to survive for three months in poverty without income. Asset Poverty doesn’t just affect those at lower income levels. For Example, 28% of New Orleans families with incomes between 45k and 70k are considered asset poor. Another important financial asset is Health Insurance, and according to statistics, 16% of the non-elderly population in New Orleans lacks health insurance compared to the 10% national average.
Lack of Access Affects Those In Poverty More
What we have in New Orleans is a perfect example of how poverty affects health in the US. When you look at the overall picture, access to care becomes a real issue for low-income communities.
In Louisiana, certain key issues impact healthcare for this population, including lack of transportation and insurance. While many federally funded programs focus on treating or preventing chronic diseases rather than managing day-to-day health conditions, they also target people who may not afford out-of-pocket healthcare expenses.
Final Thoughts
Poverty affects health in the US. In Louisiana, certain key issues impact healthcare for this population, including lack of transportation and insurance. While many federally funded programs focus on treating or preventing chronic diseases rather than managing day-to-day health conditions, they also target people who may not afford out-of-pocket healthcare expenses. Poverty is a major issue in New Orleans, with over 40% under 18 being affected, and 28% of families between 45k and 70k considered asset poor despite having a higher income bracket. Lack of access to care has been seen most in lower-income communities with limited resources, such as hospitals after Hurricane Ida struck, where a 14% poverty rate exists compared to the 11% nationwide average.
