Study finds poor Americans worry most about their jobs, health care

While the general public worries about the economy, war and terrorism, the nation’s poor say that things such as unemployment and health care are the biggest problems facing the United States, according to a new survey released Jan. 11.
   
The Poverty Pulse poll by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development found that the top five concerns for low income people are unemployment, health care, education, discrimination and poverty.
In contrast, the general public’s top concerns are the economy, war, government, immorality and terrorism.
   
CCHD released two surveys that monitor public opinions on poverty among the general public and low-income people. Under the researchers’ guidelines, a family of four earning no more than $30,000 a year would be considered low income.
   
“We’re trying to raise awareness about poverty in the United States among all Americans,” said Robert Vitillo, executive director of the office, which coordinates anti-poverty programs for Catholic bishops.
   
Fewer Americans believe that poverty is increasing in the United States, although the number of people living in poverty in the United States has grown to 36 million, which is larger than the population of California, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
   
In the general public, 64 percent think poverty is growing, compared with 70 percent who thought that in 2003.
   
The general public thinks increased poverty causes more crime. The second biggest impact cited by respondents is damage to the economy, higher taxes and more homelessness.
   
Since the campaign started its poll in 2001, awareness of poverty has grown, and 90 percent of Americans are concerned, according to Vitillo.
   
“We’ve watched as a lot of interest grew in the situation of poverty in America,” Vitillo said. “It gives me some encouragement that people are becoming more concerned about poverty in the United States.”
Most Americans, about 84 percent, did something to help the poor in the past year. The most popular ways to help are donating money, food or clothing, the survey found.
   
The general public thinks the top three causes of poverty are lack of jobs, lack of education and personal laziness. Among low-income respondents, lack of education is the largest cause of poverty, followed by the minimum wage level, and “unjust laws or social policies.” 
   
Personal laziness is ranked last as a cause for poverty among low-income respondents.
   
Increasingly, people believe that the government is responsible for addressing poverty, with 54 percent thinking that in 2004 compared with 38 percent in 2000. Among low-income respondents, 78 percent believe the government is most responsible for addressing poverty.
   
“At the same time we see the gap between the rich and the poor growing more and more,” Vitillo said.
“Americans have to have a collective will to do something about poverty, not just think it’s the government’s will or private citizens alone. Together we need to do something about poverty.”
   
The Washington, D.C.-based Market Research Bureau, a private market research firm, conducted the survey for CCHD. 
   
The low-income survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points; the general public survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 points. (RNS)