The use of the word poverty in the United States is one that evokes many emotions: 

Shame. Judgement. Compassion. Fear. Uncertainty. Blame. Hopelessness.  

Additionally, there are a variety of definitions of poverty, multiple determining factors that contribute to it, and a wide range of proposed solutions. All of these ideas, experiences, and beliefs about poverty come together to reveal one core truth: poverty is complex. 

One of the trickiest things about poverty is that there is not one singled out cause for it, nor is there one simple, streamlined solution. While there are many factors that can place individuals and families at a higher risk, the reality is that poverty can impact anyone. In many cases, poverty is generational, meaning families have been caught in the vicious cycle of it for decades. But in some cases, it is situational — it’s one tragic life event that completely upends someone’s financial stability (death, divorce, loss of home, illness). 

At Good Samaritan, every day we walk alongside families and individuals navigating the heartbreaking complexities of poverty. Each situation looks different and requires different levels of support, and we can’t always meet every need. Our team prioritizes our time and energy in two areas: housing stability and building an intentional support community around those working toward long-term financial stability. 

Why these two areas? We invest in housing stability because we know that securing and maintaining stable housing is the foundation of being on a path to eliminate poverty. It can feel impossible to consider long-term career, educational, and financial goals when someone is uncertain about where they will lay their head next month. 

We also believe in building long-term, supportive relationships around individuals working to move out of poverty, because experiencing poverty is isolating and exhausting, but can feel more manageable when one is surrounded by a healthy support network. Research also backs this idea and demonstrates that when individuals and families increase their “social capital” and build connections with individuals of higher economic classes, they significantly increase their chances of moving out of poverty.  

Ending poverty does not have an easy or quick solution, but there are things that we as individuals, organizations and communities can be doing to help families move forward. At Good Samaritan, we have a long history of investing in solutions that support our neighbors, and we continue to roll up our sleeves every day to advance our mission of ending homelessness and poverty in our community.

-Tracey Hoesch | Director of Circles