Shocker: Poor People Aren't Just in Kenya

US Census statistics: there are 43.6 million people living in poverty in America. Compare that to the 38.6 million people in the entirety of Kenya.

Many of the Kenyans I talk to and work with don't believe that poverty in the US exists. Makes sense when the only information they have to base their opinion comes from TV like Desperate Housewives and visitors that can afford to fly half-way across the globe.

But then when the U.S. Census Bureau defines poverty for a family of four as earning less than $21,945 in 2009 (63% of the entire yearly operating budget of KGSA) its hard to convince these same Kenyans that that truly is poverty. In the US, food can not be found inexpensively on street corners, housing can't be a lean-to of mud and sticks, a job can't be informally selling cigarettes, sunglasses or buckets. The 'developed infrastructure' of the US has smothered those under the radar opportunities for the American poor. Ironically, it is that same 'developed infrastructure' that almost every Kenyan I talk thinks is the reason for America's prosperity and Kenya's 'failure'. Nothing is unanimously good. Nothing is that clear and simple.

And even if most Kenyans would think that $22K would be well above poverty, the report where I got these statistics on Change.org argues that that number is actually incredibly low. How did the Census get that number? Without regard to regional differences in prices or taxes.

Change.org went on to compare the census poverty levels to the Self Sufficiency Standards calculated by the Center for Women's Welfare:

"It calculates the income a family needs to meet its bare minimum expenses without any outside assistance and it does this on a county by county, state by state basis (pdf).What this metric includes are "no frills" expenses like health care, clothing, rent and transportation. (Not included are expenses like car repairs, fast food and personal savings.) The result is a much more accurate measure of the minimum income needed for individuals and families to just get by. Currently, the Self-Sufficiency Standard has been calculated for 37 states and the District of Columbia. It shows a steep difference between the actual cost of affording basic necessities and the federal poverty line."

The result?

In Brooklyn, NY, a single adult needs $28,367, not $10,830 like the Census says. Note that this shows that for a single individual, you realistically need more than the Census says will sustain a family of four. In more affluent areas the differences are more stark. In Suffolk, NY, $86,245 is what it takes for a family of four, 391% more than the poverty standard.

So are there really only 43.6 million people living in poverty when according to this standard says that one in three households in Mississippi is living below the Self Sufficiency Standard? Probably much more. So listen up Kenya, sorry to break it to you, but there are poor people in the US.

Check out uspoverty.change.org for more.