Defeat Poverty
Urban League Fights for You
Get Involved
Defeating poverty will take work from all of us. While our government is responsible for passing policies that make life more affordable and the American dream more accessible.
The Issues
Poverty is a disease born out of greed and scarcity. The United States is an innovator in almost every industry. Technology, automobiles, and health care. All of that has made us one of the wealthiest nations in the world.
We have the potential to be the best nation in the world, but that starts with our people. If our people suffer, so does our future.
We believe that defeating poverty is not only achievable, but a fight for the soul of our nation that we cannot lose. This is what a fight against poverty looks like:
Expanding Access to Quality Education: Low-income communities, which are often disproportionately communities of color, have limited access to quality education, including underfunded schools and fewer educational resources.
Making Childcare Affordable: Affordable childcare is crucial for parents to work and advance their careers. However, low-income families often face difficulties accessing quality childcare services.
Expanding Access to Financial Services: People in poverty, especially those in communities of color, may have limited access to traditional banking and financial services, leading to reliance on predatory lending and check-cashing services.
Expanding Social Services: Social safety net programs, such as welfare and food assistance, are essential for those in poverty, but they often have strict eligibility criteria and limited benefits.
Reduce Student Debt: High costs of higher education and student loan debt can perpetuate poverty, particularly among young adults, making it difficult to pursue economic opportunities.
Make Healthcare Affordable: Poverty can lead to reduced access to healthcare, and communities of color face healthcare disparities, including higher rates of chronic diseases, maternal mortality, and limited access to quality healthcare facilities.
Create Affordable Housing: Low-income individuals and families, especially people of color, face difficulties accessing safe, affordable housing. Discriminatory housing practices and redlining have historical and ongoing impacts.
Decriminalize Poverty: Poverty is closely linked to involvement in the criminal justice system. Communities of color are disproportionately targeted by law enforcement, leading to higher rates of arrests, longer sentences, and limited access to fair legal representation.
Pay People a Living Wage: Many low-income jobs are precarious, with irregular hours and low wages, making it challenging to achieve financial stability.