What is poverty in the USA?

Question

# Forty-six percent of all poor households own their own homes. The average home owned by persons classified as "poor" by the Census Bureau is a three-bedroom house with one-and-a-half baths, a garage, and a porch or patio.
# Seventy-six percent of poor households have air conditioning. By contrast, 30 years ago, only 36 percent of the entire U.S. population enjoyed air conditioning.
# Only 6 percent of poor households are overcrowded. More than two-thirds have more than two rooms per person.
# The average poor American has more living space than the average individual living in Paris, London, Vienna, Athens, and other cities throughout Europe. (These comparisons are to the average citizens in foreign countries, not to those classified as poor.)
# Nearly three-quarters of poor households own a car; 30 percent own two or more cars.
# Ninety-seven percent of poor households have a color television. Over half own two or more color televisions.
# Seventy-eight percent of America's poor own a VCR or DVD player; 62 percent have cable or satellite TV reception.
# Seventy-three percent of America's poor own microwave ovens; more than half have a stereo; and one-third have an automatic dishwasher.

Answer 1

Poverty in the USA does not exist. Try visiting South America or Africa.

Answer 2

Food insecurity is one definition of poverty.
It's not having enough cash flow to be sure of providing meals for your family.
Inability to afford medical care is a definition of poverty.

People drop into poverty through job loss, catastrophic health care costs, and death of a wage-earner. They do not shed their homes or belongings when that happens. Food banks know who the poor are.

You have selected a raft of meaningless statistics to imply that that are no REAL poor in America. The US does not build housing that lacks many of the things you cite. The fact that these things exist does not mean the occupants can afford to use them.

Ever been to a yard sale in a poor neighborhood? These objects you cite likely are old and worn out and do not have much value. I consider your article to be a misleading attempt to pretend that the poor are not REAL ENOUGH for government assistance. Shame on you and whoever put that list together.