This is part 6 in a series on poverty, following Dr. Ruby Payne’s 8 basic resources that people in poverty lack. Here is a link to part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, and part 5.
A simple definition of poverty is a lack of basic resources that leads to insecurity about the future. In her classic book, A Framework for Understanding Poverty, Dr. Ruby Payne lists 8 resources people in poverty lack. Resource #5 is a lack of physical resources.
Physical resources are having a body that works, that is capable and mobile allowing a person to be self-sufficient. When a person does not have the physical ability to work or maintain a job, their likely hood of falling into poverty or remaining in poverty drastically increases. Approximately 12 million people between the ages of 16 and 64 (6% of the population in the U.S.) have a disability that makes it difficult to find a job or maintain employment (Disabled in Action). The median income for people with non-severe disabilities is $22,000; for people with no disability it is $25,000; and for those with sever disabilities it is $12,800 (Disabled in Action). The poverty rate for people ages 25 to 64 with a nonsevere disability is 11%. This compares to 26% for those with a severe disability and 8% percent of those without a disability (Disabled in Action).
It should be obvious that person who lacks the physical abilities to gain a job or maintain a job can very quickly fall into poverty. Especially if a lack of physical resources is combined with a lack of the other resources.
Floods of Justice 
Pingback: A Lack of Support Systems | Floods of Justice