Poverty is a complex issue. It is the result of multiple social systems failing to protect individuals and families from material deprivation. Some of the consequences of poverty include poor nutrition and physical health, social isolation, and limited financial stability.

For many, poverty is the inability to maintain a standard of daily living that will ensure an individual or family’s overall health and well-being. The effects of poverty, however, are not limited to those who are poor—poverty and social inequality decrease the overall health of a society. When a segment of the population faces barriers to economic opportunity, access to health care, and education (among other factors associated with the social determinates of health), a community cannot reach its full potential.

Poverty is linked to economic and social conditions. When the economy declines, poverty rates increase. Certain demographics face different levels of poverty—for example, lone-parent families have the highest poverty rate compared to other family types, and poverty rates among youth remain high.