1. National Rural Poverty Challenges & Opportunities

2. Rural Poverty Rural poverty affects an unimaginable part of our nation’s rural population. While progress has been made to help with the challenges and opportunities for the people who are affected by these issues, there is still room for growth and advancement in all areas of help for the population involved. Rural poverty affects an unimaginable part of our nation’s rural population. While progress has been made to help with the challenges and opportunities for the people who are affected by these issues, there is still room for growth and advancement in all areas of help for the population involved.

3. Many challenges face the rural population today including: Education Education Medical & Dental Needs Medical & Dental Needs Nutrition Needs Nutrition Needs Asset needs Asset needs Human Labor Assessment Human Labor Assessment Resource Sustainability Resource Sustainability Transportation Transportation Priority placement Priority placement Distinguish level of poverty Distinguish level of poverty Wages Wages Responsibility Responsibility

4. Challenges (cont.) Find a way to better educate and literate the population of rural communities Find a way to better educate and literate the population of rural communities Provide low-cost or no-cost medical and dental insurance for those who may be unable to obtain it otherwise Provide low-cost or no-cost medical and dental insurance for those who may be unable to obtain it otherwise Provide a nutritionist in rural communities to help with choices when meeting the needs of the food supply (3/4 rural income goes directly to food needs). Provide a nutritionist in rural communities to help with choices when meeting the needs of the food supply (3/4 rural income goes directly to food needs).

5. Challenges (cont.) Provide land (i.e. classical land reform) and services to give rural poverty inflicted people the opportunity to farm and market the land. Provide land (i.e. classical land reform) and services to give rural poverty inflicted people the opportunity to farm and market the land. Increase the market value of human labor in rural areas. Increase the market value of human labor in rural areas. Improve resource sustainability (through technology and rural aid). Improve resource sustainability (through technology and rural aid). Provide access to new technologies, competitive markets, service, research and other information Provide access to new technologies, competitive markets, service, research and other information

6. Challenges (cont.) Provide transportation services to those needing to get to another location for food services, medical services or to get to work. Provide transportation services to those needing to get to another location for food services, medical services or to get to work. Pay higher wages to human laborers Pay higher wages to human laborers Give the responsibility back to the poverty inflicted people and make them willing to work towards these challenges and goals to better themselves above the poverty level. Give the responsibility back to the poverty inflicted people and make them willing to work towards these challenges and goals to better themselves above the poverty level.

7. Opportunities Opportunities are out there for the rural population to use including many grants and public services that may aid in the advancement of entire communities in rural America. Opportunities are out there for the rural population to use including many grants and public services that may aid in the advancement of entire communities in rural America.

8. Opportunities (cont.) Many areas that have already progressed passed poverty offer help and aid towards communities wishing to do the same. Many areas that have already progressed passed poverty offer help and aid towards communities wishing to do the same. Classical land distribution (breaks up larger parcels of land and provides it at a lower cost to rural community members) and other land grant programs can provide community members with much needed asset availability to further their income levels. Classical land distribution (breaks up larger parcels of land and provides it at a lower cost to rural community members) and other land grant programs can provide community members with much needed asset availability to further their income levels.

9. Opportunities (cont.) Welfare and similar programs offer food stamps, and money to house low-income families. Welfare and similar programs offer food stamps, and money to house low-income families. Welfare to work program offers food benefits and small wage allotments while advancing people into the workforce (training provided). Welfare to work program offers food benefits and small wage allotments while advancing people into the workforce (training provided).

10. Opportunities (Cont.) Federal grants and other financial aid given to individuals and educational instituitions help the disadvantaged receive and education. Federal grants and other financial aid given to individuals and educational instituitions help the disadvantaged receive and education. Programs are available in various states to re- instate the drivers licenses of community members to enable them to get to and from work (only on minor traffic violations and un- paid parking infractions). Programs are available in various states to re- instate the drivers licenses of community members to enable them to get to and from work (only on minor traffic violations and un- paid parking infractions).

11. Opportunities (Cont.) Programs are available to secure jobs for rural members by letting them know about certain job openings prior to the general public. Programs are available to secure jobs for rural members by letting them know about certain job openings prior to the general public. TANF; provides employment opportunities to member of various states in collaboration with state agencies, non-profit groups, etc. and offers to pay part/all of a members wages for a particular period of time in order for them to be considered a viable applicant (training, etc.) TANF; provides employment opportunities to member of various states in collaboration with state agencies, non-profit groups, etc. and offers to pay part/all of a members wages for a particular period of time in order for them to be considered a viable applicant (training, etc.)