Commemorating Mental Health in American Society

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Are Families Falling off the Edge into Poverty?

Emily Robbins

This research uses the historical sociological method to explore how caretakers raising the next generation are impacted by recent events such as issues presented by Covid-19, inflation and the Corona Virus Aid Relief and Security (CARES) Act coming to an end. In particular this analysis focuses on families that are Asset Limited, Income Constrained and Employed (ALICE). Previous research has shown a large portion of American families qualify as ALICE families and that these families are living one paycheck away from falling into poverty. This paper takes into account how vulnerable families may be impacted even further by recent historical events. Economic shut downs, schools closing, evictions increasing, advance child tax credit payments ending and inflation are all variables that are contributing to the problem. This research is important because the short-term and long-term psychological, physical and financial wellbeing of these caretakers and their children are at stake. This means that significant costs will inevitably result if these issues are ignored. Therefore, American Policies must change to aid in the resolution of this problem.

2022

no embargo