WASHINGTON (AP) – Most US adults believe that personal choice is a major factor in poverty and homelessness.
But the government believes it is a new poll from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy and believes that there are too few governments for those in need. Associated Press-NORC Civil Service Research Center show.
Polls come as homelessness is on the rise and coming as officials across the country, including Republican President Donald Trump. The capital of the countrypush Clear camp A place where unstable people live. At the same time, the GOP tax and expenditure reduction bill Sign the law Trump in July is expected to reduce profits for low-income people.
“People seem a little contradictory,” said Bruce Meyer, a professor at the University of Chicago Harris University, who helped to create and analyze the poll. “I think maybe at least in part, they recognize the complexity of what leads people to trouble in terms of their economic situation. And I think a lot of people are generous in their hearts and they think that even if the individual is not being criticized, they should help people and the government should do so.”
Most people consider homelessness and poverty to be a rising problem
Most US adults (68%) who say poverty has increased nationally over the past 25 years say 19% remained the same and about 12% have declined.
People living in urban areas such as 60-year-old Baltimore resident Dwayne Byrd are more likely to say that poverty has increased in their communities compared to those in the suburbs and rural areas.
“It’s an aged building, a dirty street, a business that’s closed to the left and right,” Byrd said of his city’s poverty. “You had to choose whether to turn on the lights and put something on your belly. … People who have the job don’t have enough money.”
But Meyer, a professor at the University of Chicago, said the proportion of people living under the poverty line has actually declined “on almost every measure” over the past 25 years.
The contradiction between poverty data and American perceptions can be attributed to the fact that unsheltered homelessness has increased.
“It’s the most visible form of poverty,” Meyer said. “I think people are extrapolating from what appears to be intrusive to people in the tents and sidewalks, but that’s very different from the majority of low-income people.”
Approximately eight in 10 Americans say homelessness has been rising in the US over the past 25 years, with about seven in 10 increasing in the state. Over half (55%) said they are on the rise in their communities.
According to federal officials, homelessness Increased by 18% Last year, it was mainly driven by shortages Affordable housing Similarly Devastating natural disasters And a The rapid rise in immigration Several regions of the country.
That rise came above a 12% increase in 2023federal housing officials have condemned the rise in rents and the end of support for the coronavirus pandemic.
“I’ve never seen so many homeless camps,” said Asilin White, a 38-year-old Democrat from Pittsburgh. “After Covid actually started pop-ups.”
More support than opposition to remove homeless camps
Polls show that more Americans prefer it to oppose eliminating homeless encampments in American cities. Approximately 43% of US adults support elimination, and about 25% oppose it. Approximately three in ten Americans have no opinion and therefore say they will not support or oppose the removal of the camp.
The US Supreme Court ruled last year The city can ban people sleeping outside in public places.
While 64% of Republicans support removing homeless encampments, independents and Democrats are split and have a significant share of saying they have no opinion.
“We need some kind of rule,” said Amitate, a 43-year-old resident of Hesperia, California, who leaned towards conservatives, adding that “the government needs help too.”
White, a resident of Pittsburgh, said she opposed the removal of the camp.
“Where are these people going?” she said, noting that shelters are often full.
Meanwhile, Robhaas, 61, of Fort Collins, Colorado, describes himself as a moderate leaning against Democrats and is a strong supporter of the removal of the camp. “I think it’s bad for a homeless person to be in that type of environment, and I think it’s bad for tolerating that,” he said.
Root Cause Disruption
Around six Americans say personal choices are the “major factor” of why people stay in poverty, but the unfair system is the main factor, with about four in 10 government support without criticism.
Most Republicans say personal choices are the “major factor” of why people remain in poverty, compared to 56% of independents and 49% of Democrats.
Adam Kutzer, 22, who lives in Cranford, New Jersey, said not paying back credit card debt or spending too much money is an example of “an obviously a bad financial choice that can be avoided.”
Democrats, on the other hand, are far more likely than Republicans and independents who say lack of government support is a “major factor.”
When it comes to homelessness, most Americans are likely to view substance abuse and mental health issues as major factors, with about three-quarters citing them as “major factors.” Still, around six in 10 adults say that their personal choices are responsible, and similar shares blame the lack of affordable housing.
Less than half of our adults (45%) believe that lack of government support is a major factor in why people are homeless.
Who is responsible for addressing the issue?
The majority of Americans (54%) believe that the government is spending “too little” money on helping people in need. That includes Tate, a Hesperia resident, who said that for school programs, children in low-income communities should be helped.
Americans are also more likely to think that federal and state governments play an important role in tackling homelessness and poverty compared to charities and very wealthy individuals.
Approximately four in 10 US adults say the federal and state governments are “a huge” responsibility for dealing with poverty and homelessness.
In Tate’s view, state and local governments should “know their action plans for how to get people out of the streets.”
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The rush was reported from Portland, Oregon.
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The AP-NORC vote for 1,121 US adults was conducted from August 21-25 using samples drawn from NORC probability-based Amerispeak panel designed to represent the US population. The margin for sampling errors across adults is either positive or negative 4.0 percentage points.
