Poverty is Causing Human and Social Misery for Many

Why should we concern ourselves with South Carolina’s poor? Because it is morally right; because we, ourselves, stand closer to poverty than we realize; and because the actual and potential loses caused by poverty rob our state, our communities and ourselves of many of God’s blessings.

Prosperity and poverty are both facts of life in South Carolina. For example, South Carolina benefits from the wealth of the tourism industry that generated more than $8 billion and sustained over 113,000 direct jobs in 1997. The state has benefited from industrial growth and aggressive economic recruitment of companies such as Michelin, BMW, Honda and FUJI. Economists predict continued billions in capital investment in South Carolina.

There is the other side of South Carolina, whose statistics are less favorable:

• In 1989, 15.4% of South Carolinians lived below the poverty level.
• Our state’s fastest growing population, the elderly over 75, account for 26.5% of those in poverty.
• Children and teenagers up to age 17 represent 21% of our state’s poor population.
• Of the white population in South Carolina, 8.4% are poor; of the African American population, the figure is 31%; for American Indians, 19.3% live below the poverty level.
• 16.6% of all South Carolina families with children live in poverty.
• 75% of families headed by high school dropouts under 25 live in poverty.
• The “working poor” are present in South Carolina: 9.5% of our children live in working poor families.

More statistics could be presented; but the central fact is clear: poverty is causing human and social misery in South Carolina. Clearly for South Carolina to grow and seize available opportunities, all citizens must be fully equipped and their strengths and abilities encouraged if South Carolina is to be a better place. Improvements in education, health, community and family structures and economic opportunities can enable the poor to become vital and much needed contributors to the state’s unprecedented growth. Those improvements can also give human beings a realistic chance to enjoy the kind of life that is par of their birthright. Indeed, much relevance to South Carolina exists.[i]

Taken from Dimensions of Poverty 2000

Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina