In times of abundance, we can still talk about scarcity and poverty everywhere

As I recently watched the new Netflix TV series called “Inside Bill’s brain”, in which Bill Gates tries to solve the biggest problems today including world poverty and climate change, I started to wonder how such thing as poverty can exist in 21st century after all. Or above all, is that something we can afford now days?

Then I decided to do a little research on the subject, and landed on this wonderful website called “World Poverty Clock” which provides you with exact estimation of the poverty levels in a real time. By the time I visited, it estimated that around 12 thousand people have been left into poverty today, and more than 37 thousands escaped poverty, I couldn’t help but notice that the critical points are mainly in Africa and South America, but what about the other countries then. Among the countries scheduled to escape poverty by 2030 (that is only 11 years time from now) are Macedonia, Georgia,Nepal, Bangladesh, Mauritania (Africa), Brazil,Columbia and several others.

More astonishing is the fact that even if by 2030 poverty plan is achieved, reducing the poverty levels in Africa from 33% to 24%, more than 370 million people will continue living in there with less than 2 dollars per day.

If the developing world is struggling so much, are the things much better in the developed countries after all?

The definition of poverty by the World Bank explains the condition under which “you cannot afford the basic needs of life- food, clothing, shelter and so on”. However, the Social Metrics Commission in UK decided to measure poverty in a different way, taking into account factors such as type of housing (whether you live in your own house or in share property), rent costs, disability costs, saving, cost for food and other major necessities. What they found out is that more than 14 million people live in poverty in the UK, half of them are in working age and around 5 million are children.

In addition to that, there has been unprecedented rise of rough sleepers across the UK, from 2015 until now, in London alone there are 8 thousand people sleeping on the streets, 1 in 59 people are identified as homeless in London alone. The main reason behind this is the loss of private tenancy due to financial difficulties. In addition to that, the working class families are under constant attack to lose their homes and become homeless.

In addition to that, homelessness amoung the most vulnerable groups in the UK is on increase with 75% rise since 2010, many people with mental or physical disability become homeless due to a lack of income and adequate support. The situation is especially critical in the biggest regions such as London, Manchester and Birmingham. Does that mean that if you are disabled you are more susceptible to poverty than non-disable person?

Additionally, the number of people claiming Job Seekers Allowance doubled between 2005–2009, and it is still on increase as the number of people replying increased with 60% as well. The low-pay/no-pay job cycle affects poverty in a significant way as it creates insecurity and financial instability.

Having said that I am starting to question the possibility of homelessness and the real danger of it, and the connection it has with poverty as it can affect everyone and it can spread everywhere. Shall we all rethink any possible solution to it, in both the developing and developed world? As we have an abundance of everything, is it fair that many are struggling and continue to endure hardships in order to meet the ends at the end of every week, month and year?