Poverty refers to the state of being extremely poor.

It is the lack of basic needs

such as food, shelter, clothing, and access to healthcare and education. This can
be an individual-level problem or a social issue that affects an entire country.
Poverty has devastating impacts on individuals, families, and communities.

The causes of poverty are many and varied, but the primary causes are often
economic or structural. This means that the problem of poverty is linked to the way
the economy and society is organized. Some of the key factors include inequality,
inadequate access to resources, structural inequalities and discrimination, low
wages, unemployment, low educational attainment, and inadequate infrastructure such
as medical care and transport. In addition, certain environmental problems, such as
drought and famine, can cause poverty.

Poverty has serious impacts on health. People who live in poverty are at greater
risk of malnutrition, ill health, and disease compared to those who have enough
money to purchase the food and health care they need. Poverty is also a major
contributor to mental health problems, as it can lead people to experience feelings
of hopelessness and despair. In addition, poverty can lead to social exclusion,
which can affect people's ability to participate in society.

The impacts of poverty on education also can’t be overlooked. Inadequate financial

means can make it harder for children to attend school, leading to lower
educational attainment and an increased risk of dropping out of school altogether.
Additionally, poverty can lead to poor educational infrastructure, such as
inadequate textbooks and learning resources.

Finally, poverty has societal impacts as well. It can lead to social unrest and
protest as people become more desperate to escape their finanical woes.
Furthermore, poverty affects community cohesion as people may become distanced from
one another as they attempt to survive.

In conclusion, poverty has a number of damaging effects on individuals, families,

and communities. To create a fairer and more equal society, it is imperative to
address the underlying causes of poverty. This includes tackling inequality,
inadequate access to resources, low wages, unemployment, and inadequate educational
and medical infrastructure. Only in this way can we hope to reduce the negative
impacts of poverty.