Window on Community: Poverty Defined

I was asked recently--- "what does someone mean when they use the term 'poverty rate'?"

What is poverty?

"Poverty is hunger. Poverty is lack of shelter. Poverty is being sick and not being able to see a doctor. Poverty is not having access to school and not knowing how to read. Poverty is not having a job, is fear for the future, living one day at a time. Poverty is losing a child to illness brought about by unclean water. Poverty is powerlessness, lack of representation and freedom."
As described by the World Bank

How is poverty defined in the U.S.?

Condition of people whose annual family income is less than a "poverty line" set by the U.S. government

How is the Poverty Line set?

Poverty thresholds were originally derived in 1963-1964 using U.S. Department of Agriculture food budgets designed for families under economic stress and the data about what portion of their income families spent on food. That calculation continues, with some modification, today.

What is that line today?

For a single individual, the poverty line is $9,810. An individual working full time at minimum wage would be below the poverty line.

For a family of four, the threshold is $20,000. If you had a job at $10 an hour and you were supporting three children, you would be below the poverty line.

What are some facts I might not know about poverty:

From 1970 to 2000, the number of urban census tracks with poverty rates over 40% doubled: that was also true for Southeastern Michigan.
In the tri-county area, over 440,000 residents live in at or below the poverty line: that would fill up the "Big House" at U of M four times over.
Concentration of neighborhood poverty leads inexorably to the concentration of school poverty, undermining almost every other effort by the public, private, and volunteer sectors to educate the children of low-income families.
While there are more whites in poverty in America than individuals of color, poverty has affected disproportionately minority communities --- particularly African American.
High Poverty Urban Neighborhoods (defined as having a poverty rate higher than 40%) are especially detrimental to labor market prospects of young black men. For example, 51% of young black men in High Poverty Neighborhoods in Detroit weren't in school or employed.
In 1980, there were 3 times more black men in college than university/college; in year 2000, there are more black men in prison than in college/university.
A 1-percent increase in city employment raises home values by $6,000 in nearby suburbs.

Where can I learn more?