University of Virginia Library

25 Million Poor

Today in the United States there
are at least 25 million abject poor.
Two-thirds of these are deficient in
health-either physical, mental, or
both. All are at the subsistence
level, or below the subsistence level,
or below the subsistence level of
income ($2500. annum for a family
of 4.) Only half of those persons
clearly in "need" (below
subsistence level) presently qualify
for assistance under the existing
restrictive welfare laws (the Nixon
proposal would increase the
number of persons qualified for
welfare to an estimated 24 million.)

Of the 12.5 million persons
presently receiving public assistance
in some form, a third are over 65,
blind, or permanently and totally
disabled; the remainder are
members of families having
dependent children (AFDC.)