Social needs: Poverty

There is no general definition of poverty. This is because the definition of poverty depends on the point of view of every person. Poverty may include material conditions, economic and social positions. In every country, in every society these three parts can be differ and defined variuosly. Commonly, poverty is excluded in two models: Absolute poverty and Relative poverty.


The first model is based on subsistence, what means that the government sizes up the amount of money, which is necessary to survive for one person. It also includes the basic human needs, such as home, medical treatment, education and likely.


The second model is based on a comparison of poor people with others in society. That means, that poverty in this case is defined as inequality between social classes.

Because there is no agreed definition of poverty, there also is no agreed measure. The measure, which is most commonly used in all societies, is based on income. For example, The World Bank uses the arbitrary standard of $31 dollars a month ($1 a day) and in the light of these standarts there are nearly 1200 million poor people in the world.

In conclusion, looking to the situation of Lihuania, there is quit good developed the system of support for poor people ( or for such people, whose income is less than the subsistence). The government can support people by giving them payouts, compensations of central heating, hot or cold water, electricity, help to find and buy an accomodation and etc.