Social Problem Essay

In today’s economy a $1500 budget a month will make everyday living very hard in Duchess county NY. For example you only have enough money to spend on what’s absolutely necessary like child care, housing, food, transportation, health care, and taxes. Out of these necessities the most expensive is housing and health care. The average cost of a one studio apartment in Duchess County is about $600 dollars a month and health care depends on the coverage that you need. Since you have two children the more coverage the better. This is a real good example of the social conflict approach because in this case the problems result from their class and the amount of money they make. Also because of the social conflict approach puts you in a circle that you feel you can’t get out of.   You’re forced to work more and more but never seem to get you anywhere due to rising costs. Food for a family of three in Duchess County will cost about $ 300 a month this only leaves you $600 for child care transportation taxes and health care. These are the amounts child care runs about $200 health care is about $100 and taxes are about $200 this leaves $100 for transportation. But this leaves no money for any other expenses like personal care, clothes, school supplies and house hold supplies. This shows how hard it is to make a budget of $1500 but it is possible. This budget doesn’t leave you any room to do anything off the budget. According to the HHS poverty guidelines you have to make at least $18,310 in New York to be above the poverty line. With only $1500 a month you will only make $18,000 a year so you’re living below the poverty line. With this budget you’re in poverty and make life a lot harder and makes taking care of your two children a lot harder as well.