Viewpoint: Poverty is a state of mind

What is poverty? Can it be measured by income - or the lack of it - or is it a state of mind, asks social worker-turned-writer Bernard Hare, who grew up in a Yorkshire mining family.

I was born into poverty in 1958.

My father worked as a coal miner while my mother was a shop worker in a department store. Both were on low wages, but both were proud of the fact that they paid their own way through life.

My first 10 years were spent among the cold, cobbled terraces of east Leeds. The cobbles were cold, but the crumbling, back-to-back houses were warm inside. Miners, back then, got free coal as part of their wages.

Every three months, a lorry came and dumped a ton of it on the pavement outside our house. It was my job to shovel it through a small grate and into the coal cellar. I was the blackest five-year-old boy in our street - stood atop my coal pile, proud too to be earning my keep.

My Nan lived a coal's throw away on the other side of the street. Her door was always open to me while Mam and Dad were at work.


i think this is a good article, and reminds me of my childhood

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20517171

It's both, a lack of income and a state of mind. You can be poor in money but you can also be poor in how you handle being poor, if that makes any sense.

My parents were immigrants. They worked two jobs for as long as I can remember. Dad was an alcoholic so while there was never a lot of money for "toys" like other kids, we did have a house after years of living in an apartment. We always had food on the table, and while our clothing may not always have been new it wasn't ragged. We did have fun and went on the odd vacation. Even now, while we rent and don't own a home, we are managing to keep our head above water. It is more difficult with me not being able to work.

Every time I feel like things are a bit down, I take a look at the family one floor below us. He hasn't worked in almost 2 years. And while there may be a lot of arguing and things may not always go right for him he always has time for his kids, the neighbor hood kids and is always willing to lend a hand if needed.

awe bless, can i ask why you cant work ?
by the way i dont live with my wife at the moment but i still class this house as my home