It is very difficult to be hired for a job with just a high school education, and what happens if a child has no education at all. Statistics show that one in every thirty children is homeless. Sometimes only children are homeless because they have been thrown out of their home by their parents. Parents usually do love their children no matter what, but living in poverty causes many life stresses for both children and the family. .
A child living in poverty is under a great amount of stress. A child may develop risky behaviors when living in poverty, such as turning to certain substances or engaging in sexual activities. Certain substance abuse, such as drinking alcohol or taking any type of drug, may result in many problems for this child. If a child turns to sexual activities as an escape plan, they themselves may become parents. If these children are living in poverty and are having their own children due to their risky behaviors, the newborns will be born into the same lifestyle as their mother or father. Some children may even turn to gangs, because they feel a closer connection to this new family than they do with their biological family at home. As many people know, gangs are involved with many different types of crimes and various substance abuses. A child involved in gangs will most likely be exposed to dangerous conditions. Gangs are also linked with violence, and children who are exposed to violence may later use violence to solve their problems. Children should not have to turn to alcohol or drugs because their family is in need. What a child may not understand is that their parents and family do love them and it is not their choice to be living in poverty. The child needs to understand that most parents may not be at home because they are working to make ends meet and to change their life for the better. Seeing in what conditions they have to live in now should be motivation for them to do better in the future and make sure their family should not have to go through this one day.