US EditionMost US adults think individual choices keep people in poverty, new AP-NORC/Harris poll finds
A recent poll shows 60% of Americans attribute poverty mainly to personal choices, while 45% see inadequate government support as a factor, reflecting divided views on causes and solutions.
- A recent survey of over a thousand American adults, carried out between August 21 and 25, reveals that most respondents attribute poverty and homelessness primarily to individual decisions.
- The poll follows a rising homelessness trend, including an 18% increase last year atop a 12% rise in 2023, driven largely by housing shortages and other factors.
- The poll indicates that 54% of respondents feel the government does not allocate enough funds for aid, while roughly 43% support clearing homeless encampments, with most Republicans in favor and other groups showing mixed opinions.
- Individuals cited in the poll include Rob Haas, a 61-year-old Colorado resident strongly favoring removals, and Adam Kutzer, who pointed to avoidable poor financial choices like overspending.
- The findings suggest Americans expect state and federal governments to take greater responsibility for poverty and homelessness, indicating a need for coordinated action plans to address street homelessness.
48 Articles
48 Articles
Poll: Most US adults think individual choices keep people in poverty
Most U.S. adults think personal choices are a major driver of poverty and homelessness, according to a new poll, while fewer blame a lack of government support. However, just over half also think the government spends too little on those…
Associated Press News
Most US adults think individual choices keep people in poverty, new AP-NORC/Harris poll finds
A new AP-NORC poll finds that most U.S. adults think personal choices are a major driver of poverty and homelessness, while fewer blame a lack of government support.
Most adults in the United States think that personal choices are an important factor in poverty and homelessness, according to a new survey, while fewer blame the lack of government support.
Most Americans believe personal choices keep people in poverty, poll finds
FILE-Homeless encampments are seen near Washington Circle on August 14, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images) A new poll finds that most Americans think personal choices are a major factor of poverty and homelessness.The poll from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy and the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reveals that just over half of respondents think the government spen…
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