War on Poverty Programs

Legislation and Programs

Four pieces of legislation are identified with the war on poverty: the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, the Social Security Act of 1965, the Food Stamp Act of 1965, and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.

The first piece of legislation was the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, which created the Office [Page 1378]of Economic Opportunity (OEO). The OEO provided state grants to establish antipoverty projects, which resulted in numerous education and work training programs, many of which continue to Today. Job Corps provided work, basic education, and training for young men and women, while Neighborhood youth Corps provided work and training for those from impoverished families and neighborhoods. Work study funded grants to colleges and universities for part-time employment of students from low-income families to help them finance their educations.

Urban and Rural Community Action provided financial and technical assistance to local projects for community-based activities that included the participation of poor individuals. Adult Basic Education programs focused on teaching reading and writing in English to improve job opportunities. Investment incentives provided small business loans. Funding was provided for demonstration projects to provide training and work opportunities to individuals who were poor or receiving public assistance. Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA), envisioned as the domestic Peace Corps, trained volunteers for public agencies or private nonprofit organizations. young people were given the opportunity to see and combat poverty at the community level. In the summer of 1965, Project Head Start began as an 8-week OEO program designed to help break the cycle of poverty By providing preschool children of low-income families with educational enhancement to reduce the achievement gap between poor and middle-class students.

The original Social Security Act of 1935 was part of FDR's New Deal legislation to eradicate poverty among retired workers. The Social Security Act of 1965 created Medicare and Medicaid, the first federal programs to provide health care to the elderly and the poor. Both were seen as alternatives to universal health insurance for all Americans. Health care options for the elderly had been debated and various options proposed since the original 1935 legislation. Title XIX of the Social Security Act is a federal and state entitlement program that pays for medical assistance for certain individuals and families with low incomes and resources. Medicaid does not provide benefits for all poor individuals but only for those who fall into federally defined needy groups. States have the option of offering Medicaid assistance to additional individuals.

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