Traditionally in America, helping the poor was a matter for private charities or local governments. Arriving immigrants depended mainly on predecessors from their homeland to help them start a new life. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, several European nations instituted public-welfare programs. But such a movement was slow to take hold in the United States because the rapid pace of industrialization and the ready availability of farmland seemed to confirm the belief that anyone who was willing to work could find a job.

   Most of the programs started during the Depression era were temporary relief measures, but one of the programs Social Security – has become an American institution. Paid for by deductions from the paychecks of working people, Social Security ensures that retired persons receive a modest monthly income and also provides unemployment insurance, disability insurance, and other assistance to those who need it. Social Security payments to retired persons can start at age 62, but many wait until age 65, when the payments are slightly higher. Recently, there has been concern that the Social Security fund may not have enough money to fulfill its obligations in the 21st century, when the population of elderly Americans is expected to increase dramatically. Policy makers have proposed various ways to make up the anticipated deficit, but a long-term solution is still being debated. In the years since Roosevelt, other American presidents have established assistance programs. These include Medicaid and Medicare; food stamps, certificates that people can use to purchase food; and public housing which is built at federal expense and made available to persons on low incomes. Needy Americans can also turn to sources other than the government for help. A broad spectrum of private charities and voluntary organizations is available. Volunteerism is on the rise in the United States, especially among retired persons. It is estimated that almost 50 percent of Americans over age 18 do volunteer work, and nearly 75 percent of U.S. households contribute money to charity.

Persons on low incomes can access public housing through ______.

Câu hỏi liên quan

• Horace Pippin discovered he could paint and draw .............

• The passage supports which of the following conclusions?

• “It” in the passage refers to .................

ZUNIA12

• Which of the following is closest in meaning to the word “tuck”?

• The word "they" refers to ........

• According to the passage, the first refrigerated railcar used what material as a cooling agent?

• The article is mainly about .............

• What can be inferred from the passage about the adult parents of the young great horned owls?

• Which of the following is true of standard usage?

• According to the passage, where are hummingbirds found?

• The word "inconsequential" in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to ______.

• According to the passage, people respond to loud noises in the same way that they respond to ___.

• What can the word invokes be best replaced by?

• The topic of the passage is ________.

• The word “wink” in the second paragraph means most nearly the same as ............

• The phrase “infringing upon” in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to _____

• With which of the following statements is the author most likely to agree?

• The reason why telecommuting has not become popular is that the employees ___________.

• According the passage, who receives the Pulitzer Prize?

• Which of the following is mentioned as the main cause of the destruction of Mantle’s body?