Aimee Molloy

Aimee Molloy is a writer for the Center for Poverty Solutions, a nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to eliminating the root causes of poverty. In the viewpoint that follows, she contends that low wages and limited employment opportunities force poor people into homelessness. Close to one-fifth of the homeless population works, Molloy holds, but still cannot afford to pay for housing. Furthermore, homeless people face severe barriers to employment, including limited opportunities for low-skilled workers, the high costs of transportation and child care, and poor health.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. Who are the homeless, according to the author?
2. What examples does Molloy provide to support her
argument that the minimum wage is too low to meet housing costs?
3. How have changes in the high-tech industry affected work opportunities, as explained by...