By: Anna Phalen
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is a theory that explains what people need to live healthy and fulfilling lives. It is a pyramid with five levels. At the bottom are basic needs, food, water, and shelter. Next is safety, which includes feeling secure and stable in your environment. The middle is about love and belonging, including one’s friendships and family connections. Above that we have esteem, feeling good about yourself. At the top is self-actualization or reaching your full potential.
Poverty disrupts the foundation of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. If one level of the pyramid is not met, all the needs above will surely be affected. For families in poverty, meeting basic needs becomes an all-consuming struggle, often leaving little room for emotional or psychological well-being. Sadly, at the core of that struggle is often children.
Childhood poverty is greater in the United States than in other countries with comparable resources. In Crookston, more than 20% of children live below the poverty line, a rate twice that of the state average. For these children, financial hardship affects not only their basic needs but also their education, development, emotional well-being, and futures. As poverty continues to shape the lives of children in our community, it raises urgent questions about how to not only break the cycle, but to support those stuck in it.
The first three years of a child’s life are a whirlwind of growth and transformation, especially for the brain. During this period, proper nutrition acts as the cornerstone for healthy development. Without it, the effects can ripple across a lifetime—cognitive delays, social struggles, emotional instability, and even chemical imbalances in the body’s ability to self-regulate. For children living in poverty, these risks are alarmingly common, and the impacts often extend far beyond physical health, as access to nutritious food is often one of the first casualties of financial hardship.
When a family struggles to afford or acquire nutritious food, the consequences are immediate and severe. Healthy options like fresh fruits, vegetables, and protein-rich foods are often out of reach, either due to high costs or lack of availability at local food shelves. Instead, families are forced to rely on inexpensive, processed foods that are calorie-dense but nutrient-poor. This lack of proper nutrition can impair brain development, weaken immune systems, and increase the risk of chronic health conditions like diabetes and obesity—all of which further compound the challenges faced by children in poverty.
For children, hunger and poor nutrition are more than just physical discomforts; they create a sense of insecurity that disrupts their ability to focus, learn, and thrive in educational settings. Teachers often observe the impact firsthand—hungry children struggling to concentrate, falling behind in class, or acting out due to frustration and fatigue. Community-based initiatives, like food banks, school meal programs, and partnerships with local farmers, can play a key role in bridging the gap for our families in need.
Poverty’s grip on mental health is equally pervasive. Children from low-income families are two to three times more likely to develop mental health challenges than their more financially stable peers. This isn’t just about numbers; it’s about the daily reality of scarcity. Families without reliable access to food or housing often face a constant state of stress. For parents, this financial strain can lead to chronic anxiety or depression, affecting their ability to provide emotional support. For children, this creates a fragile environment, where a lack of security undermines an ability to feel safe, connected, and valued.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs sheds light on this struggle. The theory emphasizes that basic needs—like food, shelter, and safety—must be met before individuals can focus on higher goals, such as forming relationships or achieving personal growth. For families trapped in poverty, these foundational needs are a daily battle. Poverty doesn’t just limit opportunities—it holds families in survival mode, unable to imagine a way forward.
Breaking this cycle starts with meeting those fundamental needs. Community programs that provide consistent access to food, housing, and mental health resources can offer families a path out of survival mode. When parents feel supported and secure, they can create an environment where children can thrive. By addressing poverty through the lens of Maslow’s theory, we can give families the tools they need to build a stable and hopeful future—one where children have the freedom to grow, learn, and dream beyond the limits of circumstance.
