If ending poverty was as simple as a job...

It's so easy to blame the poor for their poverty. What's really difficult is being a force for change.

There is no simple reason for a person to be poor. Every person who is there wishes they were some other place. Truthfully, many of them could be in a different place. But something holds them back.

Fear. It's the No. 1 reason people don't change their circumstance. "If things are bad now, they could be worse." "It took me forever to get this job -- if they found out I was looking, I could lose everything." "This job pays my rent and barely covers my bills. At least that's something."

Education. Many highly capable people don't have the education they need, or think they need, to get the job they want. Maybe they had to drop out of school to help support their family. Or they have a learning disability or another challenge. Maybe their education is in another field that is no longer an option. Perhaps in some cases, they have advanced degrees that prevent people from hiring them for a lower-level job. 

Support. Some people have no family support to help them get a job. Perhaps they have small children, and they don't have family who can watch the youngsters so they can submit resumes and go to job interviews. Without this support, they can't effectively job search and are stuck in their circumstance. Other times, it is a family member who clearly or vaguely is unsupportive: "You don't need to look for a better job -- my job supports us just fine." "If I was your boss, I wouldn't promote you." "Do you think that is wise?"

Discrimination. Obvious or hidden, challenges can stop a person from getting a job or even looking for one. A wheelchair user, for instance, can't always prove that his disability stopped him from getting a job, but after hundreds of unsuccessful job interviews, unproven discrimination can wear a job seeker down. The same with vision or hearing impairments, age, size, or many other issues. And the person's own challenges may stop them from even searching for satisfying jobs. Perhaps they have unseen medical conditions or are a caregiver for someone who needs their help -- and the caregiver knows of no other options. "I wouldn't be able to keep a job." "Who would want to hire me?" "I have to be home if they call."

Thousands of workers, thousands of reasons. These are not excuses, they are barriers. Some of them easily overcome, some of them impossible to scale. It's hard not to say, "well, why don't you get a job?" or "you could easily get a better job" when you don't know the circumstances.

Individual-oriented job placement is the answer, but on one hand, some people won't accept the help, and often it is not available. In addition, job success isn't just about landing the job, it's about dealing with the other life obstacles that can stop a person from succeeding long-term even after he or she lands a job that fits. Attitudes. Money issues. Family situations. Work is an effective way out of poverty, but it is hardly the entire answer.