According to U.S. Census Bureau poverty definition is the "Following the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Statistical Policy Directive 14, the Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who is in poverty. If a family's total income is less than the family threshold, then that family and every individual in it is considered in poverty. The official poverty thresholds do not geographically, but they are updated for inflation using Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). The official poverty definition uses money income before taxes and does not include capital gains or noncash benefits (such as public housing, Medicaid, and food stamps)."

According to Dinitto "deprivation- insufficiency in food, housing, clothing, medical care, and other items required to maintain a decent standard of living." (P.67)