human
I've heard that the number of people living in poverty in the United States has increased in recent years. What's causing this?
assistant
The main cause of the increase in poverty is the decrease in wages and employment opportunities for low-income workers. This is due to the decline in manufacturing jobs, which have been replaced by lower-paying service sector jobs. Additionally, cuts in social welfare programs like food stamps and housing subsidies have made it harder for low-income families to make ends meet.