The War on Poverty

The War on Poverty of the 1960s is often treated in academic and popular literature as a transient phenomenon. However, most of the early War on Poverty programs have not just survived but have expanded. Most people are familiar with Head Start but far fewer recall its origins in the War on Poverty. While programs like Head Start are no longer part of a focused national initiative, they continue to make war on poverty and to influence domestic policy development. The opening chapter of this book describes the national context and specific impetus for a War on Poverty under President Lyndon Johnson. Subsequent chapters cover the origins, evolution, and current status of particular programs, including: Community Action, Job Corps, Volunteers in Service to America, Head Start, Legal Services, Community Health Centers, Foster Grandparents, Senior Community Service Employment, Weatherization Assistance, and Low Income Home Energy Assistance. Several other programs are consolidated in a single chapter.