Below - American poor (31 photos)

In 2010, the poverty line was a record number of Americans since 1959. The publication gave the job TIME photojournalist Joachim Eskildsenu make a report about the ongoing crisis, which is now affected about 46 million Americans. Eskildsen traveled to New York, California, Louisiana, South Dakota and Georgia for the first time since 1986, arrived in the United States. He said that poverty was not mentioned in the news that he was looking in Berlin. "For Europeans, America - some mythical place, associated with childhood with Coca Cola and American culture. Especially sad to see people living not just the poor, but with the unhealthy living conditions ".

Eskildsena very impressed by the prevalence of poverty. "If you start to think about it, you will see - poverty everywhere, but you can live your whole life without even noticing it, until we end up over her features. Many spoke of the disappointment in the "American Dream", which was divided about the American reality.

1. Three years Eric has two children, their mother and grandparents live in a trailer in Firebaugh Airport, California. He always goes with his grandmother for a free meal. The family income is $ 350 a week. (Joakim Eskildsen for TIME)



2. Nomadic livestock workers close to home in Firebaugh Airport, California. Albino (left) and Javier (center) arrived from Mexico in the 1970s. (Joakim Eskildsen for TIME)



3. Puppy in the village of Eagle Butte, South Dakota, which is called the "dark side" because the street lights do not work and are thriving alcoholism, unemployment and domestic violence. (Joakim Eskildsen for TIME)



4. Friends Jasmine (6 years) and Amy (8 years) next to the motel to nomadic agricultural workers in the mills, California. Amy's mother on the farm earns $ 8 an hour. (Joakim Eskildsen for TIME)



5. Darla (48 years) and Todd Rooks (46 years) - hereditary fishermen from Louisiana. After oil spills the company "British Petroleum" their income from fishing greatly reduced and they are forced to live on his boat. (Joakim Eskildsen for TIME)



6. The seven-year DJ on the boat of their grandparents. Typically, the boat is on the water, but once in a few years, it is raised to the shore, to paint and repair. The family is waiting to "British Petroleum" pleaded guilty to deprivation of their livelihood, but so far not received any compensation. They go out to sea and fish, but the catch is very poor, and most of the poisoned fish. (Joakim Eskildsen for TIME)



7. Eli lay in a hammock on a boat with his grandparents. His grandmother Darla says, "I do not need food stamps. I do not want to be on content. I want to be prosperous. I want to go fishing. " (Joakim Eskildsen for TIME)



8. Thirteen Grass Spirit lives in a family of six people in Thunder Butte in South Dakota. Until recently, the family survived at 3 $ 500 per year. This year, her mother, veteran, has found a permanent job in a medical laboratory, but like everyone here, forced to commute to work is very far away to provide for his family. (Joakim Eskildsen for TIME)



9. Darlene Rosas 66 years old, and she lives in a trailer 40 miles from Eagle Butte, South Dakota. Since 1968, it is due to an injury lost the ability to work. Water in her trailer either, because the pipe burst due to frost in 1992. She says that life on the reservation as a dilemma: if you have a job, you lose your benefits. You live on welfare - becomes a victim of the system. (Joakim Eskildsen for TIME)



10. The five-year Mateo Chipps riding a bike after a rain in Cherry Creek, a village an hour's drive from Eagle Butte. His mother is difficult to find a job on the reservation, but it helps his neighbors and earns selling "Indian tacos", which is preparing itself. (Joakim Eskildsen for TIME)



11. Elizabeth (8 years old) and Alina (9 years old) Ames - cousins ​​Sethra of Gulf Coast, Louisiana. Alina's father engaged in fishing, and after the incident with the oil, "BP" her mother Kindra became active, demanding compensation for damages. Parents are worried about the health of children and that the children will not be able to continue the family business. (Joakim Eskildsen for TIME)



12. Marla and Darren Summer of Gretna, Louisiana, were laid off during the crisis. Permanent job Marla could not find a few years, and looking for Darren and still. (Joakim Eskildsen for TIME)



13. Felicia Ogbodo (37) lost her job of a social worker and is going to declare bankruptcy. Her 18-year-old daughter Ermelayn only entered the University of Chicago and wants to become a forensic psychologist, but also going through because of the need to help his mother. Her father, even though the parents are divorced, and helps her daughter. (Joakim Eskildsen for TIME)



14. John Moon lives in spartan conditions in Athens, one of the poorest places of the State of Georgia. Of all the furniture she had only a bed, and he recently moved out of the apartment in the blast furnace of the wheels to save. He lives solely through social assistance and food stamps. "The Lord takes care of me and I am in good hands" - he says. (Joakim Eskildsen for TIME)



15. Kvintavius ​​Scott (5 years) in the bedroom of his grandmother Barbara Kelly in Athens, Georgia. His father, Quinton Scott, earning $ 8.25 per hour, and visits the school to get permission for commercial activities. Kvintavius ​​engaged on the federal preschool program for the poor, and his parents even when diluted, instead of concern for its future. (Joakim Eskildsen for TIME)



16. Jennifer Road and her boyfriend are forced to live under a bridge in New Orleans because they did not have enough money for rent. (Joakim Eskildsen for TIME)



17. Pyatidesyatishestiletny veteran Richard London from New Orleans collects cans to earn a living. In the month it comes out to about $ 160. Previously, he used drugs, but now dropped, and tries to build a life again. (Joakim Eskildsen for TIME)



18. Dakeyya Johnson and her 4-year-old daughter Zeira on the porch in New Orleans. The family survived Hurricane Katrina, but lost the house, and now lives with his daughter Dakeyya his mother. In Dakeyi have a diploma, but it works a supernumerary teacher, and gets very little. (Joakim Eskildsen for TIME)



19. Major Ronald lives under a bridge, in spite of a disability pension. (Joakim Eskildsen for TIME)



20. The gas station and store alcoholic beverages in Eagle Butte. Alcoholism - one of the main issues on reserves. (Joakim Eskildsen for TIME)



21. Terry Fitzpatrick and his girlfriend live in a tent in the woods near Athens, Georgia, because I do not want to be around other people on the dole. (Joakim Eskildsen for TIME)



22. Two granddaughter Adele Johnson White Dog sleeping in wheelchair next to the burned-out house on wheels in Eagle Butte. 45-year-old Adel complained of wiring just a week before the fire. As a result, no one was hurt, but the family lost all their possessions, including newly purchased computer. Adele, which burns because the wiring is the second trailer, working as a dishwasher. (Joakim Eskildsen for TIME)



23. Keith, one of the daughters Adel, inside the burned trailer. Kate threw the father of their children and lives with his mother. Adele, her two daughters and six grandchildren live in a new, but close house on wheels provided by the Agency for Emergency Situations. Members of the community have donated money to the family could buy everything you need after a fire. Agency sells cheap Native Americans older mobile home in which to live dangerously, but willing to buy their own homes a little, because buying a home will save them from the privileges and benefits. The system has created reserves of associates, which turned into the exact opposite of what Native Americans sought, wanting to be self-sufficient and independent nation. (Joakim Eskildsen for TIME)



24. Several of the homeless residents of Athens, Georgia, organized the camp under the bridge. Many of the people living there have a permanent job, but they did not have enough money for decent housing. (Joakim Eskildsen for TIME)



25. Alex Velius lives under a bridge in Athens, Georgia. She struggles with the effects of drug addiction and severe childhood and suffers from the loss of her son. (Joakim Eskildsen for TIME)



26. Frances Mengistu next to the son of his neighbor Mick Taylor in Francy, California. Before the birth of the child, Frances worked as a nurse in the elderly. She and her fiancé, moonlighting as a car mechanic and a student nurse to receive $ 200 in coupons for food per month. Father Mick for several years unsuccessfully looking for work. (Joakim Eskildsen for TIME)



27. TJ Shelton, a 76-year veteran of the Vietnam War, lives in Athens, Georgia, only receives social assistance benefits, despite the fact that the blind. (Joakim Eskildsen for TIME)



28. The Central Valley of California - the land of farmers. As a result of the recent drought are a host of itinerant farm workers unemployed. (Joakim Eskildsen for TIME)



29. Malik Chipps riding a bike with friends in Cherry Creek, South Dakota. This eleven year old boy lives with his family in the cheese house, and the damp, according to the mother, is the cause of asthma Malik. Once he almost died because of the attack, because the ambulance must be very long to get to the village. The family is going to move soon. (Joakim Eskildsen for TIME)



30. Miguel Miranda threw two low-paid work to look after the kids while his wife was in the hospital. When his wife was discharged, he again went to work. Children go to school. Family withstood challenges, though even now their income does not exceed $ 10, 000 per month. (Joakim Eskildsen for TIME)



31. Ramon Ruelas lived in one of the tent camps Francy, until it was broken up by the city authorities. (Joakim Eskildsen for TIME)



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