Most of us know what it is to be broke. Either we have experienced it personally or we know somebody who has been or is broke. Being broke is just a temporary stage in life when a person doesn't have the money they need for a need, want or desire. Poverty is an entirely different animal.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Poverty refers to the condition of not having the means to afford basic human needs such as clean water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter.[1][2] This is also referred to as absolute poverty or destitution. Relative poverty is the condition of having fewer resources or less income than others within a society or country, or compared to worldwide averages.
Can you imagine good wholesome hardworking middle class people being in a place where they couldn't afford basic human needs? Honestly, for me it's hard to imagine.

Statistics from
The World BankThe current financial turndown has meant a slower rate of poverty reduction. This year, fewer people will leave poverty as a consequence.
Will poverty reach up to the middle class and pull down people who have hit hard times? It's time to wage war on poverty. A group of entrepreneurs in my city have come together with a sensible plan to knock poverty to it's knees. We're looking for those in cities around the nation who want to change their cities by waging war on poverty.