And with a wave of her magic wand and the enunciation of the magic words "Ceteris Paribus", the Free Market Fairy made hookworm in Alabama disappear.
Just saying poverty is the cop out here trying to qualify what drives this problem offers at least a way to look at the problem that doesn't end in tax the rich as that will not solve the deep poverty problem.
Even in countries like Denmark (which is where I am originally from) and who have high taxes and a high degree of redistribution of wealth, you will find people who are poor and homeless.
Add to that the discussion about relative poverty and you will have a problem that can never be solved unless you give everyone one exactly the same.