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POVERTY TRAP examines how big plans to end poverty broke the promise of America—and what communities are doing to renew it. From the legacy of urban renewal and the War on Poverty to today's sprawling network of social programs, many attempts to fight poverty have kept people stuck. As Lee Moore of Jackson, Mississippi puts it: "It's hard to make it out."
Drawing on more than 130 interviews across 16 states, the film traces a sweeping story of policy failure and lost communities, but also redemption—finding purpose after prison, dignity reclaimed from addiction and homelessness, and revival around “a little garden” in South Dallas.
"When you look around today, all you see is disaster and the assumption is that it’s always been that way.
But it wasn’t.” — Bob Woodson
Sponsored by:
- Year2026
- Runtime90 minutes
- LanguageEnglish
- CountryUnited States
- DirectorMichael Matheson Miller
- Executive ProducerJo Jensen
- Co-ProducerCaleb Whitmer, Tom Vogt, Simon Scionka
- CinematographerTom Vogt, Tyler Follon
- EditorSimon Scionka
POVERTY TRAP examines how big plans to end poverty broke the promise of America—and what communities are doing to renew it. From the legacy of urban renewal and the War on Poverty to today's sprawling network of social programs, many attempts to fight poverty have kept people stuck. As Lee Moore of Jackson, Mississippi puts it: "It's hard to make it out."
Drawing on more than 130 interviews across 16 states, the film traces a sweeping story of policy failure and lost communities, but also redemption—finding purpose after prison, dignity reclaimed from addiction and homelessness, and revival around “a little garden” in South Dallas.
"When you look around today, all you see is disaster and the assumption is that it’s always been that way.
But it wasn’t.” — Bob Woodson
Sponsored by:
- Year2026
- Runtime90 minutes
- LanguageEnglish
- CountryUnited States
- DirectorMichael Matheson Miller
- Executive ProducerJo Jensen
- Co-ProducerCaleb Whitmer, Tom Vogt, Simon Scionka
- CinematographerTom Vogt, Tyler Follon
- EditorSimon Scionka
