--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Talk to families in poverty and ask them…" description: "\"Talk to families in poverty and ask them what they need, instead of prescribing it for them. Ask what the barriers are. Ask what would help. And then d..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f96/jack-monroe-5513_families_talk-to-families-in-poverty-and-ask-them_3125048.jpg" --- # Talk to families in poverty and ask them what they need… ![“Talk to families in poverty and ask them what they need, instead of prescribing it for them. Ask what the barriers are. Ask what would help. And then deliver it.” quote by Jack Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f96/jack-monroe-5513_families_talk-to-families-in-poverty-and-ask-them_3125048.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f96/jack-monroe-5513_families_talk-to-families-in-poverty-and-ask-them_3125048.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f96/jack-monroe-5513_families_talk-to-families-in-poverty-and-ask-them_3125048.jpg) > “Talk to families in poverty and ask them what they need, instead of prescribing it for them. Ask what the barriers are. Ask what would help. And then deliver it.” [Jack Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-monroe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective aid starts with listening to those in need, identifying barriers, and delivering tailored solutions. **In simple terms:** Listen, identify barriers, then help. Key Takeaway Prioritize listening before acting. Themes poverty alleviation community engagement empowerment Mood empathetic pragmatic Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - social work - non‑profit programs - policy making - grassroots organizing Key Concepts participatory design needs assessment Questions to Reflect On - What barriers do you see in your community? - How can you ensure solutions remain relevant? A Different Perspective People may resist external help. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Barriers Ask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barriers-ask-5503494/) [Families](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/families/) [Families Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/families-poverty-1078693/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help/) [Instead Prescribing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instead-prescribing-5503495/) [Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Poverty Ask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty-ask-3113549/) [Talk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talk/) [Talk Families](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talk-families-5503493/) ## Related quotes > [There are no causes of poverty. To ask what causes poverty is like asking what causes coldit is the absence of energy. Similarly poverty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madsen-pirie/there-are-no-causes-of-poverty-to-ask-what-causes-poverty-is-like/) [Madsen Pirie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madsen-pirie/) > [I thought in this country, the best social program was a job. Yet minimum wage jobs arent paying enough to keep families out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mikulski/i-thought-in-this-country-the-best-social-program-was-a-job-yet-2/) [Barbara Mikulski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mikulski/) > [Women continue receiving less salary for the same kind of job. Women have a higher unemployment rate in our country. When you analyze the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-chinchilla/women-continue-receiving-less-salary-for-the-same-kind-of-job-women/) [Laura Chinchilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-chinchilla/) > [I thought in this country, the best social program was a job. Yet minimum wage jobs aren't paying enough to keep families out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mikulski/i-thought-in-this-country-the-best-social-program-was-a-job-yet/) [Barbara Mikulski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mikulski/) > [The minimum wage can play a vital role in lifting hard-working families above the poverty line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/the-minimum-wage-can-play-a-vital-role-in-lifting-hard-working/) [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) > [The truth is, the greatest tool to lift children and families from poverty is one that decreases the probability of child poverty by 82%.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/the-truth-is-the-greatest-tool-to-lift-children-and-families-from/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [Care work is still primarily done by women for free in families and for poverty wages in the market, and this is a major…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riane-eisler/care-work-is-still-primarily-done-by-women-for-free-in-families-and/) [Riane Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riane-eisler/) > [ “According to a recent poll \[...\] 94% of Americans agree that "people who work fulltime should be able to earn enough to keep their… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-ehrenreich/according-to-a-recent-poll-94-of-americans-agree-that-people-who-work/) [Barbara Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-ehrenreich/) > [Tax credits are designed to help people who work hard but who, through no fault of their own, don't earn enough to keep their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/tax-credits-are-designed-to-help-people-who-work-hard-but-who-through/) [Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/) > [Families are the compass that guide us. They are the inspiration to reach great heights, and our comfort when we occasionally falter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-henry/families-are-the-compass-that-guide-us-they-are-the-inspiration-to/) [Brad Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-henry/) > [I have a tremendous amount of respect for military families. To have to worry about your loved ones and still try and live a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashanti/i-have-a-tremendous-amount-of-respect-for-military-families-to-have/) [Ashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashanti/) > [“Families can be together forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lds-church/families-can-be-together-forever/) [LDS Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lds-church/) > [Back in the really olden days, dinner was seldom a ceremonial event for U.S. families. Only the very wealthy had a separate dining room.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/back-in-the-really-olden-days-dinner-was-seldom-a-ceremonial-event/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [“Don’t waste your time trying to explain yourself to people that are committed to misunderstanding you. Instead, commit your time to explaining who they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/don-t-waste-your-time-trying-to-explain-yourself-to-people-that-are/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) ## More by Jack Monroe > [I'm publicist, patron of nine charities, creative director, food consultant, recipe developer - and mum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-monroe/i-m-publicist-patron-of-nine-charities-creative-director-food/) [Jack Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-monroe/) > [My pregnancy changed my relationship with my body because I went from despising it to marvelling at what it can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-monroe/my-pregnancy-changed-my-relationship-with-my-body-because-i-went-from/) [Jack Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-monroe/) > [There's all kinds of research that shows children operate best if they start the day with some proper food inside them - it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-monroe/there-s-all-kinds-of-research-that-shows-children-operate-best-if/) [Jack Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-monroe/) > [I'm well-known for saying unsayable things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-monroe/i-m-well-known-for-saying-unsayable-things/) [Jack Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-monroe/) > [I think as much as people moan at things like award ceremonies, it gives people role models. It provides real positive reinforcement that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-monroe/i-think-as-much-as-people-moan-at-things-like-award-ceremonies-it/) [Jack Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-monroe/) > [Working 90 hours a week is easily racked up when you're self-employed and rely on portable tech to do your work; your train journeys,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-monroe/working-90-hours-a-week-is-easily-racked-up-when-you-re-self-employed/) [Jack Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-monroe/) > [I'm very careful with the money I have, I pay myself the living wage, and I try to save the rest, because if life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-monroe/i-m-very-careful-with-the-money-i-have-i-pay-myself-the-living-wage/) [Jack Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-monroe/) > [All kids are fussy eaters - they go through phases where they'll only eat red food or they just want to eat porridge. With…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-monroe/all-kids-are-fussy-eaters-they-go-through-phases-where-they-ll-only/) [Jack Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-monroe/) > [Working behind the cocktail bar was a different kind of escapism, a creative outlet with a newfound respect for alcohol. I didn't drink as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-monroe/working-behind-the-cocktail-bar-was-a-different-kind-of-escapism-a/) [Jack Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-monroe/) > [I'm not organised, and I don't cope well with deadlines, structure and routine. I'm chaotic. Always have been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-monroe/i-m-not-organised-and-i-don-t-cope-well-with-deadlines-structure-and/) [Jack Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-monroe/) > [During my time at Essex county fire and rescue service, barely a shift went by without receiving a call from an elderly person who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-monroe/during-my-time-at-essex-county-fire-and-rescue-service-barely-a-shift/) [Jack Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-monroe/) > [If I've learned anything in the last seven or eight years it's that my career flies by the seat of my pants and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-monroe/if-i-ve-learned-anything-in-the-last-seven-or-eight-years-it-s-that/) [Jack Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-monroe/) > [I was a young mother with a dependent. I went from nice flat and fire service job to cold and hungry with a child.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-monroe/i-was-a-young-mother-with-a-dependent-i-went-from-nice-flat-and-fire/) [Jack Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-monroe/) > [Until people realise benefits doesn't mean scrounger, and austerity isn't a fun middle-class way to grow your own vegetables, there's still a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-monroe/until-people-realise-benefits-doesn-t-mean-scrounger-and-austerity/) [Jack Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-monroe/) > [I wear Doc Martens leather boots, so I'm not a vegan. I am a vague-one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-monroe/i-wear-doc-martens-leather-boots-so-i-m-not-a-vegan-i-am-a-vague-one/) [Jack Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-monroe/) [Explore all 100 Jack Monroe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-monroe/) ## More Families quotes > [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [“Don’t waste your time trying to explain yourself to people that are committed to misunderstanding you. Instead, commit your time to explaining who they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/don-t-waste-your-time-trying-to-explain-yourself-to-people-that-are/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Back in the really olden days, dinner was seldom a ceremonial event for U.S. families. Only the very wealthy had a separate dining room.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/back-in-the-really-olden-days-dinner-was-seldom-a-ceremonial-event/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [“Families can be together forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lds-church/families-can-be-together-forever/) [LDS Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lds-church/) > [I have a tremendous amount of respect for military families. To have to worry about your loved ones and still try and live a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashanti/i-have-a-tremendous-amount-of-respect-for-military-families-to-have/) [Ashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashanti/) > [Families are the compass that guide us. They are the inspiration to reach great heights, and our comfort when we occasionally falter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-henry/families-are-the-compass-that-guide-us-they-are-the-inspiration-to/) [Brad Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-henry/) > [Oh wow, you know what's wrong with all these families on TV? All these kids say stuff no kid would say. Stuff grown-ups want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macaulay-culkin/oh-wow-you-know-what-s-wrong-with-all-these-families-on-tv-all-these/) [Macaulay Culkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macaulay-culkin/) > [My parents were, had a marriage of passion, and the passion was about their religious beliefs. They were both immigrant families that - well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/my-parents-were-had-a-marriage-of-passion-and-the-passion-was-about/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [Since FDR's New Deal, corporations and wealthy families have been non-stop finding new ways to get tax breaks, deregulation and entitlements from the government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-mckay/since-fdr-s-new-deal-corporations-and-wealthy-families-have-been-non/) [Adam McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-mckay/) > [I look forward to the day that a lot of the folks that you all talk about and cover on this network will begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-look-forward-to-the-day-that-a-lot-of-the-folks-that-you-all-talk/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Nobody ever wants to see a guy get hurt, because this is how we feed our families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enzo-amore/nobody-ever-wants-to-see-a-guy-get-hurt-because-this-is-how-we-feed/) [Enzo Amore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enzo-amore/) > [As we progress and become more like the Savior, we can strengthen every group with whom we associate, including families and friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/as-we-progress-and-become-more-like-the-savior-we-can-strengthen/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [“Most families have increased the speed of their lives and the number of their activities gradually--even unconsciously--over time. They realize that there are costs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-john-payne/most-families-have-increased-the-speed-of-their-lives-and-the-number/) [Kim John Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-john-payne/) > [Strong families use the word "we" a lot, but "I" is never forgotten. Family members know they have the freedom to go off on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-brothers/strong-families-use-the-word-we-a-lot-but-i-is-never-forgotten-family/) [Joyce Brothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-brothers/) > [The last four years have not diluted the memory or weakened the resolve of our citizens. Four years later, our hearts still hurt for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-doolittle/the-last-four-years-have-not-diluted-the-memory-or-weakened-the/) [John Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-doolittle/) [Browse all 1,458 Families quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/families/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Talk to families in poverty and ask them what they need, instead of prescribing it for them. Ask what the barriers are. Ask what would help. 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