The poverty threshold, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the United States Census Bureau, is $14,097 for one person under the age of 65. Average monthly rent (per World Population Review) paid in the United States is currently $1,326. The lowest average rent is in West Virginia, at $732. The highest average rent is in Hawaii, at $1,651. This means that people in the US are paying between $8,784 at the lowest, and $19,812 at the highest, an average of $15,912, every year just for a roof over their heads. I think it might be time to update the poverty threshold. I'd be willing to bet that a lot more people are living in poverty than the threshold suggest, if I weren't broke.