Steps 1 and 2:
This tab contains sources of general information. To get an idea of the topics and issues surrounding poverty in America, read encyclopedia entires, Issues and Controversies Databases, Census Information, etc. What topics are interesting to you?
United States Census Bureau on Poverty http://www.census.gov/topics/income-poverty/poverty.html
National Poverty Center from University of Michigan http://www.npc.umich.edu/poverty/