Maria is a single mother of two living in San Francisco. She had her first child two weeks after graduating from high school and was unable to attend college due to lack of time and money. Dustin is married with one son. He and his wife live in a small town in Nebraska. Dustin, who also has only a high school education, is the sole breadwinner in his family. Both Maria and Dustin earn $18,000 per year. The U.S. poverty line for a family of three is $18,310. 

a. Which of these families would be considered poor by U.S. standards?

b. Which family (Maria's or Dustin's) is likely to feel the effects of poverty more strongly? Why?