That's a clickbait headline, since "one paycheck from the street" implies that most people have no access to credit. In reality, the lowest income Americans (and developed nations in general) get free food, free housing, free cell phone, and loads more free stuff so they are never one paycheck from the street. The people with higher income than that have access to credit, and can easily tap credit cards, loans, home equity, and so on to cover unplanned expenses.
I'm not saying it's right, but the headline is clickbait that is flat out false. Also, I know from having had poor family members, when they suddenly have unexpected expenses, they just pick and choose what bills to pay. They know that the car can be easily repo'd, but a late rent payment will "only" have a $50 penalty, the city allows up to 3 months late payments on utilities before cutting them off, and they qualified for special assistance to keep their electricity turned on even without paying. Multiple food banks in the area provide food even without having to do SNAP or anything like that. No forms, just pick up a prepared survival box from the food bank with $75-100 in groceries in it.
The world would still be a better place if people didn't run finances in such a way, but since they do, it's worth at least being honest about how easily most people in the developed world easily cope with unexpected expenses, and almost never does it mean "Well, I guess I'm homeless now because of $500."
