The report presents a profile of poverty groups, based on characteristics of household heads, which could be useful in formulating and evaluating assistance programs for the poor. Rural households in the Coastal Plain of northeastern South Carolina were grouped into 5 mutually exclusive categories determined by the age, disability, and sex of the household head: (1) households with heads 65 years and older, (2) households with disabled heads less than 65 years old, (3) households with able-bodied male heads aged 45-64 years, (4) households with able-bodied male heads less than 45 years old, and (5) households with able-bodied female heads less than 65 years old. Resulting categories of the poor were examined to evaluate their needs and to determine their potential for income improvement through self-help programs of public assistance. One-half of the poor households, containing two-thirds of all income-deprived youth in the study area, were headed by able-bodied, working males. Assistance programs designed to lessen the impact of poverty among rural youth must be oriented to this target group. Most heads, particularly the younger ones, were willing to train, change jobs, and move from the area, if necessary, to get better pay. The remaining productive years of this group warrant public investment to improve skills and other income-producing resources. (Author/LS)