Against all odds gives expression to the direct voices of people experiencing poverty. Thirty families speak of their experience of the day-to-day struggle associated with poverty. Parents and, importantly, children and young people tell us about how they manage their money and how they view their lives and the localities in which they live. Against all odds not only expands our understanding of the lived experience of poverty, it also points clearly to policy directions that are required to bring an end to poverty. There are two key policy issues in the study which need to be addressed. These are adequacy of income and provision of services. Without adequate income and high quality services, the struggle against poverty becomes a losing battle. The study is of interest to all those concerned about the wellbeing of families and children in Irish society during a time of unprecedented prosperity. It is of particular relevance in the light of current government policy concerns about child and family poverty, as set out in the revised National Anti-Poverty Strategy Building an Inclusive Society.