$17k is actually pretty good for a single person compared to many in this country. Try feeding four people on $20k a year. I know people who work three jobs (not all paid!) for $10k a year--they aren't homeless ONLY because they have a social safety net. Mind you, these are employable people in places without good jobs because of a general lack of remote work for no reason.

Nonetheless, the federal poverty line definition has no rational connection at all to what realistically constitutes a livable income. Just like your mother would be fucked if anything happened to her and she didn't have her social net (you, presumably).