"For years poverty was something I was ashamed of and kept secret,"

I don't think one needs to be 'in poverty' to feel ashamed of failing the affluence worthiness test. When I was in school (latter years of Juniors), one of the childrens favourite games was "What have you got?"
Not having a swimming pool or pony or even a microwave, I failed the worthiness test and of course was a "Pikey" or "Gyppo". Never did get must of a taste for "aspirational" thing since.