Homeless in America

1632 Words4 Pages

Homeless in America

Homelessness affects millions of Americans each year, with approximately one third of this population suffering from severe mental disorders. In Las Cruces we have a number of homeless people that have a mental disorder. Las Cruces does not provide the homeless mentally ill with sufficient services. it is necessary to provide them with support, protection, treatment, and rehabilitation.

Although surveys have been conducted defending that mental illness does cause homelessness. There are several arguments that personal disabilities such as mental illness, alcoholism, drug abuse and physical or mental handicaps are not the primary causes of homelessness. While these conditions make people more vulnerable to homelessness, they maintain, the main causes of homelessness are structural economic factors that result in extreme poverty and a shortage of affordable housing.

A recurrent belief among politicians, journalists, social scientists, and the public is that homelessness is a consequence of personal disabilities. That is, homeless persons tend to suffer from chronic alcoholism or from chronic physical or mental disorders and these disabilities explain their homelessness. This is a myth with damaging consequences. Although some homeless persons suffer from alcoholism, most do not. Some suffer severe mental or emotional disturbances; most do not (Timmer 81). This is shy it is necessary to provide these people with the resources they need to survive in their every day life.

There is solid research evidence to indicate that no more than 10 to 15 percent estimate, higher figures which was limited to homeless persons who used health clinic services. These researchers have found the homeless who...

... middle of paper ...

...leeping bag. He wakes up in the morning, walks outside and stands in a daze all day long. But the one thing he does not forget is his ex-wife and children and he talks about how much he still loves and misses them. It is so sad to see one of your family members fading away mentally and physically.

It is very hard to see these human beings on the street moving from place to place and living from moment to moment not knowing where their next meal is coming form. To think that these people once belonged and that they are someone's son, daughter, father, mother, brother, sister or whatever family member they might be. But due to their mental illness and loss of memory they are homeless as well. We should count our blessings that we are mentally sane and that we have a roof over our head. We need to focus on having sufficient services for the Las Cruces area.

Open Document