Homelessness can be defined as the temporary condition that people fall into whenever they cannot afford to pay for a place to live, or when their current home is unsafe or unstable (Homelessness Defined. 2009, October 19). Homelessness can also be described as a state of vulnerability because homeless people are exposed to health risks, violence, and harassment by the police; exposure to the elements and limited privacy (Homelessness Defined. 2009, October 19). In America, more than 3.5 million people experience homelessness at some point in their lives (Overview of Homelessness in America. n.d.). There are four main groups of people that the homeless can be separated into. These groups are separated into families, youth, veterans, and the …show more content…
First off, being homeless is bad on an individual’s health. People who are homeless are 3-4 times more likely to die than someone who is not homeless. Also, being homeless reduces your life expectancy by a total of 25 years. (Kalyanaraman, N. 2012). This is because the homeless are more likely to carry bacteria and disease because of their lack of hygiene. Not only does this create problems for the homeless people themselves, but this also creates problems for people in society. This is because bacteria and disease are more likely to be spread throughout society by the homeless (Kalyanaraman, N. 2012). Additionally, crime is a problem among the homeless. A fifth of homeless people have committed a crime in order to stay the night or several nights in jail. Also, around 30 percent of homeless people admitted to committing crimes, such as petty theft from convenient stores. Lastly, the homeless are susceptible to violence, metal illnesses, and addiction. Over 22 percent of homeless people are victims of violence by other homeless people, police, or people just passing by (Homelessness Defined. 2009, October 19). Over 22 percent of the homeless suffer from mental illnesses and this puts others at risk as well as themselves. Finally, the homeless are more likely to become addicted to drugs and alcohol due to depression and this also puts themselves and others at risk (Homelessness Defined. 2009, October …show more content…
We served chicken and rice, green beans, and mashed potatoes. I spent 4 hours serving and around 80 people came through during the period I served. Tables were set up for the homeless to enjoy their meals and bathrooms were provided so that the homeless could clean up a bit in privacy. Also, a counselor was there for the homeless and he was there in order to speak to the homeless about ways to get their lives back on track. A preacher was also in sight and he was there if anyone wanted to talk about God and getting saved. As I served, I saw various groups come through, which included families with young children, individuals in their twenties and thirties, veterans, and the elderly. Almost all of the individuals looked somewhat scruffy, some more than others, and this was due to the conditions of living outside and having poor hygiene. Also, most of the individuals that came through looked tired due to the lack of sleep and poor sleeping locations. Additionally, I noticed that some of the individuals had bruises and scratches on their arms and legs. I could tell the chronically homeless suffered from poor hygiene the most, like rotting teeth. Everyone that came through was extremely grateful and every drop of food was eaten. One family with two young children and two elderly men ended up staying the night that night. I felt that this was a great experience and
Annotated Bibliography: “Homelessness and the selfish society”. “Homelessness, Citizenship, and Identity : The Uncanniness of Late Modernity” Arnold, Kathleen R. 2004 Kathleen’s book brings up many detailed facts about how homelessness is a never-ending situation due to mental illness, poverty, social structure and political parties. She discusses how many of society groups illegal immigrants, mentally ill, jobless and many other categories under the homeless category.
In the United States, homelessness has remained a constant presence in all major cities. For example, in New York City, it is comprised of alcoholics, drug addicts, and other people (“American History”). It has largely moved into hidden places such as unused subway tunnels or under bridges. Whether or not we experience it ourselves, homelessness impacts all of us. Homelessness describes all normal life crisis. There is a difference between people who experience these challenges and become homeless and people who face them and do not use the support systems that they have in place.
Homelessness is one of the biggest issues society (Unites States) faces today. Homelessness is caused by lack of affordable housing, economic situations and decline in federal funding for low income families and the mentally ill. A homeless person is defined as an individual who lacks housing (without regard to whether the individual is a member of a family) including an individual whose primary residence during the night is a supervised public or private (shelters) facility that provides temporary living accommodations and an individual who is a resident in transitional housing. This definition of housing is used by the U.S Department of Healt...
“3.5 million people will experience homelessness in a given year,”(Los Angeles Homeless Services). This shocking number is one of the sad truths in today’s society. Homelessness is caused by a wide range of things including financial issues. The life of a homeless person is hard and comes with set-backs and the constant need to overcome them. Homeless people go through many challenges in surviving without a home. They can suffer from health issues, hunger, and poor emotional well-being.
There are two types of homelessness, chronic and situational. A chronically homeless person is someone who has been homeless for over a long period of time. Stereotypically speaking, chronically homeless people usually are drug addicts or they have some type of mental health issue. The actual case in that theory is that: a vast majority of the chronically homeless suffer from serious mental illnesses (like schizophrenia), severe substance addiction, or a physical disability. People with mental health illnesses cannot help being homeless. Most lose their jobs due to their illness, causing them to not be able to work or to get a job, eventually leading them to not be financially capable to take care of themselves. This contributes to their
Homelessness can happen to anyone unexpectedly. Many poor people are at the risk of homelessness. The cost of living and trying to find affordable housing can be very difficult. Many who are homeless are in poverty, have a mental illness, or addictions. Homelessness happens from personal, as well as structural factors. Many aren’t able to make enough for rent, as well as, utilities, food, and other expenses each month. More than 6 million Americans pay more than half of their income towards rent (Reamer, 1989). The trend is once someone becomes homeless, it is likely they will be homeless repeatedly. To end homelessness, affordable housing will have to be created because it is peoples largest single expenditure (Anderson, 2013).
The National Alliance to End Homelessness identified under 600,000 people who are homeless in the nation, in the past year. “This translates to a national rate of homelessness of fewer than 18 homeless persons out of every 10,000 persons in the general public on a single night “(National Alliance,
Typically, people have the impressions that homeless people are sloppy, lazy, and irresponsible; however, the truth may be shocked because there are many people who have jobs and non-habitual to drug or alcoholics still remain homeless. ¡§It is a tragic aspect of our culture that homeless people, in addition to suffering from the hardship of their condition, are subjected to alienation and discrimination by mainstream society. It is even more tragic that alienation and discrimination often spring from incorrect myths and stereotypes which surround homelessness.¡¨(The National Law Center) Homelessness results from a complex set of circumstances that require people to choose between food, shelter, and other basic needs. Once the choices are limited which means people can no longer obtain what they need often result in hom...
The many causes of the homelessness issue has arisen from global conflict, unemployment increase, education tuition costs rising, and the increase of poverty. Homelessness is affecting all ages, ethnicities, and religions striking in both urban and rural communities. “Just last year, the national poverty rate rose to include 13.2% of the population. 1 in 7 people were at risk of suffering from hunger in the United States. In addition, 3.5 million people were forced to sleep in parks, under bridges, in shelters or cars.”
Many people debate on weather homeless people should receive guidance or just be abandoned. Do homeless people deserve our service and to be supported, or are they just lazy individuals trying to take advantage of people? Homelessness is a growing dispute in cities. It has became an extensive problem for the community. Homelessness can not and should not be ignored. The number of homeless people in the United States is quickly growing. It seems like no one cares to help them. Even our heroes like police officers show no sympathy towards the homeless. “Homeless people appeared on the streets of Bucharest in 1990. Since then, their number and the problems created by this phenomenon have steadily increased in all major
The police face many different issues while out on patrol every day. One issue is that of the homeless. In many cities, homelessness has been criminalized, but we, as a society, have to question if this is the right thing to do. Should people who have the misfortune of being homeless be punished further?
The population of Los Angeles continues to grow each day because people perceive that the opportunities will improve their economic and social well-being. Most of them get good jobs manufacturing, business and the government giving them the ability to provide for themselves and their children. Those who are not lucky enough do not realise their goals and depend on the government and the society for basic needs. The effort of the city and the government to house the homeless cannot take the pressure of the rising number of the homeless without the support of the society. Los Angeles in the United State’s largest urban and has the highest number of homeless people making the task of housing its population next to impossible without participation
Homelessness is descriptive condition of someone without a permanent or regular dwelling. Homeless people most often are not in a position to acquire as well as maintain a safe, regular, and adequate housing. Being that one of the most fundamental human needs is shelter, it is important and health for every human to at least acquire one. Unfortunately, it is becoming rather a difficulty to own a home in the current century given the economic recessions frequently occurring in almost globally. Although the legal definitions for homelessness may vary from country to country, the central idea includes people whose primary nighttime residence could be a homeless shelter, a domestic violence shelter, cardboard boxes or ad hoc housing circumstances. They could also be people who take shelter at night in a private or public place that is not primarily designed or suitable for use as a regular sleeping housing for humans.
On a normal of our everyday life, we find ourselves going to work or heading somewhere to meet up with a friend. While on the way there we pass someone that we don’t know sitting down on the ground alongside with him is a cart from a store filled with old clothes that either found or got from someone, some trash, maybe something small to eat to help with his hungry stomach growling throughout the day. You wonder how he got themselves into a position like that? Yet sometimes we know how he got there, although, we don’t always know someone else’s story. You leave some money by his foot to help get himself somewhere for a short time. Homelessness has increased over the years, from 1990s up until now. I believe that we can help these get back into a better environment for their life with the help of local shelters, food banks, donations from churches and schools, and many more things we can do in Licking County.
I always see a homeless person. Whether on the streets, an alley or even the subway. You’ll always see one every time you visit. I get to help one homeless person one time while I was staying in the city for 3 days. It was 12:30 am and I was about to head back to the hotel, but I was thirsty, so I went to a convenience store near, when I saw a girl sitting outside a convenience store. She looks young, probably a young adult. I was thinking, maybe that girl hadn’t eaten anything, and if maybe I could grab her some food. I went inside the store, the only thing I need to buy is a bottle of water, but I ended up buying sandwiches, fruits and a two bottles of water. I took 1 bottle of water out and give the rest of the bag to her. She was smiling and said “thank you”. My response is “you’re welcome” and smiled back. Helping the homeless is one of the little things that makes me happy. It might a small thing for me, but if I put it on their perspective, it is something very