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Causes and effects of homelessness
Reasons for people to become homeless
Causes and effects of homelessness
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In Washington we have an ever growing problem with homelessness. The mistreatment of vulnerable people by service providers sometimes becomes a barrier to receiving the help needed to retain their housing or recover from an unexpected financial challenge. To solve homelessness, society needs to address the structural oppression and policy failures that contribute to people becoming homeless. Programs designed to prevent homelessness are less costly than the cost of maintaining the homeless. Homelessness is a preventable condition created by systemic oppression and long-standing discrimination.
Watching the growth of “The Jungle” in Seattle over the years, followed by the sudden displacement of a long standing residential zone for the homeless,
“ So dangerous is this city’s biggest homeless camp, called the Jungle — three ragged miles stitched along the underbelly of Interstate 5 — that if a fire broke out there today, firefighters would not be allowed in without an armed police escort.”(Johnson, 2016) “The police and Fire Department crews have responded to trouble in the camp more than 820 times in the last five years, including 70 violent incidents, 500 emergency medical calls and 250 fires.”(Johnson, 2016) The cost of medical care and crime associated with being homeless far outweighs the cost to provide an adequate housing program for those suffering from homelessness. “A study of more than 10 000 homeless individuals in Los Angeles County found that those placed in supportive housing (1000 of the total) cost the public $605 each per month, compared with $2897 each for similar individuals who were not in such a program, according to a 2011 report from the USICH.”( Kuehn, 2012) Much of the cost of homelessness is in the form of the impact of non-sanitary conditions on the environment, and dangers to society in the form of fires, and the preventable spread of disease. (Johnson, 2016) So why is it that a country as wealthy and resource rich allow people to remain homeless? Reflecting on this study shows sufficient evidence that it is not the financial burden that prevents society from resolving the homeless problem, rather it is institutionalized discrimination that continues the cycle of homelessness supported by chants of “nobody helped me when I needed help” that supports the ideals of differential citizenship and the undeserving
As per the State Housing Authority, the issue and trend of homelessness has changed particularly throughout the most recent three decades. Public homelessness first turned into an issue in the 1970's and now it is normal to see individuals congregating before sanctuaries and thinking about park seats. Soup kitchens are generally stuffed to limit. Safe houses have multiplied their ability since 1993 and they dismiss individuals consistently because of absence of cots (Kenyon 1991). During 1987, Congress passed the Stewart B. Mckinney Homeless Ass...
Homelessness in the United States has been an important subject that the government needs to turn its attention to. There has been announced in the news that the number of the homeless people in many major cities in the United States has been increasing enormously. According to United States Interagency Council on Homelessness reported that there was an estimation of 83,170 individuals have experienced chronic homelessness on the streets of the United States’ streets and shelters on only a single night of January 2015, which is a small decrease of only 1% from the previous year (People Experiencing Chronic Homelessness, n.d.). The United States must consider this subject that most of the people underestimate it and not pay attention
Although most people know what homelessness is and it occurs in most societies, it is important to define because the forces of displacement vary greatly, along with the arrangement and meaning of the resulting transient state. The Stewart B McKinney Homeless Assistance Act of 1987 defined a homeless person as “an individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence or a person who resides in a shelter, welfare hotel, transitional program or place not ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation, such as streets, cars, movie theaters, abandoned buildings, etc.” Resent surveys conducted in the U.S. have confirmed that the homeless population in America is extremely diverse and includes representatives from all segments of society, including: the old and young, men and women, single people and families, city dwellers and rural residents, whites and people of color, employed and unemployed, able workers and people with serious health problems. The diversity among people that are homeless reflects how difficult it is to generalize the causes of homelessness and the needs of homeless people. Robert Rosenheck M.D., the author of Special Populations of Homeless Americans, explains the importance of studying homelessness based on subgroups, “each subgroup [of homeless people] has unique service needs and identifying these needs is critical for program planning and design.” Despite these diversities, homelessness is a devastating situation for all that experience it. Not only have homeless people lost their dwelling, but they have also lost their safety, privacy, control, and domestic comfort.
Homelessness is a real serious health issue all over the world that must be addressed. A lot of people in a public frequently misunderstand the cause of homelessness. Remarks regarding homeless people such as “they need to just get a job” or “go to school” are normally used liberally by members of society because they neglect to look at the complete issue. Homelessness does not discriminate. Individuals that have previously experience or may experience being homeless can be from different regions, have different cultural backgrounds, ages, and could be of any gender. Minorities seem to be mostly affected by homelessness. A study done in 2012 found that the homeless population is consisted of 39% non-Hispanic Whites, 42% African-Americans, 13% Hispanic, 4% Native-American, and 2% Asian (Now on PBS, 2012). The End Homelessness website provides the following statistics:
This great nation of awesome power and abundant resources is losing the battle against homelessness. The casualties can be seen on the street corners of every city in American holding an ?I will work for food? sign. Homeless shelters and rescue missions are at full capacity. There is no room at the inn for the nation?s indigent. Anyone who has studied this issue understands that homelessness is a complex problem. Communities continue to struggle with this socio-economic problem while attempting to understand its causes and implement solutions. The public and private sectors of this country are making a difference in the lives of the homeless by addressing the issues of housing, poverty and education.
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...
...those who live in poverty, those who have insufficient economic resources, those who lack affordable housing, who have health issues, and those who face unjust racial bias (criminal justice system). We also looked at the domestic circumstances among the homeless and how minorities are doing when it comes to education. Unless these racial disparities and inequalities are addressed in every level, including employment, housing, health, criminal justice, mental health, domestic violence, and as well as other disparities that exist in this society are addressed there would continuously be a higher number of minorities that are homeless in New York City. There are many more other factors that lead to homelessness besides those that are mentioned above, but for this research, two factors will be examined; insufficient economic resources and lack of affordable housing.
...is to understand the factors that lead people into homelessness, that keep them homeless, and how they can recover from homelessness. Advocates for the homeless have proposed policies range from taking preventative measures, such as making housing and health care affordable, to policies that deal with individuals that are already homeless, such as rapid rehousing and redefining what it means to be homeless. Although many of the experts disagree on how the homeless epidemic should be handled, many acknowledge that the federal government plays an inexpendable role in helping the homeless. Homelessness is, obviously, a complex issue, but like all difficult issues it must be undertaken. It has become clear that homelessness is not something that will eradicate itself given time, homelessness will continue to grow and evolve unless an outside force stops it in its tracks.
At any given time, approximately 600,000 homeless survive at the front door of America. They are sleeping in parks, living in cardboard boxes, sitting on street corners, and resting under bridges. Terrible hunger gnaws at their stomachs as they search for food. Society labels the homeless as useless and worthless, but they are not. They are children, grandmothers, grandfathers, mothers, and fathers that need a place to sleep, eat, and live. What does society do to help? Nothing. Society hurries home from work, shopping, and leisure, worrying about who will win the next football game. Society is not worried about where their next meal will come from, where they will sleep, or where they will be tomorrow. Although it is difficult for society not to feel discomfort at seeing homeless people, it is the homeless who pay for the way people feel about them. Alienation of the homeless in America is a direct result of injustice, health issues, and societal attitudes; however, solutions are available to society as they are obligated to all of their citizenry, including the homeless.
“Homeless is more than being without a home. It is tied into education needs, food, security; health issues both mental and physical, employment issues, etc. Don’t forget the whole picture.” (“Boxed In” 2005 pg. 108)
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?
Homelessness has become a serious problem in today’s society. Despite the organizations that help multitudes of homeless people, homelessness is continually increasing. In recent years, America’s culture has been changing due to economic, political, and social issues. These issues have caused a lot of stress on America resulting in abject poverty in several cities. Poverty is not nationwide, but if dealt with lightly, the affects can be catastrophic. Homelessness is increasing more than ever, and research proves that changing culture contributes to rising amount of homelessness.
One of the areas of concern for social service providers, government agencies and society in general is homelessness in the United States. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, in January 2013 they found that 633,782 people all across the U.S were homeless. During the overall count, 62,619 veterans were found to be homeless throughout the nation.
Countless throughout the streets of Jackson, MS there are homeless people asking for food, money, etc. and some people aid them and others walk away. However, does anyone ever see the other side of the equation? Driving down Gallatin St. one night I saw firsthand the “other side”. Because of this, the issue that my research will cover is homelessness. Homelessness is defined as a state in which individuals lack a fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence. Poverty, lack of affordable housing, declining wages, lost jobs, the economy, foreclosure, decreased assistance programs, domestic violence, substance abuse, mental illness, single parenthood, etc. are some of the causes of homelessness in America. Some of the proposed solutions are: affordable housing and homeless prevention programs. However, there needs to be less energy focused on providing temporary housing for those who are homeless, and more focus on providing permanent, affordable housing. Homelessness is an issue that should concern all of us. With a decrease in this situation it would clear up the amount of people walking around on the streets and everyone would feel more comfortable traveling at night. If someone is homeless, it is a common belief that they are more inclined to criminal activity; therefore less homelessness could equal less crime. Homelessness is not discriminatory and can happen to anyone at any time.
While the average person may be able to grasp the concept of vagrancy, it is fair to say that the concept of homelessness is far more complex and cannot be as easily defined. The stereotypical image of homeless people is of those who are sleeping rough on the streets, however this is only one part of the problem. The Housing Act 1988 provided a much criticized legal definition of homelessness, which according to ‘Focus Ireland’ should be more inclusive and detailed. Focus Ireland suggests the homeless community can be split into three groups, the ‘visible homeless’, ‘hidden homeless’ and ‘at risk of homelessness’ The ‘visible homeless’ can be described as people who are sleeping rough and those who are accommodated in emergency shelters (hostels), or private emergency accommodation (bed & breakfasts). The ‘hidden homeless’ are those that are reluctantly sharing with family and friends (sofa surfers), squatters, and individuals/families living in substandard inadequate housing. ‘Focus Ireland’ also highlights that those who are ‘at risk of homelessness’ already have accommodation but could become homeless due to economic difficulties, increases in rent, insecure tenure, and leaving state care (Focus Ireland 2014).