| Causes of Homelessness |
Homelessness is a major problem in the United States. In fact, there is an estimated 17 million people homeless in America right now. (Barnes, Baum)
Some people just can't find jobs. 8 million people in the United States are unemployed or are working for minimum wage. It is not just that the homeless aren't willing to work, but they can't find decent jobs that pay enough. (Criswell)
A person who works 87 hours a week for minimum wage can only afford about a 2-bedroom apartment, and it's using around 30% of their income (National Coalition for the Homeless) In fact, 44% of the homeless did paid work in the last month, but cannot keep steady jobs or are not getting paid enough (Aloha Inn Organization) Still, there are eight million people unemployed. Some of those who have had jobs but the business had economic problems and had to close down. The people of those businesses were left without jobs and may not have been able to find new ones. (Rozakis, pg. 22)
Sometimes women are in relationships where they are constantly battered by their husband or boyfriend. Some of these women depend on these relationships to give them shelter. This leads to their choice between this terrible relationship and homelessness. (National Coalition for the Homeless)
9% of the population gets divorced. This leaves one person from that unsuccessful marriage often without a home. More houses are needed, and more money is needed for that person to afford a home. (Criswell, pg. 27)
Another factor, is in the last few years the prices of homes have been raised. In 1980 the cost of a house took up about 30% of the family's salary. Now, with the cost raised, it takes about 50% of their income. This can be a huge problem for young married couples just getting started. Many times they are found without a home when they are trying to start a job and get their feet on the ground (Criswell, pg. 30)
Many times it is families out on the streets, or single mothers, trying to take care of their children. 80% of the divorced women and children do not get the child support money they need, and end up in poverty without a home. ( Criswell, pg. 28 )
25% of the homeless are single and have some sort of mental illness. They cannot take care of themselves and find a job, leaving them in poverty without a home. (National Coalition for the Homeless)
Children make up a huge population of the
homeless. Some of them are on the streets with their family. Most of
the homeless families' consist of a 20-year-old mom, and two children under the
age of six. One in four of those mothers grew up in foster care and did
not complete high school. They live on the streets without enough money to
buy a home (Criswell, pg. 57).
Some children, however, have run away from their home, or have parents who forced them out. There are 29,000 thousand people under the age of eighteen living in homeless shelters. Many times when a teenage girl becomes pregnant, her parents will force her out onto the streets, saying they will not take care of her anymore. She does not have the money for herself and child, and become poverty-stricken. and homeless (Criswell, pg. 58)
Being homeless isn't just having a story to tell of how they got there, or just not having a place to sleep at night. It means you don't know what the next day is going to bring, or where you are going to stay. The threats to the homeless are the major problem, not just how they got there.
|
Threats to the Homeless |
People who are living on the streets or in shelters without the security of their own home are in constant danger of the world around them. They are robbed off the streets or in shelters, and they never know who can be prowling the streets at night.
While living in a shelter, you have no idea who it is living with you. There are many cases of robberies of the few possessions you may have. The staff in shelters can also be a problem. They can be very considerate at times, but at others, the people living in the shelter feel as though they are not worth as much to the people running the place. One lady living in a shelter, right after being robbed, had said, "You're just a set of numbers to these people. You're not human. You're not supposed to have any feelings." (Criswell, pg. 81).
Homelessness is becoming a huge problem for children and teens. Most of the homeless children have witnessed domestic violence and poverty. They have lived with a small to no education, without a home, and without the security that a home can give them. As a result from this, many of them have emotional, social, and educational difficulties (Criswell, pg. 57).
Also, when asked, most of the kids in shelters have said they have thought of suicide. This depression and stress causes learning disabilities for these children and not getting a good education. This will most likely lead to them not being able to find a suitable job, and perhaps live in poverty for most, if not the rest of their lives (Criswell, pg. 61)
As one can see, being homeless is a major problem. What we need to focus on here in the United States is how to help the homeless people around us.
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Solutions to Homelessness |
There are many solutions to homelessness, all in which give a little assistance. The problem is that they do not actually get the people into a home of their own. There are hotlines and there are shelters, but they can only help to a certain point.
Shelters are the main solution to this growing problem, but they may not always have enough room, or may even charge a small fee that some people can't afford.
In larger cities, gymnasiums and old buildings are being turned into shelters and living quarters for the homeless. In 1993, $571 million was given to the homeless in New York City. But the amount given from the government to the homeless is getting smaller and smaller each year (Baum and Barnes).
Welfare from the government is one option, although usually it is not enough, and they are still stuck where they are. Plus, the jobs the government or shelters may find for them barely help if they do at all (Boland).
Shelters, however, may not always be the best idea, however. Some people find the staff to be very inconsiderate of them and their needs. They feel as though the staff is not treating them like regular people, but as though they are lower than them. One can see how they could be upset when people who have never had a taste of their type of life put them down. You must consider, however, that the staff at homeless shelters are usually very nice and are trying to be helpful and thoughtful to the homeless by helping them. *Criswell, pg. 81)
So shelters are not always the be the best way for people to go. Some go to soup kitchens that people in their local communities have started.
Children in local schools have started doing community service around their town. Many of those children work at places that serve the homeless. The goal is for when those children grow up with their own job and company, they may remember what they had seen and sponsor programs that help the homeless. (Hyde, pg. 83.)
Many people in the United States live in houses that are larger than they need to be. Many times, they have extra bedrooms or other rooms that they don't even use. The cost of putting on those extra rooms cold instead be money towards homes for the homeless.
If somebody does own a large home and does not use up all the space, they could put a small rent on that part of the house, or leave it open for the homeless. People like their homes, their space, and their privacy. But I think that if everyone made small compromises and gave a little more towards the homeless, they'd get more and more people into a decent home.
Still, if more people became involved, just around their community in their spare time, we could have more people off the streets and into a home of their own, hopefully with a job as well.