Argumentative Essay On Homeless People

Is there anything you own, particularly anything expensive which the thought of living without sends a shiver down your spine? You’d almost certainly be lying if you said no. There are so many amazing (but pricey) things you can buy these days, like super advanced smartphones, consoles with every kind of game imaginable and life size statues of TV characters (should you be so inclined).

Homelessness in America could be considered a major issue considering that over five hundred thousand people are currently homeless in America.We see it everywhere yet it is not talked about.In the interest of finding a solution to homelessness in America we must learn the history behind it, take a look at all of it's contributors, and lastly see what exactly are we doing in order to avoid it as much as possible. Something must to be done to aid the situation before it spirals out of control.

In America’s finest city, vivid thoughts of beaches, sunshine, and excitement all come to mind. Pictures that do not come to mind are the streets that are lined with tents, trash bags full of clothes, old sleeping bags, and items that have value to the owner. All across America, homelessness perpetuates to expand and worsen. Homelessness has been a growing issue these past few years in San Diego and residents are finally speaking out about it. This is a concern that requires to be taken care in one way or another. Components of homelessness include lack of shelter, food, and medical care. One’s who suffer from homelessness are all different ages, races, and have a unique story of their own. It is time for the city of San Diego to find a solution to this matter of contention and pursue to put an end to homelessness.

Every night across America, roughly 32,000 people between the ages of 18 and 24 are homeless (Youth Homelessness). In the same night, hundreds of thousands of girls say goodnight to their fellow sorority sisters before crawling into their beds. As a Panhellenic community, University of Nebraska gives girls the opportunities to create friendships, form connections, and build strong women. We are called to be active members of society, and use our fortunate lives to change the world we live in. After visiting Community First! Village of Austin, Texas, it has become aware to me the severity of homelessness in America and how simple it can be to change it. Community First! not only builds tiny homes through donations for homeless people around Austin, but gives them a community to become a part of. Donating money to build a tiny house at Community First! Village would not only strengthen UNL’s Panhellenic Council’s generous reputation, but also support the movement to end homelessness through providing a home and community to a young outcasted individual.

In the United States, homeless people have become a problem phase, as many people view the homeless as a menace to our society. The New Orleans Mission, Volunteers of America, and Ozanam Inn are non-profit organizations that provide services to people who are homeless. The group of people that are included in the category of homeless people includes veterans, people who are mentally ill, families who have lost their job, single parents, or runaway children. The New Orleans Mission, Volunteers of America, and Ozanam Inn are working to address issues of homelessness through cooperations and education.

47,725 or about 8% of the homeless population are veterans and 50% of the homeless people are over 50 years old in the U.S. Homelessness is an unsatisfactory issue that we as humans do not see the importance of the help they need. In our community, we take things for granted and not worry about the importance of helping others. The unfortunate people living in the streets have passed through difficult times and appreciate small or big things. Homeless is a person without a home, and therefore typically living on the streets. Some homeless people have become abusive of drugs, alcohol, and other different type of drugs. Homelessness is a major problem in our society. Homelessness contaminates our city, makes our city look dirty, and it is priority to fix this problem.

Although most American citizens do not typically notice government programs in their daily lives, implemented policies have major effects on American citizens. It is estimated that around 1.35 million children suffer from homelessness due to their families living on the streets (Crook). With this massive housing conundrum, the United States government should increase funding for the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. Increased funding would decrease homelessness by lowering the crime rate, educating students, and improving American living conditions.

American people want to be greater, richer, and more powerful than everyone else. When one sees a homeless person sitting on the street, he may ask you for money to buy food. As ignorant as most Americans are today, we question will they really spend that money on food, but some of us are generous enough to give a donation anyway. Others would tell them to get a job. As I walk down Grace Street to get to class some days, I get asked by multiple homeless people if I could “help them out.” In Richmond, VA, Phil Riggan, did an interview with several of homeless people. He found out that they are just like the rest of us. Homeless people aren’t usually viewed as people; they’re commonly just known as “homeless”. They are viewed as “worthless, nuisances, waste of space, crazy, drug addicts, drunkards, criminals, liars, bums, and burdens of society” (Riggan 6). Phil’s study was to “prevent, reduce and end homelessness by facilitating creative solutions through the collaboration, coordination and cooperation of regional resources and services” (Riggan 8). Homeless people are still human. As we all need shelter, food, and emotional support, so do they. The Homeless Homes Project was started by Gregory Kloehn, an artist, that turned trash into mobile homes. The Homeless Homes Project was to diminish money’s use in building homes for the homeless population. The

Homelessness is a serious societal problem affecting our communities. Katel of Housing the Homeless says “about 1.5 million Americans use a shelter in a given year- and advocates for the homeless say that figure badly understates the problem.” Yet, society looks down at these people, not doing anything to help them. They are judged, criticized, and bombarded by false assumptions everywhere they go. I have heard people say “they are like that because they chose to” or “they are lazy and don't want to work.” This is not true in most cases. The reality is life can go wrong at any moment for anyone. For some people there is no one there to help them and their only option is living on the streets or a shelter.

People who are suffering from mental illness are more likely to become homeless than a mentally able person. Mental illness affects more than half of homeless adults, as reported by the 2010 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress. (Donovan, 27) Because of their homelessness, they are often not able to get the care and medicine that they need. People, regardless of socioeconomic status, should have good healthcare readily available to them. In the US Declaration of Independence, it states that every citizen has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. However, homeless citizens are being robbed of their right to life when they are unable to access healthcare, and be treated for their illnesses.

Homelessness is a serious problem in our society. Every night in our nation thousands of people are on the streets. This type of behavior is considered deviant because it does not reflect the norms and values of our society. In many cases the homeless people in our country are treated as total outcasts. Many of these people have severe mental disorders. Some are victims of an economy that has failed them. One may ask how such harsh situations exist in such an advanced society. With all the money and programs created to help people it seems ridiculous that this behavior exists. In a society where people have so much how is it possible that there are still people that have so little. The homeless are humans, no different than anyone else.

A few years ago in Nashville a homeless man named Steve Young sold a copy of homeless paper The Contributor to a man named Mike Dotson (Dotson). After this brief encounter Steve didn’t think he would ever see Mike again. When Mike showed up a few days later with a breakfast sandwich Steve was proven wrong (Dotson). Mike gave him the sandwich and with a joking smile said he had “licked the cheese off it for him” (Dotson). Although his joke may have been rather stupid it got Steve to laugh nonetheless. Mike had done more than just offer Steve food for his body he had also offered him friendship for his soul. Steve and Mike went on to be good friends and founded a homeless organization called Home Street Home Ministries in Nashville (Home Street Home Ministries). Home Street Home Ministries serves the physical and psychological needs of the Nashville homeless community (Home Street Home Ministries). They set an

Throughout New York or even the United States, there are many people who are homeless and without jobs to help them survive. Many mothers and fathers are struggling to keep their homes while others are already out in New York streets trying to seek help. Those who are already on the streets are seeking charity from others as the walk by them. And to stop this from ever happening there should be more shelters, jobs, and help/supporters.

Why is homelessness still an issue today? Well many people do not care about the homeless population because they have no money and nothing to offer. Many citizens see homeless people as not human but something less than that. Almost every corner of a city there is a homeless person, asking for money to make a living. Also homeless people believe that they are able to do nothing and ask for money but no that is also wrong.

One of the problems at hand that not only us, in the United States have but, all around the world in different countries have, is homeless people.