Homelessness In America

Homelessness in the United States can be ended, not just maintained. Allot of cities now have plans to eradicate homelessness. Homelessness and housing instability are large issues that afflict a diverse demographic such as: Families, youth, veterans, and chronically homeless single male adults. Ending homelessness may require specialized solutions that are specific to individual needs. Factors like these make defeating homelessness a difficult task. Although solutions exist for some of the demographics, such as housing for chronically homeless adults, scaling up best practices remains a challenge. For other subpopulations, such as transitional aged youth, evidence-based interventions need to be developed. In this paper we argue that ending homelessness is a Grand Challenge that is big, important, and compelling—one that the profession of social work should be adopt. Meeting this challenge will require a focused, organized response from social work researchers, clinicians, and policymakers. Ending homelessness will require innovation and interdisciplinary or cross-sector collaboration. Key words: Housing First, Permanent Supportive Housing, rapid re-housing, prevention, poverty. The notion that homelessness in the United States can be ended, rather than managed (Mangano, 2002; National Alliance to End Homelessness, 2012), represents a fundamental shift in expectations from the 1980s and ’90s. Since the early 2000s, researchers, policymakers, advocates,

Homelessness has increasing become one of the most pressing and urgent social political problems of our time. It is argued that three of the most important policy issues are health, housing and income. Homelessness is defined as a situation in which an individual lacks a fixed, regular and adequate residence during the night. This definition excludes individuals in correctional facilities or those detained by law. The case is clearly depicted in urban communities, where thousands of people live on the streets or shelters. In rural areas the case of homelessness is less prevalent in that, homeless persons are likely to live with a relative or friends in

Homelessness is a problem that happens in many different countries around the world. Definitions of homelessness are defined in different meanings by different people. However, the Stewart B. McKinney Act defines a homeless person as “ one who lacks a fixed permanent nighttime residence or whose nighttime residence is a temporary shelter, welfare hotel, or any public or private place not designed as sleeping accommodations for human beings” (McNamara 1025). It is impossible to find out exactly the number of homeless; however, the researchers can do a study to estimate that number. Based on different statistics from different researchers, the homeless population in America has been increasing as “an alarming rate” (Markos and Lima).

I had a chance to observe the overnight emergency shelter staff and supervisor, Angelic Williams, for 3 nights, while volunteering at the Dorothy Day Center (DDC) in down town St. Paul, MN. During the day the facility is used for mental health, housing, and veteran services. They also offer meals, laundry and showers during the day. At night it becomes an emergency shelter giving 250 homeless men and women a warm meal and a warm, safe place to sleep from 8 pm to 6:30 am.

During the Great Depression, millions of Americans were unemployed which was a huge issue. Unemployment led to homelessness and being poor. Millions of people were unemployed and struggling to find any jobs (Hayes). As the Great Depression got worse and worse, the number of hiring jobs decreased and less jobs were available. Companies were “Firing and not hiring” so many Americans were homeless and unable to make money to support their struggling families (Hayes). The loss of jobs did an incredible amount of damage to the Americans living during this horrific time.

The purpose of this assignment is to research and explain the aspects of a particular social issue. I will begin by providing a brief history of the subject. I will elaborate on the causes and factors of those who are influenced. Additionally, I will explain the demographics and geographical locations in which the problem most commonly affects. In this assignment, I will further discuss a few of the operations that are in place to accommodate those in need of assistance. Finally, I will express a consideration that offers an alternative solution to ending or preventing the matter.

Homelessness is an issue in the United States. Individuals often become homeless for reasons such as; joblessness, underemployment, and enervation of unemployment benefits. People with families often do not earn enough income to support a family and provide adequate housing. Some people neglect to pay their rent, and as a result, he or she and possibly the entire family become homeless. In addition, people and families with barriers associated with medical issues, illicit drug use, and sexual/physical abuse may become homeless. The impact of multiple barriers on a person and/or family and lack of available resources to address these needs, is one of the many reasons why homelessness is such a serious issue within communities

According to reporter Angelo Vargas who wrote in Krgv News “Homeless Decrease Nationwide, Many Coming to the Valley”, he stated that many homeless people are coming down to the Valley to live. This can be proven as you see many homeless people roaming the streets every day. People such as Jessie Cutgrass and Gerardo Rico have fallen victim and said that that they are coming here to have a better life. Homelessness is increasing in the Valley and The Hidalgo County is the seventh poorest county in the State of Texas.

I have noticed people on Martin Luther King Parkway and Highway 365. In the bags, would be toiletries, snacks, socks, ready to eat meals, protein bars, bottled water, and ten-dollar gift cards to local food establishments. Enough to help them through at least one day. Another step, is to purchased blankets, pillows with plastic covering, jackets, sleeping bags from Goodwill, or buy when I see a sale and have those in my car to hand out as well. I would also like to start a local Facebook group and recruit volunteers to help me implement my plan. A barrier to implementing my plan associated with the project, is my limited mobility. I would never want to put myself in a situation where I could be easily harmed. I do not feel comfortable just throwing a bag out my window at someone, so distribution could only occur when I have a friend or family member with me. When I think about the homeless population, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs immediately comes to mind (McLeod, 2016). How can an individual help themselves if their basic physiological and safety needs are not met? They cannot. As one person, I may be unable to offer shelter, or security, but I can offer food and drink. Systemically, I can speak to my pastor and my future practicum sight about helping with my personal plan or the church will take this on as a long-term project as well. I also

Just by walking down the streets of Portland, it is obvious from the roadside tents, cardboard signs begging for spare change and shopping carts overflowing with possessions that the housing crisis in America is not going to resolve itself. For hundreds of years, homelessness has been a frowned upon and ignored issue by those who have never experienced it. Overlooking and ignoring homelessness has not done anything to help the growing issue, but allowed it to continue for even longer. In the article “Homelessness” on Opposing Viewpoints.com, it explains how the homeless face discrimination and treated as outcasts, “During the colonial period, homelessness was caused by varying economic and social factors; however, this condition was widely

All Muslims are not terrorist, as all terrorist aren’t Muslim. There are quite a few Muslims in this country. One thing that is great about this country, is that it was founded and built by immigrants. This country was built by people who came here with a dream, to have a better life. This is a country that was established on the moral foundation of being the land of opportunity. The land of milk and honey, where the streets are paved with gold. So many have come to America to find their golden goose. Many have succeeded in their adventures, and many have failed. Yet things have changed with the times, the people aren’t coming to have a better life. They are coming now to ruin our life and freedom as we know it.

Homelessness is not new to our nation, and it has greatly increased over the past ten years. Numerous numbers of people work to provide for their families or just for themselves. With the United States economy in the state or ruin, the little, if any, resources such as money, affordable housing along with the cost of utilizes and food there is no protection against homelessness. Low national un-employment levels do not mean that all working people are living above the poverty level.

Being a first generation immigrant to the United States I have seen poverty and homelessness more than the average american. I was born in the country of Macedonia, but i'm ethnically Albanian. The average wage for a worker without some type of post secondary education in Macedonia is about 200 euros a month. For those who have some type of secondary education the wages are slightly higher, ranging from 300 to 800 euros a month. The majority of the population makes around $1.33 per hour. This isn't a surprising fact considering the county's GDP of only 13 billion dollars. The majority of the land is impoverished, and jobs are strongly segregated based on ethnicity. The ethnic Macedonians control most of the high paying jobs due to government

Cities across the United States are struggling with the matter of homeless people who congregate in public areas. Homeless people, some of whom have serious mental problems or addictions, cannot get into government-provided housing due to long waiting lists or incarceration records. They also may not have consistent access to soup kitchens or food pantries, because they are without transportation, or do not meet the agencies guidelines. As a result, the homeless congregate in public areas to panhandle for food and money. Non-profits or charities hand out meals in parks to help combat this issue. This can cause parks to become littered, leading them to be uninviting, which can diminish surrounding house values. In an endeavor to remove the homeless

Imagine if you had to come to school with the same clothes every day. Your hair not combed, teeth not brushed, and you haven’t showered in weeks. This is happening to people everyday, all around us. The poverty rate in 2014 for chil­dren under age 18 was 21.1%, which is the category that teens fall under. Teens are affected a great deal by poverty because they sometimes have to find work at a young age. They have to support their family because they are seen as an adult once they become a teen. Teens living in poverty at a young age might grow up and do bad things because they weren’t raised in a good environment.