Homelessness Is Not An Issue Essay

Homelessness is an issue in American society today that affects anywhere from 800,000 to 3.5 million people. There are a substantial amount of people that are without shelter, food, or employment, and there are numerous other people affected by poverty and homelessness. People living in nearly every city in the United States are affected by homelessness due to the large amounts of homeless individuals living on the streets and begging for money, food, and other necessities. The issue of homelessness has been a constant problem since the conquering of the New World, and soup kitchens and homeless shelters have not been able to fully end homelessness. Especially today, with a lack of affordable housing and high unemployment rates, homelessness is prevalent.

Homelessness has become an evolving epidemic of our time, and the health implications associated with being homeless makes it that much worse. Homeless people are at major risk for premature death and a wide range of health problems such as HIV, skin blemishes, and much more. It is very difficult for homeless people to fix their health issues due to the difficulty of accessing health care possibly because of missing health cards, or simply because of the stigma placed on them when they enter a public facility. Whatever the problem may be that is forcing more people to become homeless, it must be solved, and quickly before our world turns into a travesty.

Homelessness is a major problem facing many cities. Some people are homeless because of unfortunate situations, and others are homeless by choice. Homelessness has been around since 1640. The cost of housing is on the rise and many become homeless because they that are not making enough money to afford the cost of housing. The cost of health care and insurance has risen dramatically over the past years. For families living low or middle incomes that can be devastating. Families or individuals that lack health insurance, a sudden illness, chronic disease or accident can be financially devastating. Many people don’t understand the problems homeless families are facing and most families are homeless because of finical situations or because

Homelessness is a growing epidemic across the country. This terrible misfortune has led to many unsuspecting people leading impoverished lifestyles, and facing the horrific and heart-wrenching tragedy of abandonment. The purpose of this essay is to not only persuade the readers to get involved in ending homelessness on local and national efforts, but to embrace new and creative ways of helping to end this rapidly growing problem, by taking action to end this catastrophic situation. Also, I will demonstrate the causes and effects of the homeless resorting to violence, by using comparison and contrast to examine the views and standpoints on helping the forgotten, so that we might end this calamity once and for all. In an increasingly

When you see the homeless what do you think about? Do you see them and feel disgust or are you someone who wonders how and why they are where they are, or maybe, you are one of the few who want to help and who are able to. In the U.S., more than 3.5 million people experience homelessness each year and that number is growing. They are families with little children, people who are trying to escape domestic violence, people with mental illness, veterans who have served our country, and many more. From what I read in Jonathan Kozol’s “Untouchables” city officials in various places are only coming up with short term solutions, that aren’t helping the homeless. City officials are just trying to get rid of the homeless from their cities or area. I think it’s time that more individuals and groups, really gets involved and figure out a way to help those who are already homeless, and stop future people from becoming homeless. We have to come up with ways to help the homeless readjust and get back into the world.

The Denver community is working to help alleviate this cycle of poverty from their community. It was great to see that even though this is a huge problem in Denver they are taking steps, however small in light of the current situation, to improve their community. On our trip, we worked with DenUM Urban Ministries which is one such place trying to educate the public and help give aid to those who are homeless. Through this program, our group had the opportunity to learn about homelessness through hands-on activities. Showing the logistics of what poverty looks like on a personal level in a families finances and the tough choices

Here in Tahoe, we are lucky enough to experience a great quality of life, and only a few have to face the horrible life of poverty and homelessness. However, nationwide, even right outside the basin, homelessness is a growing epidemic across the country. There are many ways one can become homeless; for the most part poverty. There are also different concentrations of homeless in different types of terrain, such as urban or suburban areas. Last, there is the ever- growing homeless population, and how much money it costs us for others to live in poverty. These are the questions we ask ourselves about homelessness, and the only way we can help is to know the facts about this lingering subject.

People drive or walk past a homeless person almost every day without thinking twice about the plight of that person or they may even unconsciously turn their heads the other way in disgust. Homelessness simply put, means without a home - therefore homelessness is an equal opportunity state that can happen to anyone. Even though we have seen some economic prosperity over the years, statistics show that the number of homeless remains very high. With this in mind, communities need to come together at the state, city, and individual level to come up with solutions to mitigate the spreading of this problem.

Remember the struggle and pain of waiting for that lunch bell to ring so that you can satisfy the stomach that has been tormenting you throughout the class period? And remember the times you were dying in the blazing hot heat or shivering in the piercing ice cold while waiting for a ride home? Now imagine going through the pain of hunger and the repeated torment by the elements all because you do not have a home. Unfortunately that has been the reality of homeless people throughout America. Homelessness has been a struggling issue for many nations of the world and there have been very little offered to solve this growing economic and social problem. In America, many consider themselves blessed and wish to help out those in need while there are others that choose to view see such people as worthless or just hopeless people who can not make something out of themselves. Consequently people are less likely to help out because they view homeless people as those who do not deserve help keeping many homeless Americans on the streets. In the article, Homeless Demands Local Solutions states that in the United States, “The number of homeless people across the country is as high as 3.5 million in any given year” (Lee and Finley). Rising population in homelessness calls for action from the government and the people because only then, will America be able to curb the rise in homelessness. Many misguided Americans see homelessness as a state of choices and not circumstance.

After the decion made by Ocean Springs' officals to remove our benches from the library, I took the liberty of talking to a few homeless people. Well, what the officals don't understand is that being homeless means dealing with the fact that no one can or is willing to help you find a means of shelter or food. It is constantly playing with the idea in your head that everyone around you is against you, at every waking moment of the day. It is a very dehumanizing, bleak outlook towards yourself, and at the other people around you. It is honestly no wonder that many turn to alchol or drugs to try and cope with this feeling. With that being said, let us remember that they are our neighbors, whether they have homes or not, and we are called to treat

Walking through a major city or metropolitan area there are a countless number of people who are wearing old and ripped clothing, carrying bags or pushing grocery carts full of junk, looking like they have not bathed in weeks and most of them holding signs begging for change just so they can eat something that day. Over the past eight years the amount of homeless individuals has continuously decreased throughout the country. Homelessness in America is a serious problem, especially with higher rates in unemployment happening. Americans

Coming from a smaller city like Denver, spending four days walking the uneven grounds of San Francisco was pretty overwhelming. The cultural dynamics are much different than from what I would consider “my city.” And unlike Denver the homeless is nothing like San Francisco. From my home in Highlands Ranch I see very little homeless people and by very little I mean I basically never see them. In the rare trip to Downtown Denver I am told to put my purse across my body and pull it to the front of my body “so it’s always in my sight.” In Denver, people think the homeless are our enemies but in the big city they are forgotten and left behind.

To live on the streets, not being able to find a job, and needing help only to be ignored. It’s cold at night and you wonder if you can find shelter, but the homeless shelters could also be unsafe for many. You wonder when your next meal is going to be and how you’re going to raise your child in this environment? You try to reach out only to be shut down constantly because of the appearance you have. People assume you live on the streets because you have problems to deal with such as drug or alcohol abuse. Communities should help the homeless people in their area because they are in a bad position in life to start all over again.

I have noticed, and have seen it in myself, how people tend to blame the circumstances and problems they find themselves in on others and on the world around them. I don't blame them, I did this myself. I would complain about the service I received at a store to the crowds and seemingly unending lines that found myself in. I would become frustrated because it seemed no matter where I went there was a problem, for example, there would be this one particular convenience store I would visit. It was a small store, you know the type that is connected to a gas station. It seemed that every time I went in to purchase something or to get gas there was an issue. Either there were a lot of people standing in line as if in a grocery store, or the

Every morning when I wake up, I ask myself, “Who are we as human beings if we ignore the suffering of others?”. My response to myself is always the same, “We would be lost souls tormented by our selfishness”. Which is why I take advantage of every opportunity that is giving to me to help others. I think we tend to forget that even the smallest gesture or helping hand, can make a huge difference in someone’s life. Take the expanding issues of homelessness and poverty for instance. At least once a day, we witness an individual or a family experiencing homelessness. In America alone, there are approximately 643,067 people experiencing homelessness. The statistics vary from state to state. Approximately 33,466 of those individuals live in the state of Florida. The city Orlando, resides 2,074 out of the 33,466 individuals.