...However, asides from these reasons there are some individuals in society that have a family and children, but they make wrong choices life and even refuse help that is available to them. However, as we are not in their shoes, so we really do not know what events took place in their life and force them to become homeless but as human beings, it is important for us to understand this issue. By taking action to end this terrible situation the purpose of this essay is to embrace new and creative ways of helping to end this rapidly growing problem. For demographics and geographic, my focus is on homeless individuals, located in New York City. According to American Psychological Association, homelessness affects people of all ages, geographic areas, occupations, and ethnicities, but occurs disproportionately among people of color (APA, 2009). African-American and Latino are affected by this, making up to 89% out of all other race or ethnicity in New York...
Words: 881 - Pages: 4
...Homelessness in America Tonight, across America, as many as 3.5 million people will not have a safe place to go to sleep. The homeless will be sleeping out in the cold, on a park bench or in the gutter. The lucky ones may be sleeping in a shelter tonight. These so called shelters are sometimes even more dangerous because they are frequently over-crowded and understaffed. But the real question is, in the land of opportunity, where the typical family has more televisions than family members and an average of two cars, why are there so many citizens on the street, struggling to survive from day to day? How are so many people, fellow human beings, sleeping on sidewalks, begging for spare change, and digging through garbage cans just to find food to eat? While the general impression is that the homeless are primarily alcoholics and drug abusers, more than half the homeless are families with children. The vast majority of these have been thrust into homelessness by a life altering event or series of events that were unexpected and unplanned for. There are many reasons these unfortunate individuals are seen living on the streets of our cities. Homelessness is caused by tragic life occurrences like the loss of loved ones, job loss, domestic violence, and divorce. Other impairments such as depression, untreated mental illness, post-traumatic stress disorder, and physical disabilities are also responsible for a large portion of the homeless. Many factors push people into living on...
Words: 1012 - Pages: 5
...Homelessness in America Student’s Name Institutional Affiliation The Topic: Homelessness in America The problem of homelessness in America is a complex issue often vulnerable to the changing demographic dynamics, political shifts as well as seismic cultural events including the ongoing wars in most parts of the world. Policy makers have often debated most of the issues surrounding homelessness, right from the causes of homelessness, the population of the homeless to the possible solutions to the problem (Hodges, 2010). National studies indicate that Americans are at a high risk of becoming homeless. More than 30% of the low incomes earning Americans spend more than 50% of their earnings to paying rent (Surveys/Studies/Stats, 2012). The most common reasons for homelessness are emergency health problems, missed paychecks, and pending bills. However, most cases of homelessness are caused by poverty (Karger & Stoesz, 2010). Although policies to control homelessness have been implemented, there is a need for reforms and further amendments to state laws. Controversies Surrounding Homelessness in America A section of the people argues that it is their morally responsibility to assist the homeless people while others may claim that it is the choice of the people to remain homeless. Those who maintain that it is morally right to help the homeless individuals in the society cite the following critical issues: The Homeless Access to Health Insurance and Critical Medical...
Words: 952 - Pages: 4
...Homelessness in America Overview Homelessness in America is a particularly complex problem, vulnerable to changing political realities, demographic shifts, and seismic cultural events such as the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Researchers and policy advocates have debated nearly every facet of the phenomenon, from the number of homeless to the causal factors to solutions for homelessness (Hodges, 2010). Each year, more than 3 million people experience homelessness, including 1.3 million children. According to national studies, even more Americans are at risk of homelessness. The impact of homelessness on families and children is devastating. Millions of low-income American households pay more than 50 percent of their income on rent when estimates say the figure should be no more than 30 percent (Surveys/Studies/Stats, 2012). There are several situations that may lead to homelessness but some of the more common reasons are: a missed paycheck, a health emergency, or an unpaid bill. These will create a crisis, pushing people out of their homes and in to homelessness. Despite diverse causes, almost all forms of homelessness are tied to poverty (Karger & Stoesz, 2010). Although there are policies to govern the issue of homelessness, there is room for reform and amendments in the legislation. Definition The level of significance we ascribe to homelessness very much depends on how the term is defined. In conducting the first census of the homeless in 1933, sociologist...
Words: 2693 - Pages: 11
...Fight to End Homelessness? What has to change in the fight to end homelessness? The number of homeless in need is larger than the funds available to make a difference. People wanting to help are not up-to-date about how, where, and when they can help. Where funds should go is complicated for federal assistance determination. If one does get approved for assistance, they may have to wait six months before aid will arrive. One may ask what can they do help the homeless population? They can volunteer with donations and clothing drives, donate food to soup kitchens, and write to their senators with suggestions about the needs of the homeless. The donations may not be a large sum of money, but for someone that has no money it’s a lottery win (Targeted News Service, 2015). The many public and private non- profit agencies to benefit the homeless movement have the mission statement which is: Reduce Homelessness in America. Homelessness in America is being addressed by some of the following coalitions with overwhelming urgency. The National Alliance to end Homelessness in America (NAEH) provides data and research to policymakers in Washington (Targeted News Service, 2015). All established information along with the continuing research between national organizations follows the NAEH lead to end homelessness along with support of the determined mission to end homelessness in America (Targeted News Service, 2015). Agencies Involved with Ending Homelessness in America The following...
Words: 650 - Pages: 3
...Carla Hill Speech 108 Teacher – Ms. Margot Williams Homelessness in America To inform To inform the audience about the homeless crisis in America Homelessness in America I. Introduction Individuals nationwide are experiencing homelessness. Even the most educated people have joined the homeless. The major contributing factor of homelessness is the recession that our nation is experiencing. The country’s economical status is in a very critical state, causing numerous corporations and businesses to close. Our economical downturn based on documented statistics show there are high unemployment rates across the country. There are also other contributing factors that play a role in homelessness. II. Body The major reason for the homelessness in America is the recession. According to, The National Alliance to End Homelessness it is estimated that the recession will force another 1.5 million people into homelessness over the next two years. The second reason for the homelessness in America is high unemployment rates worldwide. This is a trickle down effect that has caused the recession. With the nation’s economy in such a critical state of downturn, numerous corporations and businesses around the world have either down-sized in the amount of employees on staff or closed altogether. There are other factors for homelessness in America: 1. Unaffordable housing is the result of individuals who have lost their jobs or simply...
Words: 485 - Pages: 2
...Samar Hakeem Reading & Writing Advanced level 11/24/2014 Homelessness and Mental Illnesses as a Mutual Relationship in the U.S. Incredulously, 2.3 to 3.5 million individuals exposure to homelessness in the United States during one year (Shaulis, Fairchild & Borchard, 2012). In 2013, at least 610, 042 people were compelled to use contingency housing or to experience homelessness in one night according to National Alliance to End Homelessness (2014). These numbers reveal the significance of this issue in the United States since the commencement of 1980s after the Vietnam War. Homelessness issue started to grow visibly after reducing the mental health services and the housing budgets under the pretext of spending more for urbanization (Shaulis,...
Words: 850 - Pages: 4
...PRISON CONDITIONS KIMBERLY C. STAHL 303: CRJ CORRECTIONS CURTIS TURNEY APRIL 12, 2013 When someone has committed a federal offense they are usually sent to prison, they must pay for the crimes they have committed. Prisons are meant to protect society from those who commit crimes and to harm innocent people. For most of the prisoners it’s a purpose to rehabilitate them and to help them with the skills they need to become a member of society. Not only are prison’s meant to rehabilitate but they are also there to punish those who have committed a crime. Not all prisoners can be rehabilitated; criminals are put into prisons not only to keep society safe but to also help those who can be rehabilitated. In this research paper I will show what the prisons do to help inmates to rehabilitate and become a member of society, I will also analyze the condition of the U.S. prisons, and to show which programs will help to reduce recidivism. The purpose of prisons is to punish someone who has committed a federal offense, upon being arrested a person who is being accused of a crime will be arraigned in front of a judge, after the judge looks at all the evidence, he/she has to decide what the penalty will be for the person being accused, the judge must look at all the evidence and the record (if they have one) of the person who is being accused, after weighing all the evidence and if they are a repeat offender the judge then hands down their sentencing, after doing...
Words: 1662 - Pages: 7
...Homelessness Around the U.S. and World In my book, Paper Things, by Jennifer Jacobson, the main character Ari, is homeless. This has a significant effect on both herself and other characters in the book. Homelessness is very common in the U.S. and other countries. If you are wondering what homelessness is, it means you don't have a permanent dwelling house or apartment (place to live). Typically when you are homeless, you ask for money from other people. According to the website, homeless.org.uk, it costs about $35,000 out of pocket to give to the homeless. When you are homeless, you normally have no money resulting in asking for it from others. Also, when you are homeless, there may be many attacks on it. Many people disagree with the fact that people are homeless. The website money.howstuffworks.org said over the last decade,over 600 attacks were made on homeless. The same article also told that you are more vulnerable for abuse....
Words: 504 - Pages: 3
...According to article, “Overview of Homelessness In America”, “ In the U.S., more than 3.5 million people experience homelessness each year.” Many people in our society are facing financial difficulties and are not able to pay rent or take care of other nececcities. Homelessness is a problem and it can happen to Americans every age, ethnicity, or background. 3.5 million people are homeless each year and don’t have resources and help to recover from difficulties in life. The majority of the people are not able to pay rent or bills with their low–paying jobs. Many people are also not able to pay rent with minimum wage jobs and soon become homeless because of this. Homelessness is a common issue in society and many factors contribute to homelessness such as lack of affordable housing, unemployment, and disabilities. The main cause of homelessness is the lack of affordable housing. Many are not able to pay their monthly rent because the amount is very high. Those who have jobs that don’t pay very well, have immense difficulty in paying their rent. According to the city officials, “Low-income households spend an average of 45 percent of their income on housing”(“Leading Cause of Homelessness in the United States” 1). If most of the money is used to pay rent, then there will not be enough money for food, clothing, and other basic...
Words: 1073 - Pages: 5
...Homelessness Homeless people are seen on the streets very often, especially in big cities. It is seen so often that people do not really take a minute to think about it. Is homelessness really a big issue in America? It does not affect the lives of fortunate people, so it does not matter to them, but the issue is bigger than what it seems. Imagine not having food, shelter, or new clothes to change into every day. What about sitting on the streets all day begging for money or even a bite of food, but instead people walk by not even paying attention? Does not sound found, does it? Well imagine that, but instead it was a child. A child who no longer has a home, family who can afford to take care of them, or any way of getting help. People do...
Words: 1010 - Pages: 5
...Homelessness in America is a huge issue in our nation today, with an array of causes and effects. There are many reasons why people become homeless.They are unable to afford their rent so they have no place to go but the streets. A complete solution to homelessness has yet to be found. But, activists have came up with many alternatives for example like affordable housing and homeless shelters. Alarmingly twenty-two percent of people in shelters were children. There are a lot more statistics like this that just wanna make you cringe. But, they are receiving shelter and food so that is a great alternative than sleeping on the streets. Although this isn't a complete solution to the issue of homelessness we are getting closer to a final solution. Homelessness has gradually become a...
Words: 860 - Pages: 4
...Criminalization of Homelessness in America SOC 331: Social Justice and Ethics April 6, 2015 Criminalization of Homelessness in America Every country faces homelessness in one form or another. Homelessness in America has been an ongoing problem over many decade. Homelessness is not racist or biased as anyone can find themselves without the financial means to provide adequate shelter and food. While there are many definitions for homelessness the most common is “a person who "lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence” (www.pbs.org). Those who are susceptible to homelessness consist of but not limited to children, teenagers, adult men and woman, veterans, mentally unstable and elderly people. Homelessness is not just the problem that the homeless person faces but the problem that we all as citizens of the United States face ethically, morally with the proper forms of justice. Throughout this paper we are asked to evaluate different perspective and responses in regards to the American problem of homelessness. In doing so virtue ethics, distributive, commutative and retributive justices will be used in evaluating the responses. ‘Virtue ethics is an ethical theory that evaluates the morality of the person doing a given act, rather than the act itself. Virtue ethics thus emphasizes that the various virtues and whether a person reflects those virtues in his or her actions are crucial to moral evaluation” (Mosser, 2010). The text book Social and Criminal Justice...
Words: 2246 - Pages: 9
...During the past decade, our society seem to believe that homelessness is a new Phenomenon caused by various reasons to include, lack of governmental aid, downward spiral of the economy, loss of jobs, and increase in substance abuse. However history proves homelessness is not a new era, society just failed to give the issue the needed attention. There are over 2 million men, women, and children that are currently homeless in America. Yearly 1 in 30 children in Kentucky experience homelessness, according to an article by Cholkshi, which explains a notable increases in the number of homeless families as well. Though it maybe unknown to others but there are a number of homeless persons in the Radcliff and Elizabethtown area. Kentucky Interagency Council on Homelessness home page states “People are considered homeless if they do not have access to safe, affordable and permanent places to live. People become homeless for a variety of reasons. Health problems, family conflicts, limited life choices and the lack of a support system are frequent causes of homelessness, lack of affordable housing and...
Words: 799 - Pages: 4
...As the homelessness rate in America continues to rise, it is important to consider the implications of it on society as a whole. Examining the problem of homelessness, there are many different viewpoints on ways to combat it. These include the idea of doing nothing, in which a homeless individual must provide for themselves. Another view is that adequate assistance is provided in order to assist those that are homeless. Lastly, in an opposing viewpoint to the first, some believe that there is not enough being done to help the homeless. The best response to this problem is to continue providing support as a foundation for homeless people to work off of. Addressing the first viewpoint, some believe that should be the responsibility...
Words: 438 - Pages: 2
