Exploring Homelessness in U.S - Essay Example

The project provides insight into how difficult it is to live on the street, the various stereotypes people attach to the homeless and therefore do not help them and why children as young as six years old are getting homeless in a first world country like United States of America. Lastly, the project provides insight into what could possibly be done to reduce the incidence of homelessness in America and create it a welfare state. Introduction: It has been estimated by the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty that on any given day, around 750,000 people are stranded homeless in America (John M Quigly).

Despite United States economic surge and it being a super power, the incidence of homelessness has increased since 1980 (Richard B Freeman). According to a report published in 2000 of the US Conference of Mayors, more than 40 percent of the homeless comprised of single men and more than 30 % comprised of children under the age of 18 (John M Quigly). With such a large number of homeless people, it has been estimated that nearly 250,000 shelter space is available for the homeless, which ultimately leaves approximately 500,000 people without shelter.

The major reason for homelessness in families is unemployment, poverty, lack of affordable housing and excessive rents. For single homeless people, it has been found out that they either suffer from some mental illness or they use drugs. (Lendmen) Despite numerous efforts by the State to reduce the incidence of homelessness or help the homeless by providing shelter, the problem is persistent. Most people start using drugs after becoming homeless, they steal, and they also suffer from diseases including HIV.

The plight of the homeless increases due to the stereotype created for the homeless by our community. People are never ready to help the homeless, never provide them any assistance such as food, clothing and shelter, never give them money and instead leave all on the State to take care of them. Methodology: In order to wholly perform my assignment, I thought of leaving the house with my luggage from morning 5 am till night 2 am. I decided this amount of time would be sufficient to get into the theme of the character and to feel what it is like living and being on the street.

I packed up my luggage which consisted of clothes and a pair of shoes only. I did not take any other accessory and also left my mobile phone at home, so as to know what it is like being in poverty when you cannot even call anyone. I took a $ 20 note with me, so that I can use it in instance of emergency. It was somewhat of a terrifying experience for me as I had never gone out of home without permission of my parents, and I also decided to use the bus to travel to the nearest park in New York City.

As it was hot, so I decided to take summer clothes with me and a bottle of water. I decided that I would spend time in the park, where I had previously seen a lot of people lying and stranded in the night and also during the day. Experimental Observations: I decided to go to the Tompkins Square Park, east of Manhattan in New York. I had a bag containing my clothes and it was heavy. At first, I did not feel that it would bother me much, but I had to walk two kilometers to the park and the bag started to feel heavy on my shoulders.

I was carrying it with not much ease and few people were glancing at my face which was getting nervous, partly due to uneasiness of the heavy load on my shoulders and partly due to the anxiety of