An Increase in the Number of Homeless Families - Essay Example

?Maria Antonieta Fernandez English 101 Section Hanlon Essay #3 14/04 Homelessness Homelessness can be defined as a of people without any permanent dwellings. The people who live in shelters or warning centers are also called homeless. The homeless people do not have a permanent place to spend their nights or they may have an inadequate space to live safely owing to multiple reasons. America has been facing a huge problem, homelessness. Large part of the population even millions of people, entire families, babies, veterans, and including the mature society have to deal with the fact that not every day they will have a decent moment to satisfy their primary needs, they are resigned by the idea of living without food, water or a roof over their heads. Not only people with all their physical and psychological capacities have it tough on the streets, also a whole bunch of people that are suffering of severe mental illness and physical incapacities have to confront the challenge that comes with the concrete jungle. Each one of the souls that are living on American’s streets are affected and at the same time they affect the environment and breaks the image of a well established society, this problem must be solved soon, and therefore should be addressed as a major crisis that is affecting our society. How significantly has increased the number of homeless families with children over the past decade? According to estimates in 2005, about 100 million people were without a permanent dwelling in the world while in America in 2009; more than 600,000 people were homeless. The number has increased significantly over the years. Housing does play a pivotal role in the growth of children and youth as well as the whole environment of the society. It has been observed that in a decade, the total number of the units for residence has declined up to at least 13 percent. It has also been reported by the children between 17 years of age that high cost of housing, crowded housing and physically derisory housing have been few of the factors for homelessness (Yumiko, 2009). Causes of homelessness: As we all know about the drastic increase in the homelessness in the world, we must know about the reasons that causes homelessness in the society. Because it is too difficult to cure a disease unless we know about the root causes. Homelessness is mushrooming significantly and it has engulfed many of the areas and it is badly affecting the overall image of the civilized society. It has been observed that homeless families are being found in almost every city of America. People live with their families in abandoned buildings, shelter homes and even in cars. People who have extended families and friends start living with them in order to avoid shelter less nights on the streets. Poverty is one of the most evident reasons for homelessness. Both are inextricably linked. Due to the unpredictable economic conditions of the country, the number is increasing of the poor people. Media reports seem to be exaggerated when they claim for the flourishing economy and increasing career opportunities for the people. With every approaching day people are becoming less able to pay for food, shelter, education and other necessities of life. The career opportunities are declining day by day for majority of the people which is forcing them to a condition of homelessness. On one side the overall wages are decreasing and on the other, the overall prices of the house and rent rates are kissing the skies. That’s why poverty has become one of the most likely reason of homelessness in the world overall (National Coalition for the Homeless, 2007). It has been observed that family homelessness has great association with the female headed houses. In addition to that, in case of unwed child rearing, homelessness becomes more evident. When single mothers have to raise their kids, they become unable to meet with all the economic requirements of the family which leads to the condition of shelter less nights. On one side the rents are so high and on the other side, single mothers have fewer source of income which makes them unable to fulfill the requirements of a house (David and Angela, n.d.). Unemployment is one of the most potential reasons for homelessness. The number of unemployed people has increased by 4 percent from 2009 to 2010 which is 14.3 million to 14.8 million between the year 2009 and 2010. This is why the purchasing power of the people has declined greatly which gave birth to the drastic increase in homelessness (Homelessness Research Institute, 2012). As the gaps between the affluent and the poor have increased, the buying power of low-income families has fallen. According to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, “income inequality in the United States has risen to historically high levels…and has been increasing for more than 30 years”. The income of the affluent Americans has almost got tripled. This is the reason that the buying capacity of the poor to run a household has significantly decreased and the number of homeless people is on rise with every passing day (The National Centre on Family Homelessness, n.d.). How to solve issue of homelessness: As in the recent years, homelessness has emerged as a grave concern for the whole American society, so it is important to discuss here that what steps are required to solve this grave issue from the society in order to keep it clean from encroachments on the streets. As President Obama said: “It is simply unacceptable for individuals, children, families and our nation’s Veterans to be faced with homelessness in this country” (United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, 2010). Increasing the supply of both subsidized and affordable market rental housing is a key solution to solving homelessness. If the government becomes able to increase the market rental housing at some affordable rates, it can be very helpful in eliminating the homelessness at extensive levels. The government is needed to increase the number of subsidized housing as the waiting list of the applicants for subsidized housing is much bigger than the original number of the subsidized housing created by the govt. Subsidized houses can be very progressive in eliminating the issue of homelessness from the society. This will surely take time but if this is implemented at higher level, it can bring positive results (United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, 2010). Present-day homelessness calls for universal and long term solutions: This is very much necessary that the quick and universal steps should be taken immediately in order to prevent the homelessness from the society. It is need of the hour to develop plans at community level and they should be implemented in collaboration with mayors of the state, law enforcements, consumers, businessmen and obviously state officials. The state is needed to provide an immediate shelter to those who live on the streets. It would be very helpful in lowering down the crowd on the streets right away and the image of a civilized society can be saved from tarnishing. 24 hour access to the shelters should be available for the homeless people as it will be an alternate solution to the temporary homeless situation (United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, 2012). Homeless Prevention: Homeless prevention has been seen one of the significant solution to eradication of homelessness by communities. These communities give instant cash to the people in difficult times in order to pay their rents and other expenses. These communities help the vulnerable people on the verge of homelessness. This approach should be applied by the public funders. Instead of working and investing on the eradication of homelessness, they should come up with the strategies to prevent homelessness as rightly said, nip the evil in the bud. By this way, the public funders and strategists can be successful in stopping the homelessness from mushrooming further (Martha, Carol and Ann, 2007). If permanent housing facilities are provided to the people living on the street, it is very much possible that even the people with chronic mental sickness can be brought to life back. People do not only need the housing but also the support system should be capable enough to keep them in a better position in their homes even if it is temporary. With the housing facilities, it is possible that the further homelessness can be averted and the number of people who seek public shelters can be minimized (Martha, 2001). Conclusion: This is a fact that a huge number of people are getting homeless each day. This is not only having bad impacts on the overall image of the society but it also shows the declining life standards of the people which is very threatening for the progress of a particular society. Homelessness is also badly affecting the overall social fabric. Environment is getting affected badly as when people spend nights on streets, they use it like home and the streets soon become dirty. It also gives birth to frustration in the society. So, this is high time that proper steps should be taken by the authorities in order to eradicate homelessness or as a very first step; they can prevent the further state of homelessness. Work Cited: “America’s youngest outcasts” The National Centre on Family Homelessness. n.d. 14 April. 2013. http://www.homelesschildrenamerica.org/documents/rc_summary_004.pdf David, Reingold and Angela, R. Fertig. The Characteristics and Causes of Homelessness among at Risk Families with Children in Twenty American Cities. n.d. 14 April. 2013. http://www.facsmail.org/childfamilypolicy/publications/homelessness.pdf “Federal strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness” United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. 2010. 14 April. 2013. http://www.ich.gov/PDF/OpeningDoors_2010_FSPPreventEndHomeless.pdf Martha, R. Burt. What Will it Take to End Homelessness? September. 2001. 14 April. 2013. http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/end_homelessness.pdf Martha, R. Burt, Carol, Lynn Pearson and Ann, Elizabeth Montgomery. Homelessness: Prevention, Strategies and Effectiveness. 2007. Nova: New York. http://books.google.com.pk/books?id=BqO8QUyWDwC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Homelessness&hl=en&sa=X&ei=KexpUbLdC4v8rAff1IDwCQ&ved=0CDUQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=Homelessness&f=false “Searching out solutions: Constructive alternatives to the criminalization of homelessness” United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. 2012. 14 April. 2013. http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrc/docs/ngos/USIConHomelessness_SearchingSolutions.pdf “The state of homelessness in America 2012” Homelessness Research Institute. January. 2012. 14 April. 2013. http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/MSNBC/Sections/NEWS/z-pdf archive/homeless.pdf “Why are people homeless?” National Coalition for the Homeless. June. 2007. 14 April. 2013. http://www.nationalhomeless.org/publications/facts/Why.pdf Yumiko, Aratani. “Homeless children and youth: Causes and consequences”. National Center for Children in Poverty. September. 2009. 14 April. 2013. Read More