Homelessness - Research Paper Example

Homelessness is a serious issue across the globe as it affects numerous numbers of people. According to the National Coalition for the Homeless (2007), the number of homeless people has continually increased in the United States since early 1980s with a particular proliferation seen among women and families. In the year 1984, for instance, a survey of the homeless people indicated that New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles led the pack concerning cities having the highest rates of homeless individuals.

The gap between the number of affordable housing units in the US and demand for housing has caused a housing imbalance; consequently, this has led to housing problems to poor people. According to National Coalition for the Homeless (2007), over 2.2 million affordable housing units disappeared from the market between the years 1973 and 1993. The disappearance was as a result of the houses either being converted to condominiums and as a result became very expensive beyond the reach of many. In the year 1991 and 1995, the house rents shot up again by 25% and despite the economy growing National Coalition for the Homeless (2007) says the housing gap increased by 1 million.

Current statistics indicates that over 3 million people in the US experience homelessness. While it is understandable that homelessness affects all sectors of the society, Watson (2010) argued that the older adults withstand the worst of the effects of homelessness. As this people continue getting older, the problem becomes even bigger. This happens because the elderly are physically frail and being homelessness exposes them to chronic health problems, which may be difficult to treat. The problems experienced by the homeless people are quite many; unsanitary foods, inadequate nutrition, poor hygiene and wanting living conditions.

The inability of these people to access basic amenities as the normal population often predisposes them to poor mental health and associated