Research, shelters, law enforcement, health care, programs, jails and countless labor hours are focused on the problem. The HUD director in an interview stated that cost less money to actually house a person than to continue to support them while they are homeless. (Donovan, 2012) What are the causes of homelessness? The causes of homelessness are lack of affordable housing, unemployment, poverty, mental illness, substance abuse, domestic violence, and teen displacement to name a few. One of the leading causes across the board is lack of affordable housing.
The burden of not having a job and inability to make a living and earn money can result to financial difficulty and push them into below poverty line and into the streets. Mental disability is also one of the causes of homelessness. It prevents the ability to do essential aspects in life. Mentally disabled person cannot work and need medical and special services (Rosenheck, 1994). Poor mental health also causes unstable relationship that press family members and friend’s abandonment that can lead to homelessness.
Jobs are scarce and homes are expensive. A person who cannot find a job often cannot afford a home, and many with jobs cannot afford homes either. Another reason the homeless are over looked is the high rate of mental illness. There are more than 630,000 homeless individuals in the United States and approximately 25% of the homeless population have a severe mental illness. Those with a mental illness are not in a position to search for jobs, purchase or rent a home, or use legal defenses to protect themselves.
Student’s Name Instructor Joslin Communications 1101 Date of the Essay Neglect of the Unfortunate The United States of America is one of the wealthiest nations in the world, yet we as citizens are plagued with senseless social issues such as homelessness and insufficient facilities for the mentally challenged. In the article “Facts and Figures: The Homeless,” the author states that “one approximation of the annual number of homeless in America estimates between 2.3 and 3.5 million people experience homelessness with some 58 percent of them living in shelters and 42 percent unsheltered.” The government, aware of the situation, does not take sufficient action to resolve these
Who are the homeless? The Armed Forces represent a large portion of the homeless population in America (roughly 20-25%). Most people don’t consider the factors that contribute to homelessness such as mental illness or armed forces veterans suffering from their own trauma etc. Far too many veterans are homeless in the united state a number that staggers around 130,000 to 200,000 on any given day representing between one fourth and one fifth of all homeless (National Coalition for the Homeless, 2007). Why negative stereotypes have been created for the homeless?
3) National reports estimate that veterans compose between 24% to 40% of the homeless population. Many of these veterans are homeless due to the general causes of homeless, but it is believed that an additional reason is due to the long-term effects of untreated Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. (National Coalition for Homeless, 2008b). Although the majority of homeless individuals are men, women and children are becoming homeless at a disturbing increasing rate. Some of the general causes of homelessness such as affordable housing and poor access to support networks are especially challenging for women and children experiencing domestic violence, who are estimated to comprise of between 46% to 92% of homeless
Declining wages have put affordable housing out of reach for many. As bad as it is for the 13% of homeless people (NCH 2007) who have jobs and can't escape homelessness, climbing out of homelessness is virtually impossible for those without a job. Many homeless people cannot find jobs due to not having an address or a contact number. They are turned down at interviews because of their unclean appearances because they cannot shower or clean their clothing. Although the wages seem to be increasing the amount of time in which the minimum wage did not keep up with the cost of living was lengthy and the economy is still struggling to catch up.
Due to their severe disabilities and limited incomes, disabled adults have an extremely difficult time securing permanent housing in the competitive market. Ending homelessness for disabled people means building permanent, affordable housing specifically designed to meet their various needs. This group represents some of the most vulnerable people in our community and, when left on the streets, they represent significant expense to local taxpayers. The following are some of the other significant
Mrs. West also thinks that this number is not large in regards to the size of the area, but she will admit that Las Vegas has the nations’ largest amount of down and out homeless people. Mrs. West says’ the numbers may not create a fair picture since so much of the land is publically owned it is hard to compare with other states. One of Mrs. West recent census count showed that 21 percent of the population is “chronically homeless” including those who are mentally and physically disabled. There is also 73 percent of homeless people who are considered transitional or short-term because they suffer from some sort of trauma. Gambling could also be a factor in homelessness say’s Mrs. West, but loss of employment is the highest cause of homelessness, secondly addiction to alcohol and drugs.
The causes of homelessness in America can be classified in to two broad categories, which are: (1) individual shortcomings and (2) societal issues. Individual shortcomings include mental illnesses, family breakdown, addiction to drugs and/or alcohol, lack of education, and amoral behavior. On the other hand, societal issues relate to interrelated social, political and economic factors which include joblessness, distribution of income and wealth and the profit structure of the housing market. People in America are vulnerable to getting homeless irrespective of their educational and ethnic backgrounds. Many studies have found that the homeless population has reached to the figure of 4 million in America that has altered the image of the homeless people as being beggars, hobos and winos.