They face foreclosures and job losses due to the deepening recession. The impact of homelessness begins well before a child is born. The overwhelming majority of homeless parents are single women, many of whom were homeless themselves as children. Homeless women face many obstacles to healthy pregnancies, such as chemical abuse, chronic and acute health problems, and lack of prenatal care. Children born into homelessness are more likely to have low birth weights and are at greater risk of death.
Domestic Abuse / The Homeless Marie Ribail Domestic violence is defined as emotionally and/or physically controlling an intimate partner, often involving tactics such as physical assault, stalking, and sexual assault (Domesticviolence.org). Approximately one out of every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime and 1.3 million women are victims of domestic violence each year. Victims of domestic violence lost about 8 million days of paid work because of the violence that they experienced. 4.1 million dollars is spent directly to on mental health and medical services for domestic violence victims (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence). Considering the cost and prevalence, as well as the direct relationship between housing and domestic violence, a majority of homeless women are victims of domestic violence.
Homeless People in America “As many as 3.5 million Americans are homeless each year. Of these, more than 1 million are children and on any given night, more than 300,000 children are homeless,” reports Jeff Maide (Top Causes of Homelessness in America.) On any day or evening you can see homeless people, with the majority of them being families with children. The families that are homeless are more susceptible to sickness and diseases. Families are experiencing traumatic events that cause homelessness.
Excessive waiting lists for public housing mean that people must remain in shelters or inadequate housing arrangements longer. For instance, in the mid-1990s in New York, families stayed in a shelter an average of five months before moving on to permanent housing. In a survey of 24 cities, people remain homeless an average of seven months, and 87% of cities reported that the length of time people are homeless has increased in recent years (U.S. Conference of Mayors,2005). Longer stays in homeless shelters results in less shelter space available for other homeless people, who must find shelter elsewhere or live on the streets. Media reports of a growing economy and low unemployment mask a number of important reasons why homelessness persists, and, in some areas of the country, is worsening.
Running Head: Homelessness Homelessness Porsha Taylor GE265 Wed Mornings Homelessness Homelessness is extreme poverty in U.S society. My opinion is that our society sees it from a Moral Relativism point, which I believe it shouldn’t be seen from. I identify myself as Moral Pluralism. On any given night in America, anywhere from 700,000 to 2 million people are homeless, according to estimates of the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty. A count in January, 2007, found 745 homeless people in Lucas County, with 200 of those classified as "chronically" homeless, according to HUD data.
Homeless Street Youth Shirley Carroll Walden University Abstract Youth between the ages of 12 and 24 years who spend at least one night on the streets, in public places, or in shelters are considered homeless. Around two million children run away from home each year in the U.S., and most are likely to end up homeless (Bender, Thompson, McManus, Lantry, & Flynn, 2007). A proposal includes formulating a plan with the Native community that will benefit the homeless youth. Long term housing for homeless Native youth is greatly needed. One proposal currently in motion is long term housing for youth who experience mental health issues.
- Single adult males between the ages of 25 and 55 account for almost half of the homeless population. - 20% of the homeless are 16-24 years old (about 6, 000). - People can be pushed into homelessness by a variety of factors: loss of job, mental illness, addictions, family violence or abuse, extreme poverty. - Changes in the economy and in the housing market are adding to homelessness. - Declining incomes + reduction in social benefits + decline in affordable housing = even more homelessness.
Mental Health Care for the Homeless Tania Brana Humanities 1533 Indian River State College Mental Health and the Homeless In 1981, when Ronald Regan became President, budget cuts led to a decline in services for the mentally ill leaving most patients with no other option but to become homeless. As budget cuts have mounted, both inpatient and community services for children and adults living with serious mental illness have been downsized or eliminated. In some states, entire hospitals have been closed; in others, community mental health programs have been eliminated (nami.org). Why isn’t there better health care for homeless people with mental health issues? Do we have a moral obligation to insist on better health care, or do the rights of the individual come first?
Specific Population: Homeless Many reasons result in homelessness with the most common cause as poverty. Approximately 750,000 individuals and families are homeless in the United States on any given night (Chicago Alliance to End Homelessness, 2008). Homeless individuals do not possess a permanent place to live. Individuals suffer from homelessness because of illness, addictions, unemployment, violence, neglect, etc. Homelessness is an issue that affects the individuals suffering from the social issues and society.
Causes of 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”). These people 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, although these shelters are sometimes even more dangerous because they are frequently over-crowded and understaffed (St. John). But the real question is, in a land of plenty, where the typical family has more televisions than family members (“Average Home”) and an average of two cars (“Highlights”), 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?