Essay On Homelessness In America

Imagine sleeping on a park bench in the dead of winter, standing alone in an alley during the darkest night, or never having a place to go after a long, exhausting day. Unfortunately, this is the reality for over half a million homeless Americans. They have no place to go, nowhere to call home, and hardships that we could only imagine. Many cities are responding to the increase in homelessness by clearing out and criminalizing homeless camps. This will never be a long-term solution because Americans often ignore the problems that cause homelessness. What did these people do wrong to get them here? A better question to ask would be “How did we, as a nation, fail to help this person in their time of need?” Homelessness in America is a growing

This problem is reaching areas of the country that has never experienced these issues before. To add to this growing challenge, the Airbnb effect is becoming a major problem within the housing market. Owners are converting long-term rentals, which could be used as housing for locals or families, to short-term rentals for visitors and tourists. One serious issue that needs to be addressed in this matter is the unavailability of homes that are affordable for those in need. Due to rising prices and interest rates, affordable housing is hard to come by. The majority of extremely low-income households spend over half of their earnings on rent alone. Households spending 30% of their income on housing are considered burdened and the majority spending 50% or more are severely burdened (Mathew 9). However, nothing is being done to address the housing rates or shortages, and very little help is offered to those who are “severely burdened.” The government does not provide adequate housing assistance for all households that are eligible. In fact, recent studies have shown that only 25% of eligible households receive federal assistance and a significant portion are on waiting lists for federal housing programs. Sufficient funding for rental or housing assistance reduces poverty and therefore reduces the risk of

The most recent data estimates, that on any given night, an astonishing 580,466 people are homeless on our streets or in shelters. The homeless population is very diverse and affects people from all walks of life. However, present trends in the rising population that could be eliminated with proper recognition. Approximately thirty percent of the homeless in America are in families with children and unaccompanied youth. Contributing factors for homelessness among children living in homeless families include housing availability, poverty, and domestic violence. Unaccompanied youth includes minors that have run away, been locked out, encouraged to leave or feel as if they have no home or family to return to. Many of these children once experienced violence, substance abuse, or the effects of mental illness in their homes. This mass population also includes veterans; historically, they are at a greater risk of homelessness. An average of 30,000 to 40,000 veterans make up a portion of the homeless population in America. Lack of support, resources, and sufficient health care can often lead to mental health problems and substance abuse which increases the risk of homelessness (Zhao 7). Many veterans suffer from health complications they acquired during service, whether physical or mental. Over a million veterans lack health insurance and access to