01-13-23
Mr. Brown
Period 5
Chloe Johnston
Homelessness
Homelessness is one of the hardest things someone can have to deal with. With over 500,000 homeless people in the United States, this is a problem that needs to be addressed. Homeless people are often seen through harsh stereotypes, and that is why they don’t always get the help they need to get off the streets. Many people think that “bad choices” such as substance abuse is the only reason why people are homeless. In reality, only twenty percent of homeless people have a substance abuse disorder, and it's rarely identified as the cause of their homelessness. Often, people turn to drugs as a way to cope with their situation after they become homeless. Some people even believe that people
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Some cities have just started putting homeless people in jail. According to Quiver Watts, “This means criminalizing people for camping when they have nowhere else to protect themselves from the elements” (Watts). Jailing homeless people does not solve the problem, it only creates more obstacles for people trying to get off the streets. Another solution that some cities have been trying is setting up homeless shelters. This might sound like a great idea, however, some families hesitate to go there because of the unhealthy living conditions and the fear of being split up. But the thing that has proven to be the most effective in many cities, is to just focus on getting these people houses. Once they have a house, it is easier for them to solve medical conditions, solve social problems, and eventually get a job. Marc Jolin, who was formerly homeless said, “You can’t end homelessness without housing, whatever else you're able to do for someone” (Jolin). This means that if you solve all of a homeless person's struggles, but they still don’t have a house, they are still homeless. But if they get a house first, it makes solving their other problems