The Homeless: The Cycle Of Homelessness

Actor Frank Dillane once said, “Being homeless is like living in a post-apocalyptic world. You're on the outskirts of society.” Homelessness has plagued cities since the 1980s, and the conditions that Frank Dillane described have only worsened. However, this lifestyle is not a choice; many people are forced into homelessness because they lack a family, a job and a place to live. Though many homeless people attempt to fight the odds with great resilience and determination, they must overcome physical, mental and social barriers. For the 550,000 Americans caught in the cycle of homelessness, the lack of job opportunities combined with the limited amount of short-term aid programs prevents them from having a stable lifestyle.

History Homelessness

During the 1970s, awareness of the issue grew as it took on new forms. Instead of residing in cheap hotels, homeless people began to sleep on the streets, on steam grates, in doorways, on cardboard boxes and in other public places (Rossi 34). These public displays of displacement sparked sympathy among community organizations and councils. This led to the establishment of the National Coalition of Homelessness in 1781. The National Coalition of Homelessness wants to end homelessness by advocating for affordable housing, accessible health care and equal rights (“About Us”). The National Alliance to End Homelessness and the Salvation Army are two more organizations that help the homeless recover and minimize homelessness.

Approaching the end of the 1980s, public sympathy expanded to include the alcohol and drug abusers of the homeless community. The decriminalization of public intoxication allowed homeless alcoholics to receive help rather than punishments. Drugs and alcohol caused uncontrollable addictions that forced the person to spend valuable money on products like marijuana, cigarettes, or liquor instead of

That said, many people lost their houses causing the rate of homelessness to skyrocket. From 1980 to 1987, the number of homeless people grew about 300,000 people by counting the number of shelter bed (Burt 211). By only counting shelter beds, the “real” rates of homelessness are most definitely higher. The overpopulation of urban areas caused an increased property tax that created economic pressure for the middle class. Members of the middle class were forced to live “paycheck-to-paycheck,” a lifestyle where even the most basic needs, such as food and hygienic supplies, were dependent on each payment. This was precarious for many people. In the event of an emergency, they were unable to pay for both treatments and normal expenses, they would be forced out of their homes due to the lack of money to pay their