Homeless people. Lazy. Criminals. Addicts. These are just a few of the many things that come to people’s minds. In all fairness, I had those same ideas too. Many people have driven or walked past a group of homeless people and ignored them or gone out of their way to not make contact. It’s just part of our culture. Homeless people are shunned and looked down upon. Over time, the word homeless has taken on a very negative connotation, and those labels such as, criminal, lazy and addict have taken over our perception of who homeless people are. This is not only a large generalization but also overshadows the real circumstances that caused them to become homeless. Over five years, I have been given the privilege of volunteering with The Boulder …show more content…
You see people on the streets begging for money, and a lot of time people question why don’t they just get a job. It’s consistently thought that a simple solution to being homeless is getting a job. If you need money than go work for it. This is an oversimplification and makes it seem as if it’s easy to solve homelessness. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found that about 4.1% of the population is unemployed. This translate to over twelve million people looking for jobs. When employers want to hire people, not have a permanent residency and lacking a mode of transportation makes you look unreliable. When compared to someone else who has a car and place to live, employers don’t have to think twice about who they want to hire. Also many homeless people have a mental illness or disability making them unable to have a job. Even those with a job are unable to make a sustainable living off it. Wages are so low that one must work at least two jobs but with housing prices being so high, it makes find a place to live extremely hard. Washington and California have some of the highest minimum wage standards but even that is not a livable wage. We as a society have simplified a solution because many of us do not understand the complex issues that these circumstances
Although it is clear that so many U.S. citizens are suffering, the government has little to no efforts in decreasing the homeless population. The lack of initiative for the betterment of the homeless prevents them from becoming richer because their resources are extremely limited. Furthermore, it is more difficult for a homeless child to receive and education than it is for a child raised in a wealthy family. Homeless people are not provided with many opportunities, even though they need them more. “Connections with universities, employers and government will make sure you have access to many more opportunities.
Another stereotype that has established itself in society’s mindset is that all homeless people are criminals. In the online Huffington Post article, “10 Facts About Homelessness,” written by Bill Quigley, the author asserts that “Jerome Murdough, a homeless former Marine, was arrested for trespass in New York because he was found sleeping in a public housing stairwell.” In all reality, if any homeless individual commits a crime, they are not dangerous crimes rather they are status crimes. Status crimes include trespassing, loitering, or sleeping on public property. Nonetheless, if a criminal had committed serious crimes such as murder or involvement in drug, they would be behind bars, not lurking on the streets.
(Tarr 2020, para. 3). With this being said being homeless is very problematic because it causes a lot of mental illness and substance abuse and people are dying from
The surveys taken within the publication lack insight, and only prove to reinforce stigmas and stereotypes about the homeless, therefore canceling out my claim. For example, “...” The source is over 10 years old, leaving the data outdated and subject to alteration. The logos found within the piece help to prove the vast importance and emergence of the issue. It is widespread.
One of the biggest issues facing this great nations citizens and even some of our war hero veterans, is that of being homeless. As well as residing in poor income housing and very poor conditions. With the number of homes and land available throughout the country, and the majority of it being owned by private interest and banks is an outrage. If we do not deal with homelessness and poverty, we may end up like Detroit, Michigan.
Homelessness is one the most ignored problems in the United States with citizen and politician. Homeless people are walked by and ignored. Nobody ever thinks that they will be homeless. Due to the economy, people live paycheck to paycheck making house payments very difficult. Most people will want to believe most homeless people are drug addicts or alcoholics, but most people will be surprise to know that it is no all true.
In the United States homelessness has been a substantial problem for decades. The reason for homelessness is greatly debated especially
Never in my life, I would have known that there was a difference between panhandlers and homelessness. All my life I thought homeless are people who beg I treat everyone that asked for money the same. My experience with a panhandler was on Broad Street I thought to incase was asking for money thought she needed it because she was starving when in reality that was their “job” to go around asking people for money when homeless people actually need the money more. Homelessness and panhandlers the same my perspective between them have changed dramatically this is my biases views of this issue.
More people suffer from homelessness than we realize. We often take for granted having a home to go to. I completely agree with Anna about her feelings on homelessness. I often see the homeless on the side of the road and I normally refer to them as homeless people but what I fail to realize is, that “homeless person” has a name, that “homeless guy” is a human being just like the rest of us longing for certainty, stability and privacy. Those “homeless people” are human beings without a home.
With the increased use of housing-based assistance programs being created, there is a positive outlook for homeless looking for assistance getting back on their feet by acquiring affordable housing. The ability to apply and gain benefits through state and federal programs is helping to provide food and some financial assistance to the homeless population as well as a community outreach programs being deployed in cities all over the country. New opportunities for employment and training are available for those who are homeless and looking to get back into the workforce and get off the street. The road ahead for the homeless population is, of course, paved with struggles and detours, but with the continued efforts of our country, states and communities we can work together to aid in the reduction of homelessness with the continued efforts in creating and maintaining affordable housing programs, assistance programs, and workforce development
last time I saw a homeless man asking me for money, and I would ask myself weather to give him money, but then I would not know what he would use it for, maybe he would spend it on alcohol, cigar, or even drugs. so instead of giving him money, I bought him food and water. Yes, there are homeless people that take your money and go back to alcoholism and drugs, and it makes no improvement to our society, especially
Apathy. Although there are circumstances that cause people to be homeless such as the loss of a job or addiction, the main reason is that citizens feel apathetic towards the homeless. Seeing homeless people on the streets has become so common that people are not impacted by the hardships a homeless person is clearly facing. Beggars have become invisible and it is nearly impossible for the homeless to regain a life of normalcy without the help of others. It is typically taught that when you see a homeless person you should ignore them, walk away, or lock your doors if you are in a car.
This is because in issues to homeless we found that business and existing policies related to these homeless could not solve the problems related to this issue but there is also the work done at the moment seems to encourage these people to continue to be homeless. As an example, the homeless such as already feel uncomfortable when given food for free and they have already set their minds as they would get food and money if they do not work. In the draft policy, basically houses will be built and given to the rings but they have to work to pay the rent and feed their households. With this, they can learn to be more independent and live life like everyone else.
Perhaps the shopping center merchants complained, I’m not sure, he was just gone. I know we would still be helping him today, because we felt responsible, we were personally involved and therefore could not turn our back to his need. A homeless culture exists, hidden in plain sight. We either ignore it or just fail to see this element around us, or think that we can’t make a difference, because the problem is just too overwhelming.
Some people wonder why homeless people have no jobs, cars, or homes. Here are a few reasons why homeless people are homeless. As we see in every Country, City, and State there are homeless people everywhere.