Analysis Of Our Tired, Our Poor Our Kids By Anna Quindlen

Rank explains, “households in poverty can be found throughout a variety of unban and suburb landscapes, as well as in small towns and communities across rural America,” (Rank 2 of 3). One may conclude that many destitute families are confined to certain places, which divide them between the rest of the population. This creates barrier that prevents these families from improving their living conditions. There are many small regions where poverty is common. Jade Walker, the author of “Number Of Homeless Children In America Surges To All-Time: Report”, is a veteran journalist with twenty-five years of experience covering international/national affairs, crime, the publishing industry, new media, and obituaries. She understands poverty as a concern for both the deprived and the privileged. To illustrate, Jade Walker expresses that “the number of homeless children in the U.S. has surged in recent years to an all-time high because of the nation’s high poverty rate, the lake of affordable housing, and the impacts of pervasive domestic violence,” (Walker 1 of 5). Therefore, this is concerning many people because poverty can cause violence which is fighting because the poverty rate is at its

Homelessness, while widely acknowledged, continues to be an ever-prevalent issue within society. This urged me to take action. In order to compromise an accurate, precise claim, I needed to heavily research and analyze the various aspects of this issue -- specifically regarding the causes of homelessness, addressing the stereotypes and stigmas surrounding it, and by finding solutions at a personal, local, and national level. Initially, I intended to include pathos as a primary theme throughout my sources, but I eventually found logos as a more prevalent, more central theme that appeared throughout each source. Presented primarily through statistics, logos stands as the central theme.

While circumstances can vary, an individual’s first choice is rarely to choose homelessness due to the inability to afford housing or other unforeseen circumstances. The support of friends, family, and community programs/shelters are first suggestions when a person becomes displaced. When these suggestions become inadequate, living on the streets is the next favorable/affordable option. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, on a night in January of 2015, there were 564,708 people homeless in the United States (para 3). On a larger scale, more than one million people are homeless in America and of that population, 50 percent are chronically addicted to alcohol, drugs, or both (Substance abuse mental health, 2011 para 6). Research has brought more attention to risk factors that contribute to homelessness such as the epidemic of substance abuse.

For instance, a study published in 2009 discusses the importance of understanding the different aspects of this population in order to effectively help end youth homelessness. The study notes that are two typical forms of youth homelessness: children living in homeless families and unaccompanied youth. The first group, children living in homeless families, is essentially children who “live in families without a home” (Aratani, 2009, p. 4). Unaccompanied youth, then include those who are runaways, throwaways, and independent youth who have no contact with their family. Additionally, there is a multitude of factors that have been known to contribute to homelessness. These factors include, but are not limited to, lack of affordable housing, economic insecurity, behavioral health, etc. Research has found that the main contributing factors for children living in homeless families are the lack of affordable housing, poverty, and domestic violence (Aratani, 2009). Similarly, mental illness, substance abuse, and lack of affordable housing are the top contributing factors of homelessness among unaccompanied youth (Aratani, 2009). In addition to analyzing the factors that can cause homelessness, the article explores the impact that homelessness can have on youth. For example, homelessness can often lead to food insecurity since food supplies can be scarce, which can then have a negative impact on the child/youth’s overall health. Also, it can lead to juvenile delinquency, troubles with school, and “a greater risk of experiencing mental health problems” (Aratani, 2009, p. 7). When determining what programs and other resources are best fit to help end youth homelessness, it is important to understand the causes and impact of homelessness among youths in the United

The issue of homelessness in America has been evident since the early 1600’s. Across the country men, women and children spend their nights on the streets not knowing when or if they will ever find a permanent home. States and federal officials or city councils have tried to alleviate or at least reduce the number of homeless over the last several decades at a city, state or national level but it continues to be an ongoing problem. There is a multitude of factors that account for the growing homeless population that affects each state in the country differently. Though there are many contributing factors that contribute to the amount of people living on the street at any given night in the U.S. An effective way to address the problem of homelessness in America is to continue creating affordable housing, maintaining assistance programs, and continue creating workforce

Homelessness is everywhere and it’s a growing problem in America. There are many reasons in which become homeless, and many of us ask ourselves should we help the homeless. We must remember that they are people too, and some time or another in life we all need help, even then homeless. In order to end or prevent homelessness, there are a number of things we must fix, the main thing being the affordable housing.

The issue of contemporary homelessness has took a huge shift from the common perception of homeless people. I am witnessing a shift from the image of ‘homelessness’ being a physically dirty, pan handling, poor, uneducated individual who does not have a physical home for shelter. Initially, I failed to recognize that ‘homelessness’ can be a temporary state on can live in. Not all homeless people are homeless by “choice”, sometimes people are homeless by “force”. Events such as natural disasters or even death of a parent/spouse are uncontrolled

“Across the country, about 9.6 million families sThere are two major problems in our country that are being very overlooked; poverty and homelessness. They both are very common problems in America that should come to an end. There is no doubt that they can be stopped with the help of the government and other everyday people. All that needs to be done is help out with expensive housing, start initiatives for insurance, create more shelters, take more notice to the rural homelessness, and just reach out to actually understand how large this problem is. Standing together is something that any person should do no matter what the reason is, these people are poverty stricken or homeless. If poverty and homelessness gets more attention from common,

When people think of others who are poor and less fortunate, they assume that it is people who are living on the street, don’t have a family, and are classified within the homeless population. What they don’t recognize is that is not completely wrong or correct because it is known that not all homeless people live on the streets or don’t have family to support them financially and more. The first time I recognized this was when I volunteered at the Our Daily Bread Employment Center in Baltimore. After observing and interacting with some of the families and individuals who attend the hot meal program year round, I not only recognized that most of the people came from stable homes and have jobs but also that 1 out of 10 people were homeless by

Quindlen brings up the point that “if you are evicted for falling behind on your rent, if there is a bureaucratic foul-up in your welfare check or the factory in which you work shuts down,” then “[y]ou're one understanding relative, one paycheck, one second chance from the street. And so are your kids” (333). Quindlen then continues by discussing “A study done in San Diego in 1998 found that a third of homeless families had recently had benefits terminated or reduced, and that most said that was how they had wound up on the street” (333). The study shows that more causes exist for homelessness other than wasting money and being lazy. Many middle-class American citizens end up homeless every year

The National Center on Family Homelessness at American Institutes for Research (NCFH) released a report exposing that 2.5 million children are homeless in America. (Mclean, 2015) California is the wealthiest state in the country but ranked third worst in the extent of homelessness, the second worst in policy, and in the lower half of the US in terms of risk and wellbeing, making it the third worst US state for child homelessness overall. (Mclean, 2015) Rent is increasing as income is decreasing or staying the same. Families are having to spend half or more on just rent leaving little money for other necessities. This makes families vulnerable to fall into homelessness. The CHPC released a report that found only 1 million affordable homes. The

Health disparities are common contributors to homelessness. A homeless person’s risk of being ill or injured increases between two and six times that of persons who are housed (Wright, 1990). The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) (2011) estimates 26% of homeless adults living in shelters are living with serious mental illness and nearly another 46% live with severe mental illness and/or substance use disorders (“The 2010 Annual, 2011). Homeless populations are at increased risk of; injury, hypothermia, dermatological problems, violence, and infectious diseases such as; hepatitis, tuberculosis, and HIV. (Kushel, Evans, Perry, Robertson, & Moss, 2003). The vulnerable population of homeless children

In this valuable essay, “Homeless” Anna Quindlen discusses what it means to be homeless. She starts off with the story of Ann, a homeless woman, who carries pictures of her previous home. Quindlen uses this to propose the concept that a home is a not just a physical structure but it’s where the heart is. That it’s a place of belonging, stability, and contentment. She argues this by explaining the deep love she feels for her own house despite its physical shortcomings. Her house provides her with a sense of comfort and stability and she puts forth that to truly be homeless those feelings must be absent. Her essay then proceeds to criticize that people often take their homes for granted and that houses have become nothing but real estate. That today we view homes as temporary and as property while they should be viewed as an ideology that you share with family. She addresses that the homeless dislike shelters because they fail to provide a sense of

It is hard to imagine life as a homeless family. I hope that I’ll never have to move my family from shelter to shelter as some families must do every day. According to the essay “Homeless” by Anna Quindlen, we should take more time in our lives to see the pain that homelessness creates. I agree with Anna Quindlen’s assertion that a home is everything. A home can provide certainty. A home can provide stability. Lastly, I agree with Quindlen because a home can provide privacy.