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The Cause Of Homelessness In The United States

765 Words4 Pages

If there is anything that makes me sad, it is the concept of homelessness. Everyday I see a homeless person, all different races and ages. It brings the question to mind of, how do they get there? What has to occur in order for a person to lose it all and end up on the streets? As it so happens to be, there are various factors that can result in leaving a person homeless. Economic factors such as low income and significantly less affordable housing. Political reasons, like the slashing of federal assistance in terms of housing programs. And social factors like those suffering of mental illness or those who fall victim to domestic abuse. A number of reasons can lead a person to becoming homeless.
Keywords: Homelessness, economic, political, …show more content…

In fact, poverty and homelessness are inextricably linked, as described in Homelessness: Causes of Homelessness. (2015). Retrieved October 26, 2015. Obviously a person’s living situation is dependent on their financial situation. According to Overview of Homelessness In America. (2015) Retrieved October 25, 2015, the severe lack of affordable housing and the gap between housing and wage earnings are one of the leading causes of homelessness. Low-income earners are unable to afford the cost of living, Why Are People Homeless? (2009, July 1) Retrieved October 25, 2015, referred to them as “an illness, an accident or a paycheck away from living on the streets”. Minimum wage should refer to the minimum amount a person needs to earn to …show more content…

According to Why Are People Homeless? (2009, July 1) Retrieved October 26, 2015, cuts in federal assistance have a huge impact on homelessness. An article I came across stated that in the 50s and 60s homelessness was nearly eradicated due to the availability of federal housing programs, Overview of Homelessness In America (2015) Retrieved October 26, 2015. And as housing programs were cut down homelessness began to rise. If something so crucially important like housing assistance was being cut down, why didn’t the minimum wage rise? It seems to me that we know how to heavily decrease the amount of homeless people we have, it is all a matter of restoring and increasing housing

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