Homelessness in America: Why Should We Help the Homeless?

Homelessness in America: Why should we help the homeless? 

 Anabel Ortega

     We are used to seeing homeless people in our everyday lives, but how often do we stop and think of ways we can help them?  Most of us just stroll awkwardly by them and some of us don't even notice them at all.  In either case we don't take the time to help them; we don't give them money or food.  This is the problem with our society today--we are becoming highly desensitized to the major issues going on around us. We don't worry for those who are less fortunate than us and the issues that plague them.  The homeless need our help, many people complain about them, but they are not going anywhere any time soon if we don't find ways to aid them.

   

     There has been a sharp increase in homelessness due to the United States' damaged economy.  In 2010 there were approximately 407,966 homeless people that number increased to about 640,000 homeless people in 2012.  According to the Jan.17 2012 article on endhomelessness.org, this number represents just the people that have been in shelters.  This means there are actually about 1 million homeless people in the U.S., when you count all the people that haven't been in a shelter.  The U.S.' economy is bad, that is why there is a high unemployment rate.  When people lose their jobs and can't get any form of income they struggle to pay their mortgage, and when people can't pay their mortgage they lose their homes.  There are thousands upon thousands of homeless people in the U.S.; most of these homeless people don't live in homeless shelters because there aren't enough shelters in America for them. There are currently only 2332 homeless shelters in America, according to the National Coalition for the Homeless organization.  This number is decreasing since these organizations don't have enough money to keep their programs running.  2332 homeless shelters are not enough to house almost 1 million homeless people. Some have argued that we should solve the homelessness problem in America by having more government funding towards homeless programs. Other news articles have argued that homeless people should not receive help from the taxpayers; they claim that the homeless brought this bad luck upon themselves and that it is not their responsibility to help them. 

   

     This argument is illogical, and it is tragic that some people actually think like this.  It's like arguing we shouldn't give aid to those who are injured because it is their fault they got hurt.  We shouldn't blame the homeless for their current condition.  Sure--some of them may have come to their current state of homelessness because of drugs or alcohol, but this is not always the case.  Even if they did, it is not our place to judge.  We don't know what may have led them to turn to drugs and alcohol, so unless we know these people personally we shouldn't judge them.  

     Sadly, there are many major cities in the United States that don't offer a lot of help to the homeless instead they criminalize them.  For example, San Francisco has a "Sit-Lie Ordinance" which prohibits people from sitting, laying, camping, sleeping, and begging for money in public places.  Los Angeles has a similar rule as well.  People who break this rule are fined or sent to jail.  This is completely ridiculous; most homeless people do not have another choice but to sleep on the streets, and they certainly don't have the money to pay their fines.  Cities shouldn't punish them for that. In Baltimore, Maryland the homeless population is decreasing due to their 10 year plan to end homelessness.  Their plan consists of creating more affordable housing and healthcare.  This 10 year plan to end homelessness will also create more programs for the homeless and more services for those who are at risk of becoming homeless.  If Maryland can help their homeless population, than there is no reason why cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles-whose homeless population is increasing because they don't focus on those people's needs- can't do the same.  People need to realize that helping out the homeless will eventually benefit them too, even if taxes need to increase to do so.  

     Editorials such as Jason Williams' the Aug. 5th editorial on SeattleTimes.com have argued that we shouldn't give money to the homeless because they will most likely use it for drugs or alcohol.  This is partially correct; a PBS article from June 2010 cited that 38% of homeless people in shelters report alcohol use problems, and 26% report drug use problems.  These figures do give the impression that if we give money to a homeless person chances are they are not using it for something good. 

     However, this does not mean our kind acts and efforts to help the homeless will be gone to waste.  If the government and people in our society really push to improve homeless programs then we can make a change.  According to the PBS article mentioned above, 39% of homeless people report mental health problems and 46% report chronic health conditions.  This proves that we need to create better homeless programs and shelters because in doing so we will be saving the lives of many people.  Homeless people can't access health care easily, so it is our job to help them.  If new homeless shelters and programs are created then we are giving these people a chance to rehabilitate themselves.  When they do get better they can become useful members of society.  By helping the homeless we are making our society better as well because we are taking mentally ill people off the streets, and we're giving them proper care; so that they can get better.   Those who argue that we shouldn't help the homeless because they are criminals should also be in favor of improved homeless programs.  If these new programs are done well then they will be an effective way to take homeless people who are criminals off the street.  In doing so we will be creating a safer society and we will be giving these people a second chance to have a better life for themselves.

   

     Even if some of us can't donate much money to homeless programs we can donate our time.  Homeless people don't get enough help or attention in homeless shelters because there aren't many people working there.  By volunteering our time in shelters we are making the lives of these people better.  For those who can donate money, do it.  It is a matter of having morals above anything else. It's the right thing to do. When we see someone who needs help it should be an instinct to want to be able to aid them.  Imagine if more people thought this way; we could really make a change.  If we take this matter more seriously, and we press our communities to take it more seriously as well, homelessness could one day be non-existent

Veteran Homelessness and Its Impact on Society

 

   If our leaders in government were the homeless, they would understand the pain and agony that homeless people face when living on the streets. It seems as if they were being ostracized from society because no one looks twice their way and there isn't really another way to make people understand how helpless these people are until tables were turned, more people would find the debate over whether we should help the homeless ridiculous because they would be able to see that it is our duty to help one another, knowing how desperately these people need help. I, like Abraham Lincoln, believe that we should help those who indeed need help, not those who just want it. The reason behind this is because there might be those who ask for financial and emotional help and not need it. On the other hand, there might people who are struggling to survive and never ask for help. Because of this, a choice has to be made on who is in desperate need and who can move forward without help.

   There are certain causes for veterans becoming homeless. A common situation that leads to a homelessness result is PT SD, which is a disorder some soldiers get after have been in extremely violent situation, and the fact that when they return home they face all of their depression alone. The returned soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan are twice as likely to become homeless theleafchronicle.com. Not only that, but around 90% of homeless veterans don't have family nor friends, they're completely alone. These people have lost their loved ones when fighting and shedding blood for this country, and what do they get in return? Nothing important. When they come back home, for most, all of what they cared about is gone and they're left in depression from the war and their new incomplete lives. When they reach rock bottom the rest of society judges them by calling them lazy, useless, and even disgusting. Not only is America not helping them out of poverty and starvation, but it's burring them by making them seem like they're purposely and willingly suffering.

   There are certain groups of people whom believe that homeless are guilty for living the lives they're living. These same people, also believe that homeless people are the cause for a bad economy. Some researchers believe that homeless outside of the stores loitering, bring ale prices down because it reflects negatively on the store dailycal.org. For example, in Berkley,CA there was a report published that tried to persuade people in to voting for "measure S," which is basically banns any kind of homelessness in commercial ares. This measure was created with the belief that it was homeless people outside of the stores bringing business down and only that. However, there is so much focus on the problem that the solution is being forgotten. If homeless and their loitering are what bring businesses' sale prices down then why not start at the root of the problem and instead of relocating the homeless elsewhere, fix the homeless epidemic. Help them both economically and emotionally and not only will homelessness decrease, but the economy and businesses with benefit as well. America will benefit in vast ways by lending a hand to the homeless. Not only that but most of these homeless people are veterans and the government was once protected by these people, whom swore to guard America until death took them. How is it possible that that same government now cannot decide on whether to help these people because of "higher priorities?" despite the fact that it will, in the long run, end up benefiting all of America through its economy, business growth, and less people living on the streets, struggling to survive.

  There is a myth out there that people created that says that not everyone can help the homeless. I believe that any willing person has the power to help and assist those in need. What is there to think about? If the tables were turned and the leaders in government were the homeless veterans, they would plead for help and security they so rightfully deserve. They would feel the pain of being hated by the vast majority of society, being called lazy, unless, and irrelevant. By the contrary, homeless veterans aren't lazy, but sick and lonely and we the people who owe them so much for their sacrifices should help them. Not only that, but all homeless people are a clear representation of the country in which they live in and society as a whole. Helping them is actually like helping ones self because a better economy and better living conditions affect us all. I believe that everyone should at the very least try to help homeless people and that the government should be an epitome supporter especially when it comes down to helping homeless veterans.

Esmeralda Flores

Helping the Homeless

Ricky Arreola

   Is it possible to end homelessness? Most people would say that its impossible to end homelessness and poverty, however it is possible to put an end to homelessness. A lot of people think that all homeless people are lazy or that they are all drug addicts. Our society thinks that if we provide financial assistance to the homeless, then they wont make anything of themselves.

   A lot of people assume that all homeless people are useless. However, most homeless people can get back on their feet. For example, David Pirtile a formerly homeless man who was attacked while sleeping on a street in NYC now works as a speaker with the National Coalation for the Homeless. He used to manage a couple of resteraunts and he had a sister that was diagnosed with schizophrenia, a mental disorder that is characterized by a break down of the thought process. Pitrile is a good example of a homeless person that just needed some assistance to get back on his feet. This shows how not all homeless people are just lost causes and if given the help needed they can resume their positive role on society.

   Many people think that homelessness it too expensive to solve, but actually it would only cost about $20 billion to end homelessness in the United States according to," Resolve to end Homelessness in 2013," in the Huffington Post. That is less than half of what is spent on weight loss and self-improvement products. All that is needed to end homelessness is the backing of the government. Besides that, the federal government already spends about 4 billion on homeless people and their families,http://www.post-gazette.com/

   Also, if there was a homeless man living on the street and he got some financial assistance, then he would most likely be able to get back onto his feet. Most homeless would take the opportunity that was given to them and make the most of it. For example, most people that I know don't necessarily believe highly of homeles people so instead of giving them money, which is what they usually ask for, they provide them with food. After this, they're usually grateful that they had a decent meal and move on with their lives. This situation leads me to believe that homeless people are just looking for an opportunity of making something out of themselves, but just can't because they have to survive first.

   It is true that some homeless wouldn't want to accept the help that is provided to them because they feel they are better than that. An example of this was when I gave a homeless man 10 dollars and he rejected it while saying he would only accept spare change. However, I believe that it would still be good to provide assistance to the homeless since they would be able to get many homeless off of the streets. Ultimately it is possible to end homelessness, but we just need to make an effort instead of arguing over whether the issue can even be solved. Homeless people need others to believe in them and provide them with support in order for them to succeed.

 

LGBT Homeless Teens

Over the last couple of years the number of homeless people on the streets has increased, most importantly, the number of homeless youth has also increased a substantial amount. Every day there are more teenagers joining the homeless population. How would you feel if your kids or a young relative would be living out on the streets among the thousands of young homeless people? That doesn't seem right, does it? It's the parents/guardians responsibility to take care of their kids, they depend on you to help them out when they are in trouble but there are some parents who just don't care about their children. Research shows that there are about 12,000-15,000 homeless youth in L.A. and another 10,000 living in the Bay Area (Covenant House California.) According to they NY times, experts say that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people make up a disproportionate number of the homeless youth; they represent as much as 40 percent of the national homeless population (www.nytimes.com)

Young people who become homeless are depicted in the media in a variety of ways. Sometimes they are judged as being from families and homes that are filled with violence. Many other times they are seen as teens that are out in the real world being adventurers. Yet other times, they are seen as "Rebellious" teenagers who leave their homes because they don't want to follow the rules that their parents have established. While it may be true that some homeless youth leave home for some insignificant reasons, Research shows that between 20-30 percent of the homeless youth is part of the LGBT. Because those teens are part of that certain community they get discriminated in their homes, schools, and communities. I believe that the main reason that there are so many young homeless is because they get discriminated against, Most of the time they get discriminated, there is violence involved which can be both physically and emotionally discriminated (http://homeless.samhsa.gov)

Let's say you were also part of the LGBT community, would you want to be in places in which you were discriminated against? Think about it for a while, it's not a place anyone would want to be in. You can pretend to be strong but you know that deep down everything that they say is hurting you. That is why most teens decide to go out into the streets where they know that they will find people that are like them and they won't be judged. There is a quote from Mother Teresa that says "We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty." For me this quote is saying that people need to learn to help instead of judging the people who are in need of emotional support. For example, the teens who are LGBT need someone to be by their side because being how they are isn't easy for them; they are constantly getting judged no matter what they do. For example, In an article in Medicalnewstoday.com, they explain how if you consider yourself part of the LGBT community you are 40% more likely to be discriminated against for the same things that other "normal" people would do (www.medicalnewstoday.com)

I would challenge the parents of LGBT teenagers to support their kids because they are supposed to be by their side no matter what. Communities need to also provide more support for those people. The solution to this problem isn't creating more homeless shelters for the homeless but providing more information to people about what they can do to help someone in need. Even though most homeless people will reject your help, they really want help, they might not even know how they ended up the way they do so stand up for them and help. It would make you feel better knowing that you're helping create a brighter future for a homeless teenager. It will make their life better and it will also help them become someone great in the future. That's why they say "The kids of today are the future of tomorrow." You never know if they could become someone who would save your life someday.

Lesly Sanchez