Homelessness
Homelessness
JORDAN BARR JOHNSON ORI 110 1:00
The Truth About Homelessness Today, when you go to the store, the bank, work, etc., you are almost guaranteed to see a homeless individual. Most hard-working citizens assume that every homeless person is just a lowlife, lazy individual; but, they are easily mistaken. In some cases that could be true. Many homeless people are just like me and you and they have hit a bump in the road. Many have been laid off, kicked out, struck with addiction, etc. It is not fair to stereotype a population based off of a few individuals.
Definition Of Homelessness What is a credible definition for the term homelessness? Is it lazy? Is it an alcoholic? A drug addict? Believe it or not, most of the time none of these scenarios are true. As told by Wikipedia, “Homelessness is the condition of people without a regular dwelling. People who are homeless are most often unable to acquire and maintain regular, safe, secure, or adequate housing, or lack ‘fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence’” (Homelessness). It is a person who is unable to provide for themselves. As the old saying goes, “don’t judge a book by it’s cover!”.
Homelessness In Numbers Have you ever thought about how many U.S. citizens are on the streets without a home, money, or family? The numbers are shocking and have decreased in recent studies. As of January 2013 there was 610,042 homeless on a given night. Twentythree percent of that number were children, and sixty-seven percent were over twenty-five years old. This number declined by nine percent over the period between 2007 and 2013. These numbers are absolutely disturbing and heartbreaking.
Who Are The Homeless? Who are the homeless? Is it certain people? Could you become homeless? The answer is that homelessness has no mercy. It does not care if you have children to take care of, nor does it care if you are a successful businessman; devastation can strike at any given moment. Twenty-five percent of homeless people are individuals who suffer from mental illnesses. For example, they could be schizophrenic, bipolar, or suffer from depression. Seventeen percent are chronically homeless. What is chronically homeless? According to Green Doors, “A "chronically homeless" person is defined as ‘an unaccompanied homeless individual with a disabling condition who has either been continuously homeless for a year or more, or has had at least four episodes of homelessness in the past three years.’” (General) In other words, a person who has not been able to get back up on their feet. Thirteen percent are escaping domestic violence and the remaining twelve percent are veterans.
Why Are You Not Helping? Many Americans turn their heads and try to forget when they pass a homeless person. Some people just simply do not know how to help, therefore they ignore it. On the other hand, some are so coldhearted and selfish that they just simply do not care. According to Urban Ministry, the top ten excuses that people do not help the homeless are: 1. “It’s not my responsibility.” 2. “I have problems of my own.” 3. “We have programs for them.” 4. “They are lazy and they deserve to be there.” 5. “We have others in our church that do that for us.” 6. “If you give to beggars, you will get more beggars.” 7. “We are setting a bad example if we give in to their needs.” 8. “The Bible says – you don’t work, you don’t eat.” 9. “I didn’t know there was a need.” 10. “I don’t know how to help.” (Top). It is extremely important to stay open minded about every situation because one day your family member could be living on the streets.
Efforts To End Homelessness Is it possible for homelessness to come to an end? If enough people care and put effort end then yes it can. As of February 2015, Congress decided to provide 2.8 billion for the Homeless Assistance Grants program. This is to cover the cost of renewing and expanding investments for permanent supportive housing. This has been proven to be a cost efficient solution to chronic homelessness. This will hopefully create around 25,000 new units of permanent supportive housing which could end chronic homelessness by the end of 2017.
Works Cited Slide 1
"India Homeless Child.” Photograph. Zoom in on Poverty. 1 Nov. 2009. Web. 18 Nov. 2015. . Slide 2 "Displaying Items by Tag: Homelessness." Photograph. Displaying Items by Tag: Homelessness. Local, 19 June 2014. Web. 19 Nov. 2015. . Slide 3 "Homelessness." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 16 Nov. 2015. Web. 19 Nov. 2015. . "Walk for the Homeless.” Photograph. The Wisdom of Solomon. 8 May 2013. Web. 19 Nov. 2015. .
Works Cited Slide 4 Henry, Meghan, Alvaro Cortes, and Sean Morris. "The 2013 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress." 2013. Web. 19 Nov. 2015. . Koegel, Paul, Audrey Burnam, and Jim Baumohl. "The Causes of Homelessness.”Photograph. Skeptical Cubefarm. 26 July 2013. Web. 19 Nov. 2015. .
Slide 5 "General Homelessness Facts." Homelessness Facts & Statistics. Web. 19 Nov. 2015. . Salarbux, Mohammud. Photograph. IslamiCity. 14 Mar. 2013. Web. 19 Nov. 2015. .
Works Cited Slide 6 "Top 10 Reasons Why People Don't Help the Homeless." Urban Ministry Blog. 24 Apr. 2009. Web. 19 Nov. 2015. . Photograph. BORGEN. 25 Jan. 2014. Web. 19 Nov. 2015. .
Slide 7 "Policy Priorities." National Alliance to End Homelessness:. 1 Feb. 2015. Web. 19 Nov. 2015. . "Ending Homelessness." Photograph. Housing / Legal. Web. 19 Nov. 2015. .
JORDAN BARR JOHNSON ORI 110 1:00
The Truth About Homelessness Today, when you go to the store, the bank, work, etc., you are almost guaranteed to see a homeless individual. Most hard-working citizens assume that every homeless person is just a lowlife, lazy individual; but, they are easily mistaken. In some cases that could be true. Many homeless people are just like me and you and they have hit a bump in the road. Many have been laid off, kicked out, struck with addiction, etc. It is not fair to stereotype a population based off of a few individuals.
Definition Of Homelessness What is a credible definition for the term homelessness? Is it lazy? Is it an alcoholic? A drug addict? Believe it or not, most of the time none of these scenarios are true. As told by Wikipedia, “Homelessness is the condition of people without a regular dwelling. People who are homeless are most often unable to acquire and maintain regular, safe, secure, or adequate housing, or lack ‘fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence’” (Homelessness). It is a person who is unable to provide for themselves. As the old saying goes, “don’t judge a book by it’s cover!”.
Homelessness In Numbers Have you ever thought about how many U.S. citizens are on the streets without a home, money, or family? The numbers are shocking and have decreased in recent studies. As of January 2013 there was 610,042 homeless on a given night. Twentythree percent of that number were children, and sixty-seven percent were over twenty-five years old. This number declined by nine percent over the period between 2007 and 2013. These numbers are absolutely disturbing and heartbreaking.
Who Are The Homeless? Who are the homeless? Is it certain people? Could you become homeless? The answer is that homelessness has no mercy. It does not care if you have children to take care of, nor does it care if you are a successful businessman; devastation can strike at any given moment. Twenty-five percent of homeless people are individuals who suffer from mental illnesses. For example, they could be schizophrenic, bipolar, or suffer from depression. Seventeen percent are chronically homeless. What is chronically homeless? According to Green Doors, “A "chronically homeless" person is defined as ‘an unaccompanied homeless individual with a disabling condition who has either been continuously homeless for a year or more, or has had at least four episodes of homelessness in the past three years.’” (General) In other words, a person who has not been able to get back up on their feet. Thirteen percent are escaping domestic violence and the remaining twelve percent are veterans.
Why Are You Not Helping? Many Americans turn their heads and try to forget when they pass a homeless person. Some people just simply do not know how to help, therefore they ignore it. On the other hand, some are so coldhearted and selfish that they just simply do not care. According to Urban Ministry, the top ten excuses that people do not help the homeless are: 1. “It’s not my responsibility.” 2. “I have problems of my own.” 3. “We have programs for them.” 4. “They are lazy and they deserve to be there.” 5. “We have others in our church that do that for us.” 6. “If you give to beggars, you will get more beggars.” 7. “We are setting a bad example if we give in to their needs.” 8. “The Bible says – you don’t work, you don’t eat.” 9. “I didn’t know there was a need.” 10. “I don’t know how to help.” (Top). It is extremely important to stay open minded about every situation because one day your family member could be living on the streets.
Efforts To End Homelessness Is it possible for homelessness to come to an end? If enough people care and put effort end then yes it can. As of February 2015, Congress decided to provide 2.8 billion for the Homeless Assistance Grants program. This is to cover the cost of renewing and expanding investments for permanent supportive housing. This has been proven to be a cost efficient solution to chronic homelessness. This will hopefully create around 25,000 new units of permanent supportive housing which could end chronic homelessness by the end of 2017.
Works Cited Slide 1
"India Homeless Child.” Photograph. Zoom in on Poverty. 1 Nov. 2009. Web. 18 Nov. 2015. . Slide 2 "Displaying Items by Tag: Homelessness." Photograph. Displaying Items by Tag: Homelessness. Local, 19 June 2014. Web. 19 Nov. 2015. . Slide 3 "Homelessness." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 16 Nov. 2015. Web. 19 Nov. 2015. . "Walk for the Homeless.” Photograph. The Wisdom of Solomon. 8 May 2013. Web. 19 Nov. 2015. .
Works Cited Slide 4 Henry, Meghan, Alvaro Cortes, and Sean Morris. "The 2013 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress." 2013. Web. 19 Nov. 2015. . Koegel, Paul, Audrey Burnam, and Jim Baumohl. "The Causes of Homelessness.”Photograph. Skeptical Cubefarm. 26 July 2013. Web. 19 Nov. 2015. .
Slide 5 "General Homelessness Facts." Homelessness Facts & Statistics. Web. 19 Nov. 2015. . Salarbux, Mohammud. Photograph. IslamiCity. 14 Mar. 2013. Web. 19 Nov. 2015. .
Works Cited Slide 6 "Top 10 Reasons Why People Don't Help the Homeless." Urban Ministry Blog. 24 Apr. 2009. Web. 19 Nov. 2015. . Photograph. BORGEN. 25 Jan. 2014. Web. 19 Nov. 2015. .
Slide 7 "Policy Priorities." National Alliance to End Homelessness:. 1 Feb. 2015. Web. 19 Nov. 2015. . "Ending Homelessness." Photograph. Housing / Legal. Web. 19 Nov. 2015. .
