Essay on Homelessness in the United States - 1520 Words

Homelessness in the United States During the 1980’s the number of homeless people, those without a house in which to reside, increased at an alarming rate. Many analysts have given much time and thought as to the reasons that this phenomenon occurred. They cite economic instability and government policies with facts and figures to support their work. Beyond the research and cold statistics that explain this event, are the victims, and those that worked to help relieve their hardship. An interview with Philip Guerrieri gives us insight into the personal lives of these individuals whom he calls houseless, and the realities of staying alive, both physically and spiritually, on the streets. Martha R. Burt, author of Over the Edge:†¦show more content†¦Philip Guerrieri, born in 1962, in Ft. Worth, Texas, was twenty-four years old in 1986 when he began working as an Emergency Psychiatric Response Care Division agent in liaison with the District of Columbia’s Mental Health Services Outreach. After spending then intensive years immersed in the personal realities that these individuals were experiencing to learn how to best serve them, he at present has taken time off to assimilate the many profound interactions that have served him by broadening his perceptions of life and death. He is currently attending East Tennessee State University, where he was awarded first place in the nonfiction category of the University’s literary magazine, The Mockingbird ‘98, for an essay that giving graphic details into the extraordinary life of an individual case history of just one man and the series of tragic events that left him houseless in D.C. during the lat e 1980’s. He gave me a personal interview on November 27, 1999. Philip shares with me his personal experiences working with the individuals who found themselves living on the streets during the years of 1986-1996. He explains why eventually he dealt solely with those individuals who would not go in to the missions and shelters or even accept food from the mobile soup wagons. Philip relives the moment that he first realized that houseless people were not in their current situation because of a life misled or because they were lazy or criminal, as may be the commonShow MoreRelatedHomelessness in the United States952 Words   |  4 PagesThe purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of poverty on young children and their families. The focus will be on homelessness and how the child is affected in two major settings: the home, or lack of, and school. In both of these settings, children are impacted by different social forces and must push through barriers that are set before them given their circumstance. â€Å"Living without permanent, long- term housing creates a number of stressors for children and families, but being homelessRead MoreIs Homelessness The United States?1384 Words   |  6 Pagesmeant by homelessness in the United States? Homelessness is something that can be temporary or chronic. It is when an individual or family does not have and cannot afford a suitable place to live long term. Things like staying in a shelter, one room facilities (motel) or staying with a family member or friend does not mean you are not homeless. If you cannot afford suitable long term accommodations yourself, then you are considered homeless. When you are referring to youth homelessness they areRead MoreHomelessness : The United States1214 Words   |  5 Pagesmoney to pay to live in their previous homes. Homelessness occurs when people or households cannot afford housing. 3.5 million people yearly experience homelessness in the United States, and it is time to take action to end the suffering of homeless people. The U.S. government should execute plans to make housing low-cost and more jobs that are high-paying to reduce homelessness in the U.S. Homelessness has always been a problem in the United States but just not as widespread as it is now. â€Å"TheRead MoreHomelessness Of The United States Essay1459 Words   |  6 PagesJessy Clark Dr Iudicello English 102 30 November 2016 Homelessness in America â€Å"On a single night in January 2015, there were 564,708 people experiencing homelessness in the United States. Sixty-nine percent of those who were homeless were in sheltered locations and 31 percent were found in unsheltered locations† (Facts). People living in poverty are most likely have a high risk becoming homeless. Many other reasons why becoming homeless is due to economic conditions such as unemployment and increasingRead MoreThe Homelessness Of The United States978 Words   |  4 Pagesin the United States? I believe that it is everyone’s responsibility. As of January 2015 the homeless count in America was 564,708 people (Fluit, 2015). Even though this is a decline in homeless in America this is still unacceptable. As Americans we need to do all that we can to decrease these numbers. There is so much we could do that would go a long way to help our homeless, like donating time or money to the proper organizations. â€Å"In January 2015, 358,422 people experienced homelessness as individualsRead MoreHomelessness And The United States863 Words   |  4 Pages Homelessness has always been a present problem in the United States. It is caused by many factors that some of us are not aware of. The situations of these people hurt their families and local communities alike. Two sources were examined for their content on these issues. This essay describes the hardships of homelessness and what can be done to help these people. Helping the Homeless Many people have gotten to experience what life is like in big cities or small ruralRead MoreThe Homelessness Of The United States1803 Words   |  8 PagesEnding Homelessness Homelessness in the United States can be ended, not just maintained. Allot of cities now have plans to eradicate homelessness. Homelessness and housing instability are large issues that afflict a diverse demographic such as: Families, youth, veterans, and chronically homeless single male adults. Ending homelessness may require specialized solutions that are specific to individual needs. Factors like these make defeating homelessness a difficult task. Although solutions existRead MoreThe State of Homelessness in the United States Essay586 Words   |  3 PagesHomelessness became a huge problem in everywhere especially in the USA. Most people heard homeless people, and they saw homeless people in the streets, markets, or bridges. Most people never try to understand why there is much homelessness. Most people do not know any facts about them seem the truth of homelessness, the state of homelessness in the United States, and the effect on people from homelessness. Many causes become the answers to homeless people. The most easy understanding of homelessnessRead MoreHomelessness in the United States Essay1461 Words   |  6 PagesNational Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness, â€Å"approximately 3.5 million people are homeless each year, while 36.3 million live in households without enough food.† This statistic only reflects the United States, and to many people, it just doesn’t make sense. For instance Alfredzine Black of the YWCA in Marion, Indiana says, â€Å"I don’t understand why we have so much poverty in the richest country in the world!† Citizens of the United States have a hard time defining and identifying povertyRead MoreThe Effects Of Homelessness On The United States1218 Words   |  5 Pagesof homelessness with 983 documented homeless individuals according to a 2015 Modesto Bee study and sadly, the amount increases as surrounding areas begin to enforce strict laws. These laws criminalize and relocate homeless folk to our county. There are no exceptions to the cold reality of homelessness: men, women, children, military veterans, individuals, and families are included in the rising numbers of homelessness in Stanislaus County. According to the National Law Center on Homelessness and