Solutions+and+Actions

1. Laura Bilash According to the status report from the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the central cause of homelessness over the last year was substance abuse. Over the last year, substance abuse has affected sixty-eight percent of single adults who were reported homeless. Other causes of homelessness include lack of affordable housing, mental illnesses, poverty, unemployment, family disputes, low paying jobs, emancipation from foster care, or other. Many of these central causes are a result of a tragic life occurrence. The two main central causes of homelessness according to the status report are substance abuse (68%) and lack of affordable housing (60%). Substance abuse is caused by addictions to either drugs or alcohol, which results in no money and no home, causing a person to end up homeless. According to Lincoln Park Community Shelter in Chicago, many of the guests who apply there suffer from substance abuse. Those people often seek help from the shelter to deal with their addictions, and in turn, the shelter offers them services such as rehab if needed. Lack of affordable housing is most likely due to either unemployment or a low paying job, causing a person to be unable to pay for their house. These central causes of homelessness, along with the many others, are the result of a life changing event or a series of events that are sometimes uncontrollable.


 * Resources used:** __http://usmayors.org/pressreleases/documents/hungerhomelessnessreport_121208.pdf__

2. Laura Bilash According to USA Today, the homeless population in America ranges between 2.3 and 3.5 million people. In the United States, California, Oregon, and New York have the highest homeless population. The homeless rates in these three states are estimated as a percent of the state’s total population. The homeless rates are as followed: Oregon 0.5 percent, California 0.3 percent, and New York 0.3 percent of the population. Today, homelessness not only affects those living in urban areas, but also people living in rural and suburban areas. In 2007, the number of homeless people in rural and suburban shelters was twenty-three percent. However, according to USA Today, this number increased rapidly over the next two years and was thirty-two percent in 2009. Ultimately, homelessness is becoming a bigger problem in all areas and regions across the country.


 * Resources used: ** __http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-07-09-homeless_N.htm__

3. Jenny Bilash To many foreign countries, the United States is perceived as a privileged country with the ability to solve problems easily. Unfortunately, homelessness is one of the problems that the United States has not been able to solve. According to Homeless American, the media depicts the homeless population as, “sleeping on sidewalks, or pushing shopping carts full of junk.” Although this may be true to a small percentage of the population, many homeless people do not want to look poor and search for jobs to get back on their feet. Homelessness is a national problem and is very poorly addressed because the media rarely mentions anything about it or ways to help solve this problem. This leaves many people in the United States unaware of the dramatic increase of homelessness. Homeless American states that there are organizations and charities that receive many donations and government grant money, but they spend it on other things such as administrative costs, fundraisers, and advertising, which does not help the homeless in any way. In “Hunger and Homelessness in U.S. Cities,” the U.S. Conference of Mayors stated that homelessness has increased and 19% more are homeless because Washington excludes them. Those who do help the homeless are smaller organizations that are low-income such as churches, local communities, or individuals. Without any help from the country, homelessness will continue to increase in the future. People in the United States should become more aware of homelessness and learn how they can help this national problem. If the media began to address this problem publicly, more people would donate or volunteer to help the homeless population. People can volunteer to help this cause by working in homeless shelters and donating food and clothes. In order to address this national problem, the United States must turn their attention toward the real issue; getting people off the streets.

__http://www.homelessamerican.com/__
 * Resources used:** __http://baltimorechronicle.com/2010/052110Lendman.shtml__

4. Julia Masur The recession has caused many people to lose their jobs, homes, and money therefore putting them onto the streets. According to the Lincoln Park Community Shelter in Chicago, Illinois, many guests that come into the shelter have degrees, but have lost their jobs. They have been experiencing hundreds of people coming in yearly to apply for a space in the shelter. The Lincoln Park Community Shelter works with guests on finding jobs, but of course, the economy "isn't helping people get out." In 2009, the U.S. Conference of Mayors surveyed 20 cities and 83% reported an increase in homelessness. Since 2007, it has been reported there has been a 12% increase of homeless people in cities. Over the next two years, it was estimated the recession will cause an additional 1.5 million people homeless.


 * Resources used:** http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/526/homeless-facts.html

5. Julia Masur In May, 2010, it was reported 39% of people homeless are non-Hispanic whites, 42% African American, 13% Hispanic, 4% Native American, 2% asian. It was also reported 44% of these people are single men, 13% single woman, 36% families with children, and 7% unaccompanied minors (Lendman). Out of these minors, 1.6 million teens ran away from home and have slept on the streets for around twelve months. 51% have suffered from physical abuse, 60% of girls and 23% of boys have been sexually violated, and others suffer from substance abuse or being thrown out by their parents. 33% of these teens have been in foster care (Homeless America). Although studies show homeless adults are more likely to be male, more woman have been reported homeless than ever before. 40% of those homeless range from ages 46 to 65 years old making that the largest portion, followed by 36 to 45 years with 35% of people (Homelessness Among Woman and Children).

http://baltimorechronicle.com/2010/052110Lendman.shtml http://www.homelessamerican.com/ http://www.panhandleparade.com/index.php/mbb/article/homelessness_up_among_women_and_children/mbb7711987/
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