...Homelessness in America Tonight, across America, as many as 3.5 million people will not have a safe place to go to sleep. The homeless will be sleeping out in the cold, on a park bench or in the gutter. The lucky ones may be sleeping in a shelter tonight. These so called shelters are sometimes even more dangerous because they are frequently over-crowded and understaffed. But the real question is, in the land of opportunity, where the typical family has more televisions than family members and an average of two cars, why are there so many citizens on the street, struggling to survive from day to day? How are so many people, fellow human beings, sleeping on sidewalks, begging for spare change, and digging through garbage cans just to find food to eat? While the general impression is that the homeless are primarily alcoholics and drug abusers, more than half the homeless are families with children. The vast majority of these have been thrust into homelessness by a life altering event or series of events that were unexpected and unplanned for. There are many reasons these unfortunate individuals are seen living on the streets of our cities. Homelessness is caused by tragic life occurrences like the loss of loved ones, job loss, domestic violence, and divorce. Other impairments such as depression, untreated mental illness, post-traumatic stress disorder, and physical disabilities are also responsible for a large portion of the homeless. Many factors push people into living on...
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...Homelessness in America Overview Homelessness in America is a particularly complex problem, vulnerable to changing political realities, demographic shifts, and seismic cultural events such as the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Researchers and policy advocates have debated nearly every facet of the phenomenon, from the number of homeless to the causal factors to solutions for homelessness (Hodges, 2010). Each year, more than 3 million people experience homelessness, including 1.3 million children. According to national studies, even more Americans are at risk of homelessness. The impact of homelessness on families and children is devastating. Millions of low-income American households pay more than 50 percent of their income on rent when estimates say the figure should be no more than 30 percent (Surveys/Studies/Stats, 2012). There are several situations that may lead to homelessness but some of the more common reasons are: a missed paycheck, a health emergency, or an unpaid bill. These will create a crisis, pushing people out of their homes and in to homelessness. Despite diverse causes, almost all forms of homelessness are tied to poverty (Karger & Stoesz, 2010). Although there are policies to govern the issue of homelessness, there is room for reform and amendments in the legislation. Definition The level of significance we ascribe to homelessness very much depends on how the term is defined. In conducting the first census of the homeless in 1933, sociologist...
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...Homelessness in America Student’s Name Institutional Affiliation The Topic: Homelessness in America The problem of homelessness in America is a complex issue often vulnerable to the changing demographic dynamics, political shifts as well as seismic cultural events including the ongoing wars in most parts of the world. Policy makers have often debated most of the issues surrounding homelessness, right from the causes of homelessness, the population of the homeless to the possible solutions to the problem (Hodges, 2010). National studies indicate that Americans are at a high risk of becoming homeless. More than 30% of the low incomes earning Americans spend more than 50% of their earnings to paying rent (Surveys/Studies/Stats, 2012). The most common reasons for homelessness are emergency health problems, missed paychecks, and pending bills. However, most cases of homelessness are caused by poverty (Karger & Stoesz, 2010). Although policies to control homelessness have been implemented, there is a need for reforms and further amendments to state laws. Controversies Surrounding Homelessness in America A section of the people argues that it is their morally responsibility to assist the homeless people while others may claim that it is the choice of the people to remain homeless. Those who maintain that it is morally right to help the homeless individuals in the society cite the following critical issues: The Homeless Access to Health Insurance and Critical Medical...
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...Carla Hill Speech 108 Teacher – Ms. Margot Williams Homelessness in America To inform To inform the audience about the homeless crisis in America Homelessness in America I. Introduction Individuals nationwide are experiencing homelessness. Even the most educated people have joined the homeless. The major contributing factor of homelessness is the recession that our nation is experiencing. The country’s economical status is in a very critical state, causing numerous corporations and businesses to close. Our economical downturn based on documented statistics show there are high unemployment rates across the country. There are also other contributing factors that play a role in homelessness. II. Body The major reason for the homelessness in America is the recession. According to, The National Alliance to End Homelessness it is estimated that the recession will force another 1.5 million people into homelessness over the next two years. The second reason for the homelessness in America is high unemployment rates worldwide. This is a trickle down effect that has caused the recession. With the nation’s economy in such a critical state of downturn, numerous corporations and businesses around the world have either down-sized in the amount of employees on staff or closed altogether. There are other factors for homelessness in America: 1. Unaffordable housing is the result of individuals who have lost their jobs or simply...
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...Fight to End Homelessness? What has to change in the fight to end homelessness? The number of homeless in need is larger than the funds available to make a difference. People wanting to help are not up-to-date about how, where, and when they can help. Where funds should go is complicated for federal assistance determination. If one does get approved for assistance, they may have to wait six months before aid will arrive. One may ask what can they do help the homeless population? They can volunteer with donations and clothing drives, donate food to soup kitchens, and write to their senators with suggestions about the needs of the homeless. The donations may not be a large sum of money, but for someone that has no money it’s a lottery win (Targeted News Service, 2015). The many public and private non- profit agencies to benefit the homeless movement have the mission statement which is: Reduce Homelessness in America. Homelessness in America is being addressed by some of the following coalitions with overwhelming urgency. The National Alliance to end Homelessness in America (NAEH) provides data and research to policymakers in Washington (Targeted News Service, 2015). All established information along with the continuing research between national organizations follows the NAEH lead to end homelessness along with support of the determined mission to end homelessness in America (Targeted News Service, 2015). Agencies Involved with Ending Homelessness in America The following...
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...PRISON CONDITIONS KIMBERLY C. STAHL 303: CRJ CORRECTIONS CURTIS TURNEY APRIL 12, 2013 When someone has committed a federal offense they are usually sent to prison, they must pay for the crimes they have committed. Prisons are meant to protect society from those who commit crimes and to harm innocent people. For most of the prisoners it’s a purpose to rehabilitate them and to help them with the skills they need to become a member of society. Not only are prison’s meant to rehabilitate but they are also there to punish those who have committed a crime. Not all prisoners can be rehabilitated; criminals are put into prisons not only to keep society safe but to also help those who can be rehabilitated. In this research paper I will show what the prisons do to help inmates to rehabilitate and become a member of society, I will also analyze the condition of the U.S. prisons, and to show which programs will help to reduce recidivism. The purpose of prisons is to punish someone who has committed a federal offense, upon being arrested a person who is being accused of a crime will be arraigned in front of a judge, after the judge looks at all the evidence, he/she has to decide what the penalty will be for the person being accused, the judge must look at all the evidence and the record (if they have one) of the person who is being accused, after weighing all the evidence and if they are a repeat offender the judge then hands down their sentencing, after doing...
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...According to article, “Overview of Homelessness In America”, “ In the U.S., more than 3.5 million people experience homelessness each year.” Many people in our society are facing financial difficulties and are not able to pay rent or take care of other nececcities. Homelessness is a problem and it can happen to Americans every age, ethnicity, or background. 3.5 million people are homeless each year and don’t have resources and help to recover from difficulties in life. The majority of the people are not able to pay rent or bills with their low–paying jobs. Many people are also not able to pay rent with minimum wage jobs and soon become homeless because of this. Homelessness is a common issue in society and many factors contribute to homelessness such as lack of affordable housing, unemployment, and disabilities. The main cause of homelessness is the lack of affordable housing. Many are not able to pay their monthly rent because the amount is very high. Those who have jobs that don’t pay very well, have immense difficulty in paying their rent. According to the city officials, “Low-income households spend an average of 45 percent of their income on housing”(“Leading Cause of Homelessness in the United States” 1). If most of the money is used to pay rent, then there will not be enough money for food, clothing, and other basic...
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...Homelessness Homeless people are seen on the streets very often, especially in big cities. It is seen so often that people do not really take a minute to think about it. Is homelessness really a big issue in America? It does not affect the lives of fortunate people, so it does not matter to them, but the issue is bigger than what it seems. Imagine not having food, shelter, or new clothes to change into every day. What about sitting on the streets all day begging for money or even a bite of food, but instead people walk by not even paying attention? Does not sound found, does it? Well imagine that, but instead it was a child. A child who no longer has a home, family who can afford to take care of them, or any way of getting help. People do...
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...Homelessness in America is a huge issue in our nation today, with an array of causes and effects. There are many reasons why people become homeless.They are unable to afford their rent so they have no place to go but the streets. A complete solution to homelessness has yet to be found. But, activists have came up with many alternatives for example like affordable housing and homeless shelters. Alarmingly twenty-two percent of people in shelters were children. There are a lot more statistics like this that just wanna make you cringe. But, they are receiving shelter and food so that is a great alternative than sleeping on the streets. Although this isn't a complete solution to the issue of homelessness we are getting closer to a final solution. Homelessness has gradually become a...
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...Criminalization of Homelessness in America SOC 331: Social Justice and Ethics April 6, 2015 Criminalization of Homelessness in America Every country faces homelessness in one form or another. Homelessness in America has been an ongoing problem over many decade. Homelessness is not racist or biased as anyone can find themselves without the financial means to provide adequate shelter and food. While there are many definitions for homelessness the most common is “a person who "lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence” (www.pbs.org). Those who are susceptible to homelessness consist of but not limited to children, teenagers, adult men and woman, veterans, mentally unstable and elderly people. Homelessness is not just the problem that the homeless person faces but the problem that we all as citizens of the United States face ethically, morally with the proper forms of justice. Throughout this paper we are asked to evaluate different perspective and responses in regards to the American problem of homelessness. In doing so virtue ethics, distributive, commutative and retributive justices will be used in evaluating the responses. ‘Virtue ethics is an ethical theory that evaluates the morality of the person doing a given act, rather than the act itself. Virtue ethics thus emphasizes that the various virtues and whether a person reflects those virtues in his or her actions are crucial to moral evaluation” (Mosser, 2010). The text book Social and Criminal Justice...
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...Introduction Homelessness is a critical issue within the United States of America. According to the United States federal law and the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987, if a person lacks a fixed, regular, or adequate nighttime residence the person is then considered homeless. The National Alliance to End Homelessness reported that on a single night in January 2015 564,708 people in the United States were considered homeless, meaning they had no place to sleep. In the 1870s the issue of homelessness in America emerged causing many homeless people to live in urban cities. In the 1930s this issue worsened due to the Great Depression, causing poverty and more than two million people were homeless and in search of work. The homeless...
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...Child homelessness is on the rise in America. ¬This must be corrected before more children become homeless. In 2013 Alabama ranked #50 for having the most homeless children in the United States, Arizona is number 45 (Sco). Children who are homeless are more likely to be victims of poverty, domestic violence, and affordable housing. Right now in America, NBC reported that in 2014 one in 30 American children are homeless (Martha C. White). Why are so many children homeless this day and age? How would it feel it have a homeless son or daughter? Homeless children are often victims of poverty, domestic violence, or affordable housing. This is why so many of them are homeless. Homeless people have something in common whether you are young or old, its substance abuse (Zeisemer). Youth and teens ages 12-21 often find themselves lost with nowhere to go. Some of these teens often resort to the use of drugs and alcohol (Ringwalt.) Drugs and alcohol for these kids help cope with what they are experiencing. With the use of drugs and alcohol this leads to the children killing themselves because they overdose or become addicted. Drugs and alcohol are a factor to homelessness, because of this child homelessness is on the rise....
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...It has been about a year and I would like to say that I am trying to get a stable home for all of you. I am currently in Miami and I am having trouble. I am having trouble because I, among 114,462 others, have been trying to find a stable home and I only have 1,000 cuban pesos. There are not many homeless shelters or jobs available. I was brought to Key West to enter into America. It is currently tres quince and I still need to find shelter, food and water. The climate I heard is less dry and less wet than Cuba depending on the season. It is currently the wet season and I don't even know what to expect. Everyone doesn't have a care in the world here, I wish I could bring all of you here with me to see this. There is minimal garbage and disease,...
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...One problem I have noticed that we have in the United States of America is homeless people. One day when my dad and I were in Madison Wisconsin, there were about five or more people sleeping on the sidewalk of the capital. I felt awful and wanted to help but I didn’t know if I could really trust them. When we started writing our papers I start thinking about when I was up in Madison, and thought to get someone to help open more homeless shelters, otherwise introduce people to a homeless shelter. I understand not that many people trust them, because they might be faking and just want to see if people will give them money. One way to make that not happen and actually help the real homeless people is, to have people walk around everyday and check...
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...Homelessness in America Student’s Name Institutional Affiliation Homelessness remains to be a complex problem in the American society given the ever increasing number of the homeless people as time goes. There is a need for the government and the American society at large to help the homeless since it is shameful for society as wealthy as America to have homeless people in the society. On the other hand, there are several people who are perceived to be homeless in the streets of America's cities but are capable of sustaining themselves. The opponents of assisting the homeless argue that such people have the potential to sustain themselves if the government and the society’s support system are withdrawn and therefore, assisting them only burdens the government and the society. For all the stakeholders to develop an effective homeless policy, there is a need for the development of mechanisms that will lead to a proper identification of the homeless. Identifying the correct population of the homeless people involves coming up with a proper definition of homelessness. Different definitions of homelessness are widely used in America. Those definitions are controversial since different stakeholders use a specific definition of homelessness to justify their action. One of the most effective and all-inclusive definitions is called the point in time definition. It is a one-time survey of all the institutions, the shelters, and all the other places on the street with a high tendency of...
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