Problem Solution Homelessness free essay sample

Homelessness the Problems of America Homelessness has always been a problem in major cities across the United States and even the world. This problem also affects out local community and even all of us individually. (Daily) A majority of the American people lives paycheck to paycheck, and according to statistics, we are only one or two paychecks away from becoming homeless. While there are many reasons a person or family can become homeless, a majority of those problems come from a lack of income. The job market of today is quickly dwindling and shows no signs of improvement. This market mixed with new government policies is becoming an issue for struggling American’s on the poverty line. Homelessness is becoming a vast problem for Americans, According to (Hope for the Homeless) 22 of every 10,000 people are homeless which comes out to an estimate of at least 672,000 people. While that may not seem like a staggering amount, that number is rising quickly. We will write a custom essay sample on Problem Solution Homelessness or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Furthermore, 42 percent of those 672,000 are unsheltered (meaning they live on the streets or in other forms of shelter not meant for human habitation), while 58 percent are living in shelters or transitional housing 37 percent of the homeless are people in family units, while 63 percent are individual adults. The vast majority of the homeless populous are kicked to the streets because as the economy becomes worse, jobs are becoming harder and harder to find. However, even though it is becoming more difficult for the average American to find a job that is not the only reason why people become homeless. Another reason a person could become homeless is various types of abuse such as drug abuse, physical abuse, or mental abuse. Another prevalent reason why some individuals become homeless can be traced to mental illnesses. (Hope) Most mental illnesses that contribute to homelessness are diseases such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, some extreme forms of anxiety, depression, and trauma to name a few. In addition, an even smaller percentage of those suffering from mental illness are veterans that served in the military. Some veterans suffer from a mental illness known as PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) when they do not seek medical help they have a higher risk of becoming homeless then those that seek medical advice. This disorder was caused by something that the military veteran experienced while in active duty during war. While the idea’s that have come forth to try to solve the problem of homelessness, many people have come up with great solutions that are currently helping these individuals. The programs that are in place provide shelters for people who have been kicked to the streets and have no place to stay. These shelters provide food, clothing, water, and best of all a place to sleep. However, these shelters require the individuals staying there to seek a job during the day. The biggest problems these shelters have come from the rules that apply to those staying. The current rules allow homeless people to take advantage of the program by allowing them to stay there for up to 6 months, and then they must move to another shelter or live on the streets. The problem presented with this rule is in most cities they have more than one shelter, which allows people to abuse the system and live under the care of taxpayers indefinitely. However, most people understand that there could potentially be more than one reason why a person would need to return to a homeless shelter within 6 months to a year, but not spend almost their entire life using this system. Comparatively, another great solution that is already in place by the government are programs that were intended to try to help the homeless get on their feet and become productive members of society. Specifically, some of the programs established by the government help homeless people that have families with children, by providing food stamps, welfare, and cash assistance. These programs help prevent people from becoming homeless, but can and often become abused as well. This free government money given to those without jobs provides no real incentive to get a job. (Article) People abuse this system by getting money from all of the government welfare programs and then lying about looking for a job. While not everyone that is on a government program abuses the system, there seems to be almost an equal amount of people who do. Instead of using the taxpayer’s money to give it directly to these men and women who are unable to get ahead in life, this plan would require people to willing give their time to this cause. However, this plan will still require the use of taxpayers’ money, but it will not be given to the homeless in the form of cash. When a person becomes homeless and has been kicked to the streets, when that person(s) comes to the homeless shelter the first thing that will be provided to them will be a suit, pair of shoes, a dress tie, and a razor. Proper female attire will be provided as well, and a member of the staff will help them put together a resume using previous job experience. This person will be given bus passes if public transportation is available in that city, and will be required to fill out at least three applications a day and must provide proof to the shelter. This solution, if put into place will not only help reduce the number of people that are homeless, but it will help those who are not productive members of society become productive. Even though the job market has suffered greatly within the last few years, there are still jobs out there that can provide a good start for someone struggling and on the verge of becoming homeless or already homeless. This solution will not solve the entire problem with homelessness but it is better than the current policies in place. Homelessness caused by mental illnesses and abuse require help from professional medical advisors, and doctors who are trained to help heal these individuals.