Homelessness in America has grown and continues to escalate at an alarming rate. Poverty is the core cause of homelessness in America and is directly related to our current economic condition. Solutions to homelessness require immediate attention by our Federal Government and swift action by Congress.

Homelessness in America

Homelessness in America is on the rise at an alarming rate. Homelessness has not been given the recognition it deserves on any level, local, state, or federal. Government agencies turn the other cheek regarding solutions to homelessness. The media will not even acknowledge that homelessness and poverty are serious threats to our health and stability as a nation.

Instead of the Federal Government and Congress embracing the problem of homelessness in America, it is viewed as an unjustifiable expense. The message is clear, politics; big corporations and funding wars take precedence over the well being of our society as a whole. The weak yet evident excuse seems to be “what is good for the whole justifies the means”. However, the Federal Government has not shown any evidence they understand what is good for the whole of our society.

The root causes of homelessness are the result of the human condition and biases within our society. Homelessness in America is the direct result of poverty. Is homelessness in America too large or complicated to be considered unsolvable? Helping the homeless is solvable with diligent consideration and dedicated humane action.

Approximately twenty percent of the homeless in America have full time or part-time jobs, yet cannot afford their own apartment or house. Forty percent of the homeless living at the New Orleans Mission homeless shelter have full times jobs, yet cannot afford outside housing. Let’s face it, in our troubled economic times working is no longer a guarantee that protects us from poverty and homelessness. President-elect Barack Obama is right; there cannot be a strong wall street without a strong middle class economy.

Considering the history and current circumstances surrounding homeless people in America, it is foolish and irresponsible not to view this as a priority worth resolving. Resolving homelessness in America requires compassion, intelligent-effective programs, fiscal responsibility, and a substantial budget to fund the programs.

Helping the homeless ensures they have adequate food, money to pay bills, adequate health care, and transportation. This is critical to the growth and health of our society. Homelessness in America is not going to just go away. The argument that we cannot afford programs for helping the homeless clearly illustrates the attitude and lack of intelligent leadership in America today. Hidden political agendas will not end poverty and homelessness in America. The bottom line is that we cannot afford to ignore poverty and the homeless in America anymore.

On the other hand throwing tons of money at a problem that does not have the attention of our governmental decision makers or our media, and where there are no fiscally responsible solutions, will not end poverty and homelessness in America. There has to be a genuine concern and deep seeded commitment to initiate and maintain long-term effective programs with the goal being to eliminate poverty and homelessness in America.

The myths and misconceptions about the true causes of homelessness typify how we think and act as a society. It is easy to dodge and justify feelings about something to avoid a problem. Over the years mental illness and substance abuse have been targeted as the most common causes of homelessness. Perhaps not far from the absolute truth is many people still conclude that mental illness and substance abuse are the two major causes of homelessness in America. Homelessness statistics show that there are even deeper growing issues contributing to homelessness in America. Lack of affordable housing, no health insurance coverage, unemployment, low paying jobs, domestic violence, gradual loss of public assistance programs, and Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are also significant problems contributing to the annual rise in homelessness. How about the realities of being a senior citizen? There are more senior citizens than ever before living out of their cars displaced from there homes. The rising level of poverty will only increase homelessness in America.

Homelessness statistics in America suggest that about three and a half million people are homeless. This represents about one percent of our population. About one third are homeless children. The number of homeless families is on the rise annually. Homeless families currently constitute about forty percent of the homeless in America. About sixty percent of the homeless are single adults, mostly men. An increase in domestic violence over the years has displaced women from their homes creating a burden on homeless shelters. On a larger scale it is estimated that over one hundred million people around the world have no shelter. In this day and age if you do not have shelter, money for food, medical care, money for monthly bills, and do not have an income, the realities are very bleak. Under those conditions a person will either end up homeless or maybe get lucky and find someone kind enough to help them out.

Although government may be necessary to some extent, the real significance or importance behind any governing body is to serve and protect. The current federal administration dictates and works their agenda behind closed doors. This is not what government was created to do. The current administrations way of governing has deeply hurt America, possibly beyond repair. Originally government was created to provide civil service and to protect everyone, including the less fortunate. The best way to ensure the healthy future of America will be determined by how we utilize the resources and funds we have. It is not about how many dollars and cents we can make. In order for the trickle down effect to work in a positive manner within all levels of government, and more importantly for all citizens of America, the federal government must change directions three hundred and sixty degrees now!

A prime example of a huge number of people becoming homeless in the blink of an eye is reflective of the story behind Hurricane Katrina. Katrina destroyed two hundred thousand homes and displaced approximately one million people, just like that. Three years later the homeless population in New Orleans has continued to grow. The government knew well in advance that Katrina was going to hit New Orleans with a vengeance unlike any other hurricane. The federal government had the finances and ability to evacuate everyone safely and provide the evacuees indefinite housing arrangements. However, the Federal Government did not execute. Instead there were delays in getting assistance to the hurricane victims. As a matter of fact the executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, Michael Stoops, said that in the wake of a natural disaster there is no guarantee the government is coming to the rescue.

Another very unfortunate trend in cities around the country over the past twenty-five years has been the enforcement of unfair criminal laws against homeless people. This trend targets homeless people by making it illegal to perform daily routine tasks like sitting, eating and sleeping. Those things plus begging in public places have resulted in criminal penalties in violation of the enforced laws. City, County, State, and Federal Government agencies must change their prejudices and policies regarding homelessness in America by initiating fair regulations and laws concerning the life sustaining needs of the homeless. The real crimes being committed are those imposed on the homeless by our governing agencies through the enforcement of ignorant and biased criminal laws.

How can anyone be encouraged, have hope, or develop respect for a governing body that allows the very people it is supposed to solemnly serve to be homeless?

There has been a definite trend over the past few decades toward downsizing and eliminating worthwhile humanitarian programs, yet military spending is at an all time high. Developing and properly funding new, innovative, and intelligent long-term programs to eliminate poverty and homelessness in America has to be our number one priority. What if America were to develop such plans and as a result eliminate homelessness in America? What if our goal was to than show and educate the rest of the world exactly what we learned from our efforts?

The government is not responsible for all of our problems and as a society we should not expect them to be. As a matter of fact given the history of leadership in America over the last eight years, it is debatable whether the Federal government can serve the American people’s best interests anymore.

Nevertheless, if the Federal Government insists on tax money each and every year, expects honesty, integrity and respect from American citizens, the least they can do is reciprocate by delivering quality programs to benefit everyone, not just the rich. Ending poverty and homelessness in America is not only good for the human condition, it sends a global message that America has turned the corner and once again is determined to become a great mentor and economic leader in the world.

There is also a responsibility that falls within each and every one of us. That responsibility is the willingness to embrace and promote humanitarian values as a priority in our lives, instead of turning our heads away avoiding problems like homelessness in America. American leadership in our government, on all levels, has failed miserably to perform the very function they were intended to carry out, acting as a civil servant to mankind.

Although there are financial restrictions and limitations as to how much money can be spent by our government, the excuse we cannot afford programs to help solidify the very core of our social and economic well-being is no longer acceptable. The fact is we cannot afford to ignore problems like homelessness in America anymore. If the leaders of our country can justify and budget trillions of dollars to fund wars, than how can they possibly say we cannot afford investing in the elimination of poverty and homelessness in America? The government must demonstrate with open arms the sincerity and willingness to eliminate homelessness in America. Many of us that are still fortunate to have shelter and a job are in fact only a short distance from being homeless considering the horrific economic difficulties we currently face.

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