Victor Morales

Professor Joanne Martin

English 114B

March 19, 2012

Homelessness in America

            As we know there are several problems here in America, but there is one in particular that has gotten out of hand. Homelessness in America has increased in the past several years due to several reasons but there are three reasons that are the largest that contribute to homelessness. One reason for homelessness is drug abuse, where people not getting enough support to overcome this addiction and being left to fend for themselves on the streets. Second are the war veterans coming back, they are not receiving enough compensation for their participation in the U.S forces and not being treated for any psychiatric shock caused from war. Finally, most people repeating being homeless often suffer from physical disabilities which prevent them from getting a job. Homelessness is a serious problem here in the U.S and needs to be assessed properly and with great vigor in order to help those out that are less fortunate them most people.

            Some homeless people out there suffer from a serious addiction to drugs and/or alcohol. According to the American Psychological Association “Credible estimates of the prevalence of alcohol and drug abuse suggest that alcohol abuse affects 30 to 40% and drug abuse 10 to 15% of homeless persons.” By the year 2009 it is estimated that there is roughly around 656,000 homeless here in the U.S. That means that around 262,400 suffer from alcohol abuse while the other 98,400 suffer from drug addiction. Looking at these numbers proves that homelessness has severely gotten out of hand while in some cases this even includes families struggling to get through these addictions. All of these homeless do not have the money in order to be able to pay for rehabilitation and treatment because most of their scarce money goes straight to alcohol or drugs. These people are considered chronic homeless because due to their addiction they have been out on the streets repeatedly due to their addiction. In order to help these homeless they must be put through rehabilitation in order to function properly in society.

Additionally many people returning from war also need to go through rehab or some sort of psychiatric therapy in order to function properly in society. Usually when there are homeless there is bound to be a couple that are war veterans. These veterans have not been fully compensated for their time and are suffering severely for the government’s lack of responsibility. These people either have post-traumatic stress disorder and it keeps them from functioning properly in society. Also some are suffering from physical disabilities making it nearly impossible for them to acquire jobs. As stated by the national alliance to end homeless:

“The Departments of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently released a supplemental report to the 2010 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress on veterans. The supplement estimated that 76,000 veterans experience homelessness on any given night.”

These people have not been paid for the service in full. All these people suffer from physical or mental disability caused by their service in the military. In some cases the disabilities are so extreme they need to be permanently housed and supported for the rest of their lives. In most cases this does not happen and they are just let out on the streets, left to fend for themselves with their psychiatric and physical problems.

            Third is the physical and mental well-being of the person in order to be able to work properly and make a secure income each week. It is also known that these people who do not gain the support, that they so desperately need, often turn to drug and alcohol abuse to cope with their disabilities. The main reason people with disabilities are not being treated is because society is not doing enough to keep them secure and supported. Also it takes constant care in order to keep these homeless out of the streets by therapy or helping them manage with their physical disability. In some cases “…people experiencing homelessness may wait to seek medical care until a trip to the emergency room is necessary” stated by the National alliance to End Homelessness. To shed some light on this dim scenario that America is dealing with, there has been a few of exceptions where homeless are actually sheltered and regularly treated for the physical and mental health, but only those with the most severe cases actually receive this type of benefit.

            There are several oppositions on why people should not to help the homeless. “It’s not my responsibility, They are lazy and deserve to be there, If you give to beggars, you will get more beggars.” These are only a few of the reasons why people don’t help out the homeless. They believe that there are several other commissions that are going to help the homeless, sadly it is untrue. Even though it is true that if the homeless is not willing to help him or herself that there will be no progress into securing them financially. There are fully functional homeless who choose to live on the streets, instead of shelters or getting a job. Shame on these people this is what brings the negative stereotype on the homeless and what keeps the stereotype alive and well. The big picture is that most people cannot help themselves and require a helping hand in order to continue to move forward in today’s society. The main reason for the mass number of homeless is a shortage of funds to help them prosper and get out of that shit-hole they call a life. To be considered homeless is that one does not have any place to call home. They have no place to sleep and having to look around constantly for their next meal. No one would enjoy living this life and most people can’t escape it due to their disabilities.

            People need to take initiative and help the homeless. Most of the population of homeless is suffering from some mental illness which varies from chronic depression to schizophrenia which keeps them from getting a job. Giving to charity is a direct way to support the homeless in their struggle. Preparing them for the work force is also another way to give them support. An old saying says “Give a man a fish; you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish; and you feed him for a life time.”

Works Cited

"Mental/Physical Health." National Alliance to End Homelessness: Issues:. Web. 20 Mar. 2012. <http://www.endhomelessness.org/section/issues/mental_physical_health>.

"Veterans." National Alliance to End Homelessness: Issues:. Web. 20 Mar. 2012. <http://www.endhomelessness.org/section/issues/veterans>.

Argeriou, Dennis, Milton Huebner, and Robert B. Lubran. "American Psychological."Alcoholism, Drug Abuse, and Homeless. Web. <http://psycnet.apa.org/psycinfo/1992-09475-001>.