1 Assignment 1 Discussion - Assignment 1 at the attachment

PERSONAL ESSAY: HOMELESSNESS

Name

Institution

Essay

Introduction

Homelessness is a condition where people lack stable place where they can dwell in; a place they can call home. Homeless people cannot maintain and acquire a safe, adequate and secure housing. The topic about homelessness is of interests because there are people living nearby who are homeless and they face lots of problems each day and night (Hombs, 2011). There are many causes and reasons for homelessness. In the world we are living in today, to have a home, a person must have the finance to pay for the house (Burrows, et al. 2013). Many people have become homeless simply because there are employment opportunities. Due to this fact, these people are living in poverty since they cannot afford the high prices of housing. Some people are homeless simply because they have been displaced from their homes by war and harsh weather conditions.

There are street families who are homeless because they have no parents, have abused drugs or are not in stable minds. Others have been disowned by their families. Homelessness is an issue that catches my attention because the number of street families is increasing each day and the government is not doing enough deal with this issue. The issue of homelessness is also a disturbing factor because it raises security concerns. Furthermore, homelessness leads to economic downturn (Burrows, et al. 2013).

When reflecting on the causes of homelessness, the government can play a role in eradicating some of the causes. These people are in the streets since there lacks affordable housing and at the same time most of them are unemployed (Burrows, et al. 2013). The government should create job opportunities for its citizens to ensure they do not live on the streets. Some people living in the streets simply because they have abused drugs. The government should try and resettle the homeless by providing them with affordable housing.

When living near the homeless, there were many problems of insecurity that are associated with the homeless. These people need money for their daily upkeep and some need money to buy drugs (Hombs, 2011). Due to this fact, these people turn to violent activities to get the money. Neighbors have to suffer since these people steal from them. The streets where the homeless live are also very unhygienic and this leads to deteriorating health conditions (McNamara, 2008). People in the streets cannot afford health care, education and women and children are at risk of abuse and violence. These people need our support as well as the support of the government to get off the streets and lead normal lives.

The issue of homelessness affects the economy of a country in that these people live through the sweat of others. Most of the homeless are associated with criminal activities due to the fact that they have to strive for existence. When these people are engaged in violent activities, they affect the economy of a country since enough security has to be deployed to these areas to ensure the neighboring streets are safe (McNamara, 2008). Furthermore, the government has to set aside money to ensure that these people are able to access health facilities even without the necessary health policies. Sometimes the government has to spend money to offer relief food to the homeless families.

Conclusion

Homelessness can be a matter of choice but mostly it affects people who are financially unstable. The issue of homelessness is a bothering issue because of the problems faced by the homeless on the streets. It is high time something is done to remove the homeless from the streets as this will reduce their predicaments as well as safeguard the streets.

References

Burrows, R., Pleace, N. & Quilgars, D. (2013). Homelessness and Social Policy. London, UK: Routledge

Hombs, M. E. (2011). Modern Homelessness: A Reference Handbook: A Reference Handbook. Goleta, CA: ABC-CLIO

McNamara, R. H. (2008). Homelessness in America. Goleta, CA: ABC-CLIO