In United States of America, almost 3.5 million people are homeless every year and strikingly, over 1 million of them are children. The homeless people have to sustain facing the brunt of the hardships of life. Those people who sleep in shelters or on park benches are homeless. It can also be the case that a person is homeless, though he or she has employment. Such individuals would be seen lodging in hotel rooms or sleeping at their friend’s place. People who are homeless have no relationship with their family and are left to toil their way through life devoid of the comforts and care of loved ones. A life of hardships and persistence awaits these fellows.
The causes which lead to homelessness can be categorized into the individual’s personal circumstances and the adverse structural factors which are beyond the control of the individual who is left homeless. Such problems pile up cumulatively over a long time and finally leave the person homeless.
Firstly, one needs to consider the personal causes of homelessness. It needs to be understood that quite a number of personal and social circumstances can finally push the individual toward being homeless. Such personal causes include individual factors. A person who indulges in alcohol or drug abuse may be the potential victim of homelessness. Lack of qualifications or no social support can also lead someone to become homeless. Another major cause can be debt in the form of mortgage. The individual may also be left homeless due to poor mental health or relationship hindrances. Association with criminal activities can also leave one homeless at an early age.
Family background can also be the reason behind one’s homelessness. Family breakdowns and abuses in the physical or sexual form or disputes can all lead to such circumstances. The other major cause can be a person’s previous institutional background. If a person has been in the armed forces or in prison, then the impending inevitability can be that individual’s homelessness. Pregnancy may be a cause of young girls running away from home or being driven away. Sexual orientation is another such cause which can make one get out of the house. LGBT teens are rejected by their families many a time and they end up being homeless. Such problems need to be tackled with care and the intervention of the public bodies and family plays pivotal roles. Counseling and provision of an accommodation that can be resided in alternatively gain optimum importance under such circumstances.
Moreover, there are several structural causes which lead to homelessness. Such causes are socio-economic in their nature and are beyond the control of the people on most occasions. A person’s unemployment can lead to his or her homelessness. Poverty is the most common cause which compels innumerable people to face the brunt of a homeless life. Other reasons may include housing policies or lack of affordable housing for the individual. Also, the administration and structure of the housing benefit can lead to one’s homelessness. Another such cause may be the closure of a prolonged stay of an individual at a psychiatric hospital. These reasons, however, cannot be dealt with by the family or help groups. Rather, they need a long-term metamorphosis in the policies of the state. The society needs to be ensured of greater economic benefits to enable the people to live a better life.
Homelessness can have a tormenting effect on the individual. Such effects can include health issues as well as personal denial. Many of such individuals who are left homeless may get alienated from the society and fail to cope up with the situation.
People who are left homeless most often face health issues which worsen with time. They suffer from little or no attention from family or health care officials which accentuates the problem. Such individuals may suffer from several diseases which may impede normal sustenance. The most common of such diseases is cold injury. Over time these people may also develop cardio-respiratory diseases. Another impending jeopardy is that of tuberculosis which may harm the health greatly. Skin diseases and lack of nutrition are also among the commonest problems that these people face. Not only are these people left to be deprived of sleep, they may also suffer from mental illness which will worsen with time being unattended. The vulnerability of such people makes them fall victims in the brutal clutches of physical and sexual assault. These people also develop drug dependency. The most dangerous disease that may make them succumb is HIV.
Apart from health problems, homeless people are extremely vulnerable to personal hardships. The moment of realization that he or she would never have a home hits these individuals with enormous impetus. This shock may be too much to take for many of them. They may succumb to psychological problems in the course of time. Homelessness may lead to the loss of self-esteem of an individual. Such onerous circumstances can lead to institutionalization. An increase in substance misuse can be noted among the hapless people who are left homeless. Their plight leads to their lack of capability and will power to care for themselves. Also, the danger of violence and abuse is catapulted to great heights when homelessness becomes the inevitable. This would also increase the probability of one entering the criminal justice system out of sheer desperation. Behavioral problems are also known to show up in the individuals who are left homeless.
Thus, it can be concluded that this is a major problem that hinders the societal development. The issue needs to resolved with care and planning. Homelessness complicates the individual development and sustenance. Thus, in turn it affects the society immensely.
Works Cited
“Top Causes of Homelessness in America.” HomeAid. n.p., n.d. Web. 20 May 2013.
“Causes of Homelessness.” Portland Rescue Mission. n.p., n.d. Web. 20 May 2013.
“Effects of Homelessness.” Center Point. n.p., n.d. Web. 20 May 2013.
“Effects of Homelessness.” eHow. Demand Media, n.d. Web. 20 May 2013.
