Homelessness is a state of people not having home and as a result lives in places not meant for normal housing for example the streets (Baumohl, 2). The figure of homeless people increased during the 1980s because of the deterioration of the economy and the cuts in the housing and the social services. The available data shows that the number of homeless people in 2011 was 636, 017. The data reveals that 71% live in the central cities, 21% in the suburbs and 9% in the rural areas. The African Americans has the highest percentage of homeless people at 42% and the Asians having the least; 2%.
Causes of Homelessness
Homelessness has a number of causes but the following are the main ones;
Poverty.
Poverty is the major cause of homelessness in the United States. Poverty is always caused by unemployment or lack of quality pay employment. Poor households are always not capable of paying for housing, basic healthcare, food and education (United States Conference of Mayors, 20). Consequently, they have to make tough choices and cater for basic necessities like food and drop housing because it always takes the highest proportion of their income.
Lack of Affordable Housing
The lack of inexpensive housing in the United States has immensely contributed to the existing housing crisis and rendered many people homeless. (United States Conference of Mayors, 19). A research study done in 2007 established that the cost associated with acquiring the “right to build” added nearly $ 600,000 to the total cost of each house constructed in San Francisco. As a result, this has led to high rent burdens, substandard housing or homelessness. There has been many organizations helping the homeless in the US for example the National Low Income Housing Coalition however, financial constraints has hindered them from creating adequate housing.
Personal Factors
These are factors which result from an individual himself or herself. The personal factors include the following;
Drug Abuse.
Drug abuse addicts will end up depleting financial resources and or results in them losing their jobs. Consequently, this can lead to homelessness.
Domestic Violence.
This mostly affects women and children who are fleeing from domestic violence. In most cases, they find it difficult to get a new place to live.
Release from Prison
After being released from prisons, most individuals lack resources to enable them get back to their normal life. As a result, most of them will end up being homeless.
Other Factors
These include situations where people find themselves homeless as a result of unforeseen circumstances for example, natural disasters and unforeseen emergencies.
Effects of Homelessness
Homelessness has a number of effects on individuals
Health
Homeless people frequently encounter a number of diseases (Kusmer, 27). Due to lack of proper shelter or other necessities, they contract a number of diseases including; cold injury, tuberculosis, skin infections, sleep deprivation, cardio- respiratory diseases, mental illness, HIV/AIDS and many others.
Education
It has adverse effects on the homeless children education since it has a psychological effect on them thus hindering their performance.
Crime
Homelessness will always lead to increased crime. Homeless youth will resolve to crime to escape their situation and this exposes them to exploitation risks.
Debt
Poor living conditions and low incomes means that homeless people will end up in debt.
Conclusion
Some organizations for example the National Alliance to End Homelessness have played a key role in reducing homelessness across the country. This led to the reduction in the number of homeless people by 1% from 2009 to 2011.
Works Cited
Baumohl, “Homelessness in America.” ABC-CLIO, 1996
Kusmer, Kenneth L., "Down and Out, On the Road: The Homeless in American
History", Oxford University Press, 2003.
United States Conference of Mayors, "US Conference of Mayors/ Hunger and
Homelessness Survey: 2008"
