More than 30,000 people experience homelessness in Baltimore annually. According to Genberg et al (2013), at least 3,000 people spend their night in streets every day. These statistics are provided by the emergency and transitional shelter services. Considering the large number of homeless people, it becomes apparent that this is a real problem in the area. Homelessness fundamentally results from poverty. With the increasing poverty levels in the area, the problem is likely to persist and the health threats will increase with time. Communicable diseases, hypothermia, foot bite, and frostbite arise due to increased cases of homeless people in the area. This paper looks at homelessness in Baltimore as a health issue with the intention of suggesting solutions that can utilized in addressing the problem.
Baltimore is a large area in Maryland with over 3,000 people experiencing the homelessness challenge a night. Mainly, the challenge comes because of increased poverty levels in the area and the leaders claim that the issue can only be solved through a long-term plan (DiPietro & Klingenmaier, 2013). Furthermore, the high costs of living and absence of actual infrastructure to curb homelessness also affects the situation. However, the plan must also include poverty eradication measures for efficiency in full eradication of homelessness. A report done for the National Health Care for the Homeless Council (NHCHC) found out that people who are homeless become sicker and die earlier that the people who are housed. This means that homelessness accounts for a huge number of deaths in the area (DiPietro & Klingenmaier, 2013).
The government and people in the area have tried to curb the problem of homelessness in a number of ways. The volunteers of America are notably the fastest working group to end homelessness in Baltimore, Maryland. Through the mobile and street programs, the group reaches out to the homeless and houses them in their homes until they return to self-sufficiency states. Most of people attempting to end homelessness use this method, as it is the only avenue within their reach. However, a lot can be done in order to end the challenge of homelessness in Baltimore.
The question of what could be done to end homelessness in the area is the loudest. First, the government must work to eradicate poverty in the area. The cost of living is high in the area and the poverty levels are considerably high (DiPietro & Klingenmaier, 2013). The government must lower the cost of living for the people and provide employment, which will solve the problem of homelessness. With poverty fully eradicated, the government will have the room to deal with the remaining number of homeless people without worry that the numbers will rise.
Homelessness in Baltimore can also be solved through a systematic and true advocacy system (Alexander-Eitzman, Pollio & North, 2013). The problem of homelessness cannot be addressed in one day, as it requires adopting of systemic plan to be fully eradicated. The government knows this better than everyone does. In order to end the homelessness issue, the government should in fact develop a legislative branch that talks for the homeless people. The branch will thus be responsible for the settlement of people including providing them with an equal opportunity to earn some revenue and return to self-sufficiency.
Individual reaction and communal policy will also help lower the problem in the area (Alexander-Eitzman, Pollio & North, 2013). Every person must show readiness to support program to settle the homeless. People with the financial ability can take care of the less able in the society. However, the rest must show proactively in informing the concerned bodies of any homeless persons they spot, as this will provide the correct data for settlement of the homeless.
When the settlement of homeless people is in progress, evaluation will help to know the level of progress made to every step. It is worthwhile noting that evaluating these steps is easy. Firstly, each of the organizations practically involved in the settlement must have correct data on the numbers of homeless people (Linton, Celentano, Kirk & Mehta, 2013). This will facilitate goal setting for the organizations. The arm of government, which should be set to speak for the homeless people will then evaluate the progress on periodic terms ad advise on the areas that need improvement.
Homelessness in Baltimore is a disaster with over 3,000 people homeless every night. This mainly arises from the high poverty levels in the area. In solving the challenge, all stakeholders including the government must work together and show commitment. The government should eradicate poverty through employment creation and lowering the cost of living. At the same time, the nursing bodies must work to diagnose the common ailments arising from homelessness while examining for any other condition. Settlement and volunteer organizations should also house the homeless for temporary measures to ensure the treatment is effective.
References
Alexander-Eitzman, B., Pollio, D. E., & North, C. S. (2013). The Neighborhood Context of Homelessness. American Journal Of Public Health, 103(4), 679-685.
DiPietro, B., & Klingenmaier, L. (2013). Achieving Public Health Goals Through Medicaid Expansion: Opportunities in Criminal Justice, Homelessness, and Behavioral Health With the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. American Journal Of Public Health, 103(S2), e25-e29
Genberg, B., Gillespie, M., Schuster, C., Johanson, C., Astemborski, J., Kirk, G., & Mehta, S. (2013). Prevalence and correlates of street-obtained buprenorphine use among current and former injectors in Baltimore, Maryland
Linton, S. L., Celentano, D. D., Kirk, G. D., & Mehta, S. H. (2013). The longitudinal association between homelessness, injection drug use, and injection-related risk behavior among persons with a history of injection drug use in Baltimore, MD. Drug And Alcohol Dependence, (3), 457
