A Rise in Homelessness Even as More Homes Get Built?

A Rise in Homelessness Even as More Homes Get Built?

Homelessness is a state of not having a home and shows a lack of ability for one to support themselves both physically and mentally. It is a situation that affects not only the homeless individual but also the society, and the country and is a huge constraint to the development of any nation. Homeless people cannot be fully productive since the situation deprives them of the peace of mind one gets in being assured a place that they can call home. A home is essential because of the sense of belonging and security it brings.  Imagine living in an area where the law prohibited sitting down. Would it be possible to survive, having no place to fall asleep or keep one’s belongings? To a majority of the citizens, these situations would be unbearable to the extent of being ludicrous. However, to the group of people without a place to call home, these situations are part of their ordinary lives. As I walk through the street and see the despair in the homeless, I cannot help but sympathize with them, considering that they have to live in harsh conditions.

The government’s effort in trying to eradicate this problem has, at times, failed miserably. This failure is because some individuals tasked with handling this issue are more interested in making a profit from government housing rather than in improving human welfare. These houses end up in the hands of wealthy people instead of being allocated to the homeless at affordable rates. As a result, homelessness is still on the rise even though more homes are being built. Deserving families get no reprieve as insatiability clouds the judgment of these officials who are supposed to be helping.

Markedly, we as the society have also turned a blind eye on the issue, especially on the criminalization of homelessness. A significant number of the population isn’t even aware that this situation is growing in the majority of American cities. It is essential to discuss the meaning of the absence of a home as well as its causes. Notably, while in most cases, homelessness is related to sleeping in provisional areas as well as sleeping outside, its root cause is lack of a sense of belonging.

Even though the topic on homelessness has gained widespread attention more so concerning why people become homeless, little has emerged about what should be done to reintegrate the homeless back into the community. The number of homeless individuals within society keeps on increasing. Over the past two decades, there has a growing misinformed stigma relating to the issue of homelessness, with the assumption that people are homeless as a result of drug abuse or unemployment. While substance abuse and mental illness are common issues among a majority of homeless people, they are just part of the reasons as to why people end up being homeless. Other factors, such as unhealthy relationships, personal traumas, lack of employment, as well as health problems, are on the top list of factors that may lead to homelessness. Also, a majority of the American veterans become homeless on returning home because the majority of them are affected health-wise, abuse drugs, or have challenges coping with the harsh economic times. Exposure to sexual and drug abuse also makes it challenging for people to overcome traumatic events, which in the end leads to isolation and potentially increased cases of homelessness.

Homelessness is an issue of great concern to the community, and it is high time that permanent solutions were offered. However, dealing with this issue should not just be left to the government, but should be a combined effort with other stakeholders being involved. For the homeless to be able to maintain a steady life, many steps must be taken. With proper mitigation measures, the challenge of homelessness can be eliminated. Long-term solutions can be provided to solve the housing issue by dealing with the factors that contribute to people being homeless. It is crucial that society acknowledges the problem and places effort into fundamental pillars like education, employment, and ending drug abuse. There must also be a commitment to ensure that the set goals are realized.

The leading causes of homelessness are rooted in hard economic times, which results in the inability to afford rent or mortgage. Housing is the foundation for ending homelessness. With a house, safety and security can be guaranteed in addition to making it easy to monitor nutrition and even keep a job. To eliminate bias in housing, the government should implement well-proven methods to provide affordable housing that is free from outside influence. It should also ensure these houses are strictly for the homeless and not for well off people. Harsh punishments like penalties, fines, or even imprisonment should also be used to deal with greedy individuals seeking to turn a profit on housing projects.

After solving the housing issues, to ensure that homelessness doesn’t reoccur, authorities should ensure that essential services such as health, education, and employment are provided. It is through these services that people are equipped with the necessary skills to provide for themselves. Other than this, we, as members of the community, should play our part in ensuring that strategies implemented involve everyone in society. Social inclusion will ensure that people have a sense of identity and hence minimal cases of isolation and homelessness. Finally, the authorities should come up with long term plans to ensure that the challenge of homelessness doesn’t reoccur. By doing so, the issue of homelessness will be dealt with appropriately.