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Essays About Homelessness: Top 8 Examples Plus Prompts

Everyone has heard of homeless people at some point in their lives; if you are writing essays about homelessness, read our top essay examples and prompts.

Poverty is one of the greatest evils in the world. Its effects are seen daily, from people begging on the streets to stealing to support their families. But unfortunately, one of the most prominent and upsetting diversity is homelessness. Homelessness is a significant problem in even the most developed nations, including the U.S. and Canada. Despite all the resources used to fight this issue, countries often lack the means to reduce homelessness significantly. With the proper aid, homelessness can be entirely eradicated in the future. 

If you want to write essays about homelessness, keep reading to see our essay examples and helpful writing prompts.

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2. A journey with the homeless by Sujata Jena

3. i chose to be homeless: reflections on the homeless challenge by emily kvalheim, 4. my experience being homeless by scott benner, 5. what people get wrong when they try to end homelessness by james abro, 1. causes of homelessness , 2. how can homelessness be reduced, 3. mental illness and homelessness, 4. reflection on homelessness, 5. is homelessness a “personal problem”.

Are you looking for more? Check out our guide packed full of transition words for essays

1. That Homeless Man is My Brother by Megan Regnerus

“But the subtext of my friend’s statement is really Why should I give money to someone who’s lazy; who isn’t willing to work for money like I do?’ And to that I say, her opinion that people who ask for money are freeloaders who could work but choose not to, is based on assumption. It relies on the notion that the two things that shape us into able-bodied adults who can hold down a regular job, nature and nurture, are level playing fields. And they’re not.”

Regnerus writes about a friend’s claim that the homeless are “lazy,” reminding her of her homeless brother. She cites genetics and circumstance as contributing factors to homelessness. Despite the other woman being her friend, Regnerus strongly refutes her belief that the homeless are non-disabled freeloaders- they should be treated with empathy. For more, check out these articles about homelessness .

“I realize that the situation of poverty and homelessness is a huge social problem around the world. But when I meet them, I face fellow human beings, not some abstract “social problem.” The very phrase, “What would Jesus do at this scene?” haunted me.  I ventured to ask their names, age, where they came from, where they live (street, bridges, cemetery) and the reason they are on the streets. Their stories are poignant. Each one has a unique story to tell about his/her reason to be homeless, how they were forced to leave distant rural villages to live on the city streets. I tried to listen to them with empathy.”

In her essay, Jena remembers the homeless people in Manila, Philippines. She can see them beyond some “aspect of society” as human beings. She empathizes with them extensively and recalls the words of Jesus Christ about loving others, particularly the neediest.

“I, too, have not been compassionate enough, and I have allowed my prejudices to distort my view of the homeless. One woman, who sat across from me at a feeding program, talking to herself erratically, may have seemed strange to me before the Homeless Challenge. But when I really saw myself as her equal, and when I took the time to watch her get up and laugh as she danced to the music playing in the background, I thought she was beautiful. She had found her own happiness, amidst despair.”

Kvalheim details her experiences during an immersion challenge with the homeless. She recalls both the discrimination and generosity she experienced and her experiences with other homeless people. She was amazed to see how they could stay positive despite their terrible circumstances. We should be thankful for what we have and use it to help others in need. 

“As my funds dwindled, and the weather got colder, I sought shelter at Father Bill’s in Quincy Ma. When you are homeless, sometimes very small things mean a lot. A dry pair of socks, shoes without holes, a pocketful of change. You begin to realize how much you value your personal space. You begin to realize other people want space too. A lot of people have issues or have suffered in one way or another and you can see their pain. I think that there are people who for a variety of issue are chronically homeless and a larger portion of homeless are transitioning through a series of bad events.”

Benner’s essay, written for the company ArtLifting, reflects on his experience of being homeless for a brief while. Then, he and his wife grew ill, and Benner sought refuge at a homeless shelter after his company shut down. After that, he realized how his struggles were very different from those of others and the value of the more minor things he previously took for granted. Luckily, he escaped homelessness by making art with the help of ArtLifting. 

“The court denied my sister’s request and named me our mother’s legal guardian, but it appointed my sister as guardian of her property.  In 2009, when my mother passed away, my sister evicted me. The day I was scheduled to move out, I stood in a convenience store, dazed, as I stared at microwaveable meals.  These would be my new staple when I moved into the motel room. My phone rang—my sister.  She told me she needed me out of the house in a couple of hours—she was a real estate agent and a client wanted to see the house. ‘No hard feelings,’ she said.”

Similar to Benner, Abro narrates the circumstances surrounding his homelessness. After his mother’s death and a conflict with his sister led to his eviction, he ended up homeless. While his situation was unfortunate, he believes that there are many people worse off than him and that something must change to address the housing and poverty crises in America.

Top 5 Prompts On Essays about Homelessness

Essays about Homelessness: Causes of homelessness

For your essay, it would be interesting to write about how people become homeless in the first place. Research the different causes of homelessness and elaborate on them, and be sure to provide sources such as statistics and anecdotes. 

What solutions to homelessness can you think of? In your essay, propose at least one way you think the homelessness problem can be solved or at least reduced. It must be concrete, realistic, and defensible; be sure to explain your solution well and defend its feasibility, backing up your claims with facts and logic. 

Homelessness and mental health can be linked—research into declining mental health and how homelessness can impact a person’s mental well-being. Make sure to use research data and statistics to show your findings. Conclude whether poor mental health can cause homelessness or if homelessness causes poor mental health.

You can write about what homelessness means to you in your essay. Perhaps you’ve heard stories of homeless people, or maybe you know someone who is or has been homeless. Use this essay to highly the effects of homelessness and how we can work together as a society to eradicate it.

Many say that homeless people “choose to be homeless” and are underachievers; otherwise, they would simply “get a job” and lift themselves out of poverty. Is this true? Research this topic and decide on your stance. Then, write about whether you agree with this topic for a compelling argumentative essay.

If you’re still stuck, check out our general resource of essay writing topics .

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How To Write Essay About Homelessness

Tablet of the homeless man

Homelessness remains a severe crisis among the low-income earners in most parts of the world. Statics reveal that in the United States alone, over 500,000 people are homeless every single night. That said, writing an excellent essay on homelessness to your examiner not only awards you a top grade but also positions you as a student passionate about everything that revolves around homelessness.

How to Organize an Essay on Homelessness

What matters most in your homelessness essay, what to write in your homelessness essay: essay topics on homelessness, common types of essay about homelessness, are homelessness essay examples helpful.

But here’s the thing: writing solutions to homelessness essay, homelessness essay cause, and effect, or any other topic you settle on is not a walk in the park. You need to research extensively, follow the necessary instructions, and exhaust the topic in a precise and detailed approach. Luckily, our essay for homelessness writers will make everything easy for you.

What Is Homelessness Essay?

A homelessness essay is a piece of writing that allows the students to showcase their thoughts on homelessness without deviating from their chosen topic. A good example is writing a homelessness solutions essay or what causes homelessness essay to your professor. It must come out nicely from the start to the conclusion of the homelessness essay.

Your essay about homelessness might address the episodic, transitional, or chronic types of homelessness. It’s because people are considered homeless whenever they lack a roof over their head, whether staying with friends, on the streets, or in a shelter. But how do you structure your homelessness essay?

Your homelessness essay needs well-written thoughts expressed in a way your examiner finds it easy to read all the sections, understand your idea, and internalize to see whether you present facts appropriately. All this is possible if you use the recommended format. Here’s what you need:

  • Attractive introduction: Your homelessness essay introduction should have the reader’s attention from the word go. It’s here where you claim your idea and create some anticipation. Your last introductory sentence is a debatable thesis statement you’ll be arguing.
  • Idealistic main body: Support your cause and effect essay on homelessness or anything else you’re writing with well-researched data. Write and cite your logical ideas. Your examiner will primarily focus on the facts and flow of your solution to homelessness essay.
  • Satisfactory conclusion: Do you know that homelessness essay conclusions are the most assumed sections? Your conclusion paragraph homelessness essay’s main goal is to summarize the essay. If you write your homelessness conclusion essay right, the examiner knows how to end homelessness essay is not a problem to you and awards you a high score.

Whether you are writing a one-page problem solution essay about homelessness, the cause, and effect of homelessness essay, or a longer essay on homelessness in America, there are things you can’t assume. It’s because they define your prowess and determine the quality of your final paper. Here’s what we’re talking about:

  • Homelessness essay sources
  • Homelessness essay outline
  • Homelessness essay conclusion
  • Homelessness essay referencing
  • Homelessness essay proofreading

Are you looking for homelessness essay topics to write for your professor? There’s a lot to write about. You can get a topic idea from the following types of homelessness essays:

  • Mental illness and homelessness essay . Topic idea: how homelessness results in mental illness in young street mothers.
  • Essay about homelessness cause and effect . Topic idea: to what extent does the shortage of affordable homes in America contribute to homelessness?
  • Causes of homelessness essay . Topic idea: fundamental reasons why evictions continue to cause homelessness severely.
  • Solution for homelessness essay . Topic idea: is there’s a need for changing policies on homelessness where a whole family is involved?
  • Youth homelessness essay . Topic idea: factual prove that mandatory drug testing will reduce homelessness in youths.
  • Homelessness social problem essay . Topic idea: homelessness vs. settled citizens concerning the view on community responsibilities.
  • Homelessness in America essay . Topic idea: how can discrimination reduce homelessness in America?
  • Poverty and homelessness essay . Topic idea: government rental assistance and its effectiveness in solving the modern homelessness crisis.

Every student must understand different essays to write what suits the examined context. High school, college, and university examiners are very concerned about the essay you choose to write because it helps them weigh your understanding and skills. These essays include:

  • Argumentative essay on homelessness: a homelessness argumentative essay must convince anybody who reads the essay. The secret here is to give both sides of the story and let your professor see your reasoning.
  • Persuasive essay about homelessness: looking forward to writing a persuasive essay on homelessness? A homelessness persuasive essay without expert touch, opinions, logic, and facts won’t earn you a good grade. Do the necessary.
  • Descriptive essay on homelessness: Sometimes, you might need to describe specific issues revolving around homeless people. In such an essay, focus on the event and visualize it in detail to bring out your imagination and creativity.

A resounding yes! You can depend on previous examples to learn what a homelessness essay requires. It doesn’t matter whether you’re writing a homelessness and mental illness essay, causes, and effects of homelessness essay, essay about homelessness in America, or essay on homelessness in Ireland; examples make your writing easy and clearer.

However, make sure you can deliver a sample homelessness essay that even exceeds the quality of the reference examples. A quality homelessness essay must have a clear idea, focus on context, coherent points. Do you feel you have limited time to go through various samples online and deliver a masterpiece? Worry not!

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For many years we’ve been writing homelessness essays, thesis, and dissertations. We understand what your examiners expect, and we’ll deliver and guarantee excellent grades. Irrespective of your essay homelessness topic, upload your paper and let our writers work on it.

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Human Rights Careers

5 Essays About Homelessness

Around the world, people experience homelessness. According to a 2005 survey by the United Nations, 1.6 billion people lack adequate housing. The causes vary depending on the place and person. Common reasons include a lack of affordable housing, poverty, a lack of mental health services, and more. Homelessness is rooted in systemic failures that fail to protect those who are most vulnerable. Here are five essays that shine a light on the issue of homelessness:

What Would ‘Housing as a Human Right’ Look Like in California? (2020) – Molly Solomon

For some time, activists and organizations have proclaimed that housing is a human right. This essay explores what that means and that it isn’t a new idea. Housing as a human right was part of federal policy following the Great Depression. In a 1944 speech introducing what he called the “Second Bill of Rights,” President Roosevelt attempted to address poverty and income equality. The right to have a “decent home” was included in his proposals. Article 25 of the Universal Declaration also recognizes housing as a human right. It describes the right to an “adequate standard of living.” Other countries such as France and Scotland include the right to housing in their constitutions. In the US, small local governments have adopted resolutions on housing. How would it work in California?

At KQED, Molly Solomon covers housing affordability. Her stories have aired on NPR’s All Things Considered, Morning Edition, and other places. She’s won three national Edward R. Murrow awards.

“What People Get Wrong When They Try To End Homelessness” – James Abro

In his essay, James Abro explains what led up to six weeks of homelessness and his experiences helping people through social services. Following the death of his mother and eviction, Abro found himself unhoused. He describes himself as “fortunate” and feeling motivated to teach people how social services worked. However, he learned that his experience was somewhat unique. The system is complicated and those involved don’t understand homelessness. Abro believes investing in affordable housing is critical to truly ending homelessness.

James Abro is the founder of Advocate for Economic Fairness and 32 Beach Productions. He works as an advocate for homeless rights locally and nationally. Besides TalkPoverty, he contributes to Rebelle Society and is an active member of the New Jersey Coalition to End Homelessness.

“No Shelter For Some: Street-Sleepers” (2019)

This piece (by an unknown author) introduces the reader to homelessness in urban China. In the past decades, a person wouldn’t see many homeless people. This was because of strict rules on internal migration and government-supplied housing. Now, the rules have changed. People from rural areas can travel more and most urban housing is privatized. People who are homeless – known as “street-sleepers” are more visible. This essay is a good summary of the system (which includes a shift from police management of homelessness to the Ministry of Civil Affairs) and how street-sleepers are treated.

“A Window Onto An American Nightmare” (2020) – Nathan Heller

This essay from the New Yorker focuses on San Francisco’s history with homelessness, the issue’s complexities, and various efforts to address it. It also touches on how the pandemic has affected homelessness. One of the most intriguing parts of this essay is Heller’s description of becoming homeless. He says people “slide” into it, as opposed to plunging. As an example, someone could be staying with friends while looking for a job, but then the friends decide to stop helping. Maybe someone is jumping in and out of Airbnbs, looking for an apartment. Heller’s point is that the line between only needing a place to stay for a night or two and true “homelessness” is very thin.

Nathan Heller joined the New Yorker’s writing staff in 2013. He writes about technology, higher education, the Bay Area, socioeconomics, and more. He’s also a contributing editor at Vogue, a former columnist for Slate, and contributor to other publications.

“Homelessness in Ireland is at crisis point, and the vitriol shown towards homeless people is just as shocking” (2020)#- Megan Nolan

In Ireland, the housing crisis has been a big issue for years. Recently, it’s come to a head in part due to a few high-profile incidents, such as the death of a young woman in emergency accommodation. The number of children experiencing homelessness (around 4,000) has also shone a light on the severity of the issue. In this essay, Megan Nolan explores homelessness in Ireland as well as the contempt that society has for those who are unhoused.

Megan Nolan writes a column for the New Statesman. She also writes essays, criticism, and fiction. She’s from Ireland but based in London.

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About the author, emmaline soken-huberty.

Emmaline Soken-Huberty is a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon. She started to become interested in human rights while attending college, eventually getting a concentration in human rights and humanitarianism. LGBTQ+ rights, women’s rights, and climate change are of special concern to her. In her spare time, she can be found reading or enjoying Oregon’s natural beauty with her husband and dog.

how do you write a homeless essay

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Writing About Homelessness

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how do you write a homeless essay

Homelessness is an extremely pressing problem nowadays, which actually has always been a burning issue. It was first documented in America in 1640. Since that time, the number of homeless people has only been growing. According to various estimates, there are almost 650,000 homeless in the USA, while the NLCHP – the National Law Center of Homelessness and Poverty declares as many as 3.5 million. The reasons why such a great amount of people has once found themselves in the streets are variable. Natural disasters, like tornado and hurricanes and some other related catastrophes, have contributed much to that.  Some people became homeless after being laid off from the job, losing their family, or surviving a house fire. So, nowadays, hundreds of thousands of people have no other option but to stay out in the streets, shelters, parks, etc.

Being a critical issue, homelessness has drawn the educators’ attention. That’s why students often write research papers and essays about homelessness and its various aspects.

Causes and reason of homelessness

In this section, we will consider the main causes of homelessness, which you can use as a basis for your paper.

  • The first group of factors is applied to the personal situations of the individuals. They may be associated with certain stressful events like job loss, house fires, a crisis in personal life like divorce or cases of domestic violence, problems with addictions or mental health, brain injury, or even fetal alcohol syndrome. The reasons why people become homeless may also be extreme poverty, mental health, or substance abuse problems in the family. Violence at home also has a direct and undeniable connection to homelessness.
  • Structural factors are social and economic issues, which influence the social environment and opportunities of the individuals. Lack of earnings, no access to the medical care, and discrimination are among them. Unfortunately, economic shifts countrywide and local generate challenges for citizens; they are forced to look for opportunities to earn more as they spend more on foodstuff and housing. The poor individuals often fail to cover their vital necessities such as childcare, education, housing, and healthcare.
  • Finally, systems failures are the ones, which occur when the care and support systems fail, making individuals look for their new way around, but in the streets. The examples of such may become the difficulties with moving of the individuals from child welfare, release from health facilities, hospitals, and correctional facilities without proper rehabilitation; lack of backing for immigrants and refugees also belong here.

Let’s go into more detail and consider the following reasons for homelessness in the US.

  • Unemployment is the main issue leading to homelessness. About 16% of US citizens live under the poverty line, meaning they fail to cover their everyday life expenditures.
  • Personal or family crisis. Individuals having steady income may be kicked into the street due to an emergency of some kind, which arises in the family. Each unforeseen situation threatens housing loss for those people who live already in scarcity. It may actually be something like simple car towing, poor health condition, or the death of a family member. Divorce, being an expensive matter, also influences the earnings of each participant and may quickly spin a person into living rough.
  • Unaffordable housing. In the USA, you are unlikely to be able to cover the expense of an average 2-bedroom flat anywhere around the country if only 1 family member is employed and paid a minimum wage.
  • Demographics. There is little statistics for the young generation homelessness, so the term “invisible homeless” – is often applied in this case. Young people can easily hang out with friends and do not need any services, that’s why it's difficult to make accurate estimations in this age group. Approximately 8% of the homeless American population is constituted by unaccompanied young people and children 380,000 individuals are still under 18 years old. 
  • Substances abuse and problems with mental health. In 2013, every fifth homeless in the US suffered from chronic substance abuse. Altogether, such people made more than 130,000 US citizens. For this category of people, permanent supportive housing is vital, as they need to have a stable place where they can stay, combined with proper assistance and essential services to benefit from. According to an estimation made in the USA, about 20% of the homeless American population suffer from mental illnesses; veterans are a part of this category, struggling not only with a mental disorder but with PST - posttraumatic syndrome. Such people have a lot of challenges every day and often stay homeless for a longer period.

The usual effects of homelessness

homelessness essay

It is also quite important to aware of the consequences that homelessness can bring:

  • Certain consequences of facing homelessness are quite obvious – it is the change in the overall lifestyle and worsening of the health conditions; some problems with health may even lead to death.
  • Though mental illnesses are often viewed as the reason for homelessness, they may also be its consequence. When a person loses everything he or she has worked and lived for, he or she may have a deep emotional impact resulting in mental problems. Malnutrition, a nutritional insufficiency, is another usual problem of the homeless. People living rough can’t afford eating out or having homemade meals; they often eat spoiled or even rotten food, which is definitely unhealthy and even dangerous.
  • Homeless individuals often suffer from heart diseases, colds, tuberculosis, sleep deprivation, skin infections, drug abuse, and AIDS.
  • Unfortunately, people living in the street often become the victims of physical and sexual exploitation, where the risk of sexual assault is 20 times higher for women having no home than for those who have it. Besides, lots of accidents of such kind remain unreported. The US National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty has reported more than six hundred attacks with baseball bats, chains, and other kinds of weapons in the past decade.

Possible solutions to the problem of homelessness

essays on homelessness

All around the world, experts on homelessness have solutions they think will work best. Lately, the idea of “managing homelessness” has shifted to “ending homelessness” in the US. The state has focused on certain subgroups - veterans, “chronic homeless,” families, and the young generation. Such efforts may help to develop new partners and shape public information awareness of what is needed to end homelessness. So, let’s consider some effective strategies in fighting with homelessness issue:

  • It’s obvious that housing is the most important base for solving the problem of homelessness.  Actually, housing equals security, safety, and care. It is a firm Launchpad, which allows a person to be employed and keep the job, as well as to find a proper place in society. The right to housing is a basic right of every human being, and stable life is impossible without it. Overall national commitment is required to guarantee affordable housing for everyone.
  • The following important aspect in the struggle against homelessness is the right for shelter, which should be guaranteed as an essential legal protection for those having no home, whether it’s a family, a child, or an adult individual. In your paper, you should underline that sometimes a place to stay may become a decisive factor between life and death. It’s important to prevent the homeless from sleeping in the streets and city parks, subway, and other public places, which can lead to various cold-related injuries, like hypothermia or some others. The right to shelter protects thousands of homeless people. When individuals or families in a rough life situation have access to someplace to stay in, they may regain their life stability and start seeking permanent residence.
  • Definitely, housing is important, but it is not enough. All people need services: child care, transportation, health care, treatment, case management, education, and supported employment. Without all these, people will return to the streets due to instability. Society must do its best to ensure accessible, available, affordable, and comprehensive support to those individuals who have faced penury.

What can you do?

It’s not a secret that each of us can make a difference and change this world a bit. So let’s see how can you contribute to the solution of the issue:

  • Analyze possible policies and measures which can help overcome governmental bureaucracies. Housing assistance, for instance, can help escape homelessness to young people who have grown out of foster care, or low-income people with mental illness who leave hospitals, or those individuals, who exit correction institutions. Such people can benefit from such services as job training or counseling. You may prepare an essay or a speech on this topic and present it to the interested parties.
  • Donate your recyclables to the homeless collecting cans and bottles. It’s a win-win, by the way.
  • Donate to local shelters, food drives, churches, or coalitions.
  • Help the helpers - contribute to non-profits or other similar organizations that assist the homeless. They know how to spend your dollar with maximum efficiency.
  • You can also help in shelters or soup kitchens in various ways and fundraise as well at your school or workplace! You can even organize a food drive yourself, and more than that, get involved in local policymaking.

Some facts about homelessness

The facts below may be helpful in the process of paper creation.

  • The overall amount of the homeless population worldwide reaches an overwhelming figure of 100 million people.
  • In the US, there are almost 650,000 homeless; 37 percent of them have families, 25 percent are single women and about 20 are children, 25 percent suffer from mental disorders, while 35 percent have substance abuse problems.
  • 21 percent of the homeless have graduated from high school, and 27 percent have higher education. Almost 45 percent of people in the street take occasional jobs and work about 30 hours weekly.
  • New York and California are the highest homeless areas, with hotspots in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco.
  • Above 90 percent of women found themselves in the streets due to domestic violence cases.
  • Young people commonly get into the street being kicked out by parents, having no opportunities to earn their living, lacking healthcare or due to the violence at home, relationship breakdowns, social exclusion, and forced eviction.
  • Homelessness is illegal. Don’t you want to discuss it in your argumentative essay on homelessness? A quarter of the US towns consider begging in public illegal, about a third prohibits to stand or wander around in the cities, almost 20 percent makes it law-breaking to sleep in the street, more than a half prohibit simply sit or lie in public places. Some cities even criminalize the feeding of the homeless according to their law.
  • Public libraries play a vital role for the homeless population, not only allowing free access to the computers and the Internet but also provide them assistance in job search and even employ social workers.

How to work on your essays on homelessness

In case you’ve got your assignment and feel a bit unsettled, just follow the simple steps and your assignment guidelines, and you are guaranteed to get perfect paper.

  • First of all, you should make up your mind as to the topic you’ll work on. No matter if your professor proposes a topic or you chose it yourself, try to select the one which arises your interest. Carefully study the sources available, find some decent essay examples, and approach your work with a critical spirit.
  • In the course of your work, you should turn to primary sources as well as secondary ones. Primary research is the one you perform in the field or during the work with the original sources, while secondary research stands for the process of working with the findings made by the other people. Secondary research material can be obtained in various ways – libraries’ databases, mass media, websites (it’s important to turn to reputable sources, like .org, .gov, or .edu.)
  • Put down the important information, facts, and sources, mind map your ideas, or use note cards to keep in mind the essential paraphrases and quotations. In order to avoid problems with citations, write down the title, author, and page number of the source used.
  • Revise your paper and proofread it carefully for spelling and punctuation, double-check your reference page, and make sure your work meets all the formatting requirements.

Homelessness essay outline

Working on a homelessness essay outline is an important step of your whole writing process. That is why we have decided to describe all the important points of your outline:

  • Introduction. To raise the interest of the readers, you should make the question challenging and create your homelessness essay introduction in such a way that the audience is eager to study your work up to the end. You should also think about an intriguing hook for essay about homeless as it is the first sentence your reader will see. Finally, make sure that you have developed a strong homelessness thesis statement that summarized the main idea that will be considered in the paper.
  • Main body. This is the most extended part of your homelessness essay, which usually consists of 3-5 paragraphs. In this section, you need to present all the facts, arguments, and evidence.
  • Conclusion. The main task in this part is restating homelessness essay thesis. You also need to write an interesting final sentence, which calls for further reflection. By the way, keep in mind that your homeless essay conclusion should not include any new information.

 Homelessness essay topics

Finally, you are struggling to find a good topic for your homelessness paper, you are free to choose among these ones:

  • Homelessness persuasive essay: should homelessness be considered illegal?
  • What is homelessness essay
  • Helping homeless people essay
  • Homelessness in America essay
  • Poverty and homelessness essay
  • Causes of homelessness essay
  • Persuasive essay about providing shelter for homeless
  • Helping the homeless essay
  • Solutions to homelessness essay
  • Homeless problem solution essay
  • Essay on homeless youth
  • Essay about homelessness cause and effect
  • Essay about helping feed the homeless

How to write a research paper on homelessness?

So, here are the best tips for writing a research paper on homelessness:

  • Choose a topic to research. You need to find a topic, which is both relevant for your target audience and interesting for you. Besides, you need to make sure that there is a lot of information on your topic on the Web.
  • Organize your research. In this case, making an outline will be of great help. Put all the important points and research directions in your plan, and you will never miss anything in the course of writing.
  • Think about the references. As it is a research paper, you need to work on a great number of sources. Make sure that they are up-to-date and reputable.
  • Proofread your paper. This way, you will eliminate all the mistakes that spoil the impression from your research.

Research questions about homelessness

If you have literally no idea in what direction you should move on, get acquainted with the following research questions. Perhaps, some of them will inspire you:

  • Is homelessness a serious world problem?
  • What factors lead to homelessness?
  • Is homelessness a first- or third-world problem?
  • What are the economic consequences of homelessness?
  • What steps can be taken to fight homelessness?

Homelessness research paper outline

Outlining is also a very important stage of research paper writing. Therefore, let’s pay attention to it and review the most important parts:

  • Introduction. This is actually a presentation of your research. A classic intro has to be short and interesting for your audience. Make sure you used some interesting fact of statistics and paid enough attention to thesis and hypothesis.
  • Homelessness research paper thesis statement and hypothesis. Thesis statement of your paper has to be brief, concise, and strong. Hypothesis is also an important part of any research. We recommend you looking for examples of statement of hypothesis for a homelessness research paper on the Web to write a really good one.
  • Main part. Here, you need to conduct a literature review, collecting the ideas of the most outstanding professionals. The main thing is to rewrite all the information to avoid any plagiarism issues.
  • Conclusion. In your final part, you need to restate your thesis statement and repeat some essential points of the paper. Any new information is not acceptable in this case as well.

Finally, a tip for you: if you really have no time for planning on your own, find a good homelessness research paper outline sample and modify it for the purposes of your study.

Research paper ideas about homelessness

Finally, let us present you with some really good homelessness research paper topic ideas:

  • Homelessness ethics research paper
  • Can homelessness ever be ended?
  • Research papers on homelessness in America
  • Analytical research paper on causes of homelessness
  • What laws exist to control homelessness?
  • Research paper on the effects of homelessness
  • Economic consequences of homelessness

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The Issue of Homelessness

How it works

James Harris always begins with “God bless you” before asking for money. He hates asking people for anything, so this three-word phrase serves as his own offering. Harris, a veteran, has had AIDS for thirty years. When the medication stopped working, the world began to crumble around him. He became depressed and was ultimately evicted from his place in Hollywood. “I’ve been beaten, robbed, and chased, he said. “People steal your tents and your tarps and your clothes. I’ve lost everything I owned.

” Harris gets by on $900 a month from Social Security. His most recent attempt at making money was when he spent $105 dollars on a suit and makeup for a costume of a villain from Batman. He performed for tips on Hollywood Boulevard but didn’t make a cent. James Harris’ story is just one of many across the United States. Every story, in one way or another, begins with a downward spiral and ends with a situation devoid of hope. This homelessness as a social issue essay will explore how the United States has arrived at its current situation.

The US Department of Health and Human Services uses the following to define homelessness: “an individual who lacks housing (without regard to whether the individual is a member of a family), including an individual whose primary residence during the night is a supervised public or private facility (e.g., shelters) that provides temporary living accommodations, and an individual who is a resident in transitional housing. A homeless person is an individual without permanent housing who may live on the streets; stay in a shelter, mission, single room occupancy facilities, abandoned building or vehicle; or in any other unstable or non-permanent situation.” Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C., 254b)

This is a widely accepted definition in the United States. However, other countries have alternate definitions, which makes it nearly impossible to compare figures from one country to another. What we do know, however, is how the issue of homelessness affects the United States and its respective cities and how it may be seen as a problem in society. Today’s day and age have seen homelessness rise to new heights. The concern began during the Industrial Revolution, and homelessness rates have ballooned ever since. The state of California holds the highest homelessness rate, while individual cities such as Los Angeles and New York are especially affected.

In Santa Rosa, California, numerous homeless encampments are scattered across town. The National Coalition for the Homeless and The National Alliance to End Homelessness are two major organizations devoted to finding solutions to solve this concern. In California, homelessness is especially evident and is considered to be ground zero for the issue. Although there is no simple solution, groups across the world have proposed and even implemented actions to solve homelessness in their respective regions. As this homelessness as a social issue essay explores, California has caught the nation’s attention for both its challenges and its solutions.

Walking the streets of Santa Rosa gives clues to the scale of the unhoused population and how it may have begun – starting at home prices. Overall, the state of California is the second-most expensive state to live in, falling only behind Hawaii. The average cost of a home is over one million dollars, 1.24 times more expensive than Massachusetts, the third most expensive state Higher housing prices are the major indicator for high homelessness rates, and Santa Rosa is no exception. Following the 2017 Tubbs Fire, one of the most destructive in the state’s history, over 5,000 properties were destroyed. The result was a clamor to finding housing, driving up costs and leaving those without financial support to seek shelter elsewhere. This fire displaced enough people to increase Sonoma County’s homeless population by six percent.

As of the time of writing, Santa Rosa local government officials have yet to put together a concrete solution and instead have chosen to focus on the health and safety of city residents by removing large encampments. Some of the notes have been encampments found near the Sixth Street underpass and the Joe Rodota Trail. However, when these encampments are removed, it begins an impending cycle: e campers are forced to live in another camp, it increases in size, and inevitably is removed by the city.

One recent area of concern has emerged at the Northpoint Corporate Center, which is a 250-acre business park in Southwest Santa Rosa. After the Santa Rosa city government prioritized its August 2017 homeless policy (The Homeless Encampment Assistance Program), which displaced numerous people, the number of people parking and living out of their cars at Northpoint increased. Two short months later, following the Tubbs fire, the number of automobiles parked along the business center’s streets rose exponentially. While all people want a safe, quiet place to rest and sleep at night, employees at the business park and the unhoused population have experienced tense relations. Business owners call community authorities nearly every day with complaints and concerns about waste, littering, and vandalism. “It is clear the current situation is not working. We all expressed our sympathy for their circumstances and life, but now it’s affecting our area”, Keith Woods, President of the Northpoint Business Park, says. “We’re going to need help from our city.” The city of Santa Rosa is currently exploring long-term solutions to the homelessness crisis.

Nationally, California is the state with the greatest homeless population. The Federal Housing and Urban Development Department estimates that there are 130,000 people experiencing homelessness statewide on any given night. That number is 25 percent of the entire United States homeless population. Furthermore, California holds 70 percent of unsheltered homeless individuals in the country, the highest percentage in the country. The unsheltered homeless are people who don’t utilize temporary living arrangements like shelters and instead live in places not intended for human habitation. Christopher Martin, a legislative advocate at Housing California, states, “The lack of shelters is due to a lack of resources, and we don’t really have the plan to end homelessness. We don’t have strong programs to end homelessness on the state level. We know the shelters are a part of the solution, but at the end of the day, we know that we need exits for the shelters.”

Of course, some areas of California are more affected by homelessness than others. Los Angeles County has the highest state-wide population of homeless individuals at about 55,000. This was second only to the city of New York. However, there is a major difference between the two cities. While 95% of New York’s homeless population is considered sheltered, only 25% of those in Los Angeles are considered sheltered. That means there are far more street and park dwellers in Los Angeles. In 2018-2019, California put aside $5 billion for homelessness and housing affordability measures. Of that, $600 million was allotted to homelessness response programs, permanent housing measures, assisting homeless youth and victims of domestic violence, and mental health services. Although it is early, there is yet to be a statistical change in terms of the homeless population in California.

Homelessness in America, although to a lesser degree compared to the modern age, began in the 1640s. At that time, being homeless was seen as a character flaw. The fundamental Christian faith was rooted in their belief in fortune – a devout believers would have their needs met by God, including their housing. As such, the homeless were forced to prove their worth as they arrived in new towns. Today, many see homelessness as the complex social issue that it truly is, but these previous beliefs persist.

The first major wave of our nation contending with supporting homeless people began during the Industrial Revolution in the late 18th and early 19th century. People flocked to newly bustling cities, walking the streets in search of jobs. However, poor safety regulations for these jobs caused widespread injury and even death. The disabled or widowed had no means to provide for themselves or their families, leading many into homelessnessAnother historical cause of homelessness was due to the adversity that soldiers returning from World War I faced. Many were struggling with opiate addiction and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD caused a decline in the quality of life for many veterans, leading them toward the path of homelessness. Finally, large-scale natural disasters (such as the Tubbs fire previously mentioned) typically bring with them an increase in homelessness due to the sheer damage inflicted. Surges in homelessness increased following the San Francisco earthquake of 1906, the drought and Dust Bowl of the 1930s in Oklahoma and Texas, and Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

In California, a major rise in homelessness began during the 1980s, largely as a result of an economic restructuring plan colloquially referred to as “The U-Turn.” s. The California economy shifted away from service industries and toward manufacturing, where wages were far lower. Of the new jobs created during the 1980s, three-quarters were at minimum-wage levels. The number of Americans living under the poverty line went up to 15%. Throughout the 1980s, around 4.5 million units were removed from the nation’s housing stock. Half of these units had been occupied by low-income households, creating a strain on both accessibility and affordability.

Homelessness is not an issue exclusive to the United States Europe also suffers from high homelessness rates. However, it seems Finland may have found a solution to homelessness that can serve as an international model for success. At the time of writing, homelessness rates are rising across Europe but not in Finland.

Most homeless policies work on the assumption that the homeless should solve their problems, whether it be lack of income or health issues before they get permanent housing. Finland is taking a different approach – giving them home first. Introduced in 2007, Housing First is a program that believes having a real, permanent home can actually help solve the aforementioned social issues while providing a safe space for its citizens. Each household receiving support from Housing First is partnered with individual support services. Each household works with a housing advisor, who can give them advice on many things, like paying rent or applying for government benefits. In addition, there are people who can assist them in managing financing and debt. The most amazing part of this is that there are no longer any homeless shelters in Finland. They have all been turned into the described supportive housing.

Juha Kaakinen, Director of the Y-Foundation, a social enterprise that provides housing to Housing First, understands the high costs of the strategy. She mentions that there is ample evidence from many countries that shows it is consistently more cost-effective to aim to end homelessness instead of simply trying to manage it. Investment in ending homelessness always pays back, to say nothing of human and ethical reasons. It is safe to say Finland has found a solution to their homelessness problem, achieved through an intentional framework, mindset, and investment, leading as an example for other interested nations to study.

Although no Finland-level success has been made in the US, many cities’ actions have gone in the right direction in terms of reducing homelessness. For people living near the poverty level in California, eviction is often the tipping point toward staying stable or becoming homeless. Over 140,000 people receive eviction notices every year in California. In San Francisco, the people have voted to pass Proposition F, which funds nonprofits to provide legal help for tenants facing eviction. Many times, when people receive eviction notices, there appear to be no options and no hope. Through Proposition F, free legal counsel is available and can help ease the fears of tenants. Although non-profit lawyers can not always stop eviction, they can help foster agreements between tenants and landlords or organize payment plans. The lawyers are not always the solution to all of the tenants’ problems, but they do provide something very valuable – time. The legal council gives petrified tenants with eviction notices more time to figure out their next move and locate alternative living arrangements. This can be the difference between a tenant living on the street and living in a home.

Project Solid Ground in Los Angeles is taking a more innovative approach. In addition to offering free legal advice, Project Solid Ground is providing financial stipends to family members who provide shelter for their unhoused relatives. When a person is evicted, it is not uncommon for them to stay with a family member until they find more permanent housing. While more ideal than immediate homelessness, this arrangement can quickly become uncomfortable for the host. A host family member is usually reluctant to collect rent or finances from their relative tenantTo avoid this, Solid Ground plans to make small payments to the host for a period of time. This makes the relationship between the tenant and the host far less strained. It also offers a great amount of stability, financially, socially, and emotionally, for all parties involved. Although this is an experimental program, new and groundbreaking ideas are always welcome, particularly in the state of California.

Although the United States has yet to find a permanent solution to the homelessness problem, many groups have proposed actions and found varying levels of success throughout the state of California. While there is no one sure-fire solution to solving the homelessness crisis, there are numerous ideas for shifting financial priorities and providing support that California can turn to for suggestions on how to continue to head in the right direction and provide help for residents like James Harris.

Homelessness is a complex social issue that stems from multiple causes. Firstly, homeless individuals frequently face barriers in obtaining critical services, such as healthcare and education. Secondly, homelessness increases the likelihood of experiencing violence and mistreatment. Thirdly, homelessness is problematic as it can perpetuate poverty and marginalization.

Homelessness is influenced by diverse and multifaceted social factors. These factors can encompass poverty, mental health issues, substance dependency, familial disintegration, and joblessness. Additionally, discrimination and social ostracism can be contributors to homelessness.

The issue of homelessness is multifaceted, and there are various approaches one can take when writing about it. For instance, one could depict the physical challenges of being homeless or delve into the emotional repercussions. Alternatively, one could focus on the social and political factors that underlie homelessness or examine the coping mechanisms employed by the affected individuals.

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How to Help the Homeless in Your Community

Table of contents, understanding the complexity of homelessness, building relationships and establishing trust, collaborating with local organizations, providing essential services, offering healthcare and mental health support, employment and skill development, transitional and permanent housing solutions, education and empowerment programs, combatting stigma and fostering inclusion, advocating for policy change, conclusion: a compassionate call to action.

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  • Homelessness Essays

Homelessness Essays (Examples)

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how do you write a homeless essay

Homelessness Has Remained One of the Min

Homelessness has remained one of the min problems for the countries who are wealthy and rich in resources. Some of these countries include UK and Canada. It is still one of the strangest facts that there are millions of homeless people still living on the streets of these wealthy countries in shattered homes or streets. Various studies have been conducted on the issues faced by these homeless people as well as their experiences. The information of these experiences can help the student nurses by reshaping lost social identities of these homeless people. Homelessness in the United States has remained a concern…...

mla References Macionis, J.J., and Gerber, L.M. (2007). Homelessness. In Sociology, seventh Canadian Edition (p. 265-269). Pearson Education Canada. Rukmana, D. (2010). Gender Differences in the Residential Origins of the Homeless: Identification of Areas with High Risk of Homelessness. Planning, Practice & Research, 25, pp. 95 -- 116.

Homelessness Is Homelessness Increasing in the United

Homelessness Is homelessness increasing in the United States? Homelessness has become progressively more apparent in the United States over the past quarter century. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has amassed a wealth of data that confirm low-income housing is a critical requirement. Even as some communities are realizing a decrease in their homeless population; others are experiencing the opposite. It is disheartening to note that the largest increase in homelessness is families with children. Figures show that on any given night 633,784 people are without a place to call home and of these 239,403 are families. There are multiple…...

mla References Henslin J.M. (2003). Sociology: A Down-to-Earth-Approach. (Custom Package). (5th Ed). Boston, MA: Pearson Education Company. National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty. (2005). Overview. Retrieved November 24, 2013, from   http://www.nlchp.org/FA_HAPIA/ 

Homelessness in Children in the

et al. (2005) Facts on Trauma and Homeless Children. National Child Traumatic Stress Network - Homelessness and Extreme Poverty Working Group. Online available at http://www.nctsnet.org/nctsn_assets/pdfs/promising_practices/Facts_on_Trauma_and_Homeless_Children.pdf urt, Aron, Douglas, et al., (1999) Homelessness: Programs and the People They Serve: Summary Report - Findings of the National Survey of Homeless Assistance Providers and Clients Washington, DC: The Urban Institute, 1999 urt, Martha, (2001) What Will it Take to End Homelessness? Washington, DC: The Urban Institute, 2001 National Center on Family Homelessness, (1999) Homeless Children: America's New Outcasts (Newton, MA: 1999). Institute for Children and Poverty (1999) Homeless in America: A Children's Story - Part One…...

mla Bibliography Bassuk, Ellen L. et al. (2005) Facts on Trauma and Homeless Children. National Child Traumatic Stress Network - Homelessness and Extreme Poverty Working Group. Online available at   http://www.nctsnet.org/nctsn_assets/pdfs/promising_practices/Facts_on_Trauma_and_Homeless_Children.pdf  Burt, Aron, Douglas, et al., (1999) Homelessness: Programs and the People They Serve: Summary Report - Findings of the National Survey of Homeless Assistance Providers and Clients Washington, DC: The Urban Institute, 1999

Homelessness in the United States

" How many people are homeless? The number of homeless is difficult to ascertain because estimates vary depending on the methodology used. Numbers also vary substantially depending on whether a measurement is taken on a single night or is extrapolated to a given year. One approximation of the annual number of homeless in America is from a study done by the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, which estimates between 2.3 and 3.5 million people experience homelessness. According to a study released this month by the National Alliance to End Homelessness, an estimated 744,313 people experienced homelessness in one night in January…...

mla References   http://www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5006614572  Aviles, a., & Helfrich, C. (2004). Life Skill Service Needs: Perspectives of Homeless Youth. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 33(4), 331+. Retrieved March 6, 2008, from Questia database:   http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5006614572 

Crime is not the only issue where homelessness is concerned, however, and homelessness in and of itself can be very difficult for someone to deal with, especially if the homelessness was unexpected or there are many familial obligations that suddenly will not be met (such as in the case of a single mother, for example). When homelessness occurs this way and causes these kinds of problems, there can be very serious emotional consequences for the homeless individual and his or her family. It becomes necessary at that point for the homeless person to seek help, and this is where the…...

mla Bibliography Becker, G.S. (1968). Crime and Punishment: An Economic Approach. Journal of Political Economy 76:169-217. Bianchi S. (1993). Children in poverty: Why are they poor? Child Poverty and Public Policy, ed. J Chafel Washington, DC: Urban Inst. (1993): 91-125.

Homelessness Mental Illness and the

But mentally disturbed individuals, being confined to a greater proclivity toward chronic homelessness, are a separate problem, addressed most directly by the Center for Mental Health Services, which is a federally chaired organization. The CMHS is a channel through which policy regarding disbursement of social resources is implemented. It garners all of its data from the National Resource Center of Homelessness and Mental Illness, which is the only agency specifically designated toward providing information on this demographic. As a publicly funded group, it is not designated to any political agenda, but it is subject to a wide variant in…...

mla Works Cited: Burt, M.R., Aron, L.Y., Douglas, T., Valente, J., Lee, E., Iwen, B. (1999). Homelessness: Programs and the People They Serve. Interagency Council on the Homeless. Washington, DC. Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS). (2000). Process Evaluation of the ACCESS Demonstration Program for Homeless Persons with Serious Mental Illness: Fifth Year Implementation Case Studies. Vols. I & II. Rockville, MD: Center for Mental Health Services.

Homelessness Intervention Social Work Universally in the

Homelessness Intervention Social Work Universally in the developed world, homelessness is something that communities want to end rather than manage. Co-ordinated social services can come together to create and enhance community-based responses that tackle the threat of homelessness rather than attempting to deal with it on the other end -- after the fact, after people are demoralized by the experience. An important part of any community response to homelessness is affordable housing. But once community members have been placed in affordable housing, they critically need job training and support to ensure that their transitions are self-sustainable. Thus it is that policy must address…...

mla References Abbenante, M. And Spellman, B. (2008, February 8). Performance Measurement. [Presentation at the NAEH Conference on Ending Family Homelessness. Alliance to End Homelessness. Ottawa. (2010). Retrieved http://www.endhomelessnessottawa.ca/

Homelessness Why Are There'so Many People

Homelessness Why are there so many people who are homeless in the state of Chicago? What causes this and what can be done to correct this issue? Is the Federal Government doing anything at all about the homeless people in Chicago, and if so, what are they? What are the policies that have been made by the government in order to tackle this major issue of homelessness where a person is left to live his life on the streets? The circumstances under which a person or a family finds them homeless are many. One of the main causes is that of…...

mla References An Overview of the Program. Retrieved From Accessed on 30 December, 2004 http://www.pathprogram.samhsa.gov/about/overview.asp

Homelessness in the Unites States

This is exacerbated by the "...growing gap between wage earnings and the cost of housing in the United States which leaves millions of families and individuals unable to make ends meet." (Homelessness in the United States) Low Incomes and minimum wage workers also add to the problem. A further cause of the high levels of homelessness is the cuts in programs like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Policy change such as the shift in medical policy from institutional to community-based care and treatment for mental patients has been cited as major cause of homelessness. The shift towards community-based care…...

mla Bibliography Homelessness & Poverty. October 12, 2005. http://anitraweb.org/homelessness/faqs/causes/ Homelessness in the United States. October 12, 2005.   http://www.nscahh.org/hunger.asp?id2=8802 

Homelessness Defined for the Many

Based on the report submitted by Cuomo, upon receiving assistance from authorized agencies, such as health care assistance, treatment from substance and drug abuse, education and job training and even services for mental health problems, a big part of those living in families (76%) and of those living alone (60%) tend to put a stop their homeless status and gradually move to an improved living situation. Another point to ponder is the fact that the cost of homeless assistance is considerably lower than the cost of putting homeless people in jail to get them off the streets. For example, the…...

mla References Bassuk et al. (August 28, 1996). The Characteristics and Needs of Sheltered Homeless and Low-Income Housed Mothers. Journal of the American Medical Association Cuomo Releases Historic Report that Paints Most Comprehensive Picture Ever Homelessness in America. (1999) HUD News.   http://www.hud.gov/library/bookshelf18/pressrel/pr99-258.html 

Homelessness in America and Why We Should Help Them Especially Homeless Women

Homelessness in the United States has been a growing social concern. It has also become clear that measures to deal with the problem have not been significantly effective. Specifically vulnerable to this problem are women, often the sole care takers of young children. The problem then imprints itself not only on the unemployed, but also upon those who depend upon these individuals for their livelihood. Homelessness then becomes a vicious cycle, inherited by children from parents. ecause women are in a particularly difficult position when homeless, they should be the recipients of efforts focused specifically upon their needs. Employability for example…...

mla Bibliography Donovan, Gill. " Survey says most homeless find it harder to get work" National Catholic Reporter, Nov. 22, 2002. Kansas City: MO National Catholic Reporter, 2002. Ehrenreich, Barbara and Frances Fox Piven. " Without a safety net: welfare reform was supposed to free poor mothers from dependency and get them into the job market. But what happens when the jobs are gone?." Mother Jones, May-June 2002. Foundation for National Progress, 2002.

Homelessness in Canada Is Considered

The government in Canada did make attempts, in the fashion of 'too little, too late' to "contain the rapid growth of homelessness with homeless shelters and other short-term crisis-based services." (Laird, 2007; p.,6) This is a failed strategy according to Laird (2007); Huff (2006); Hargrave (2005); Pollack (2008). The Government of Canada has reported in its' March 17, 2008 report that it is assisting families and individuals who "are trying to break out of the cycles of poverty and homelessness and build a better future for themselves." (Human Resources and Social Development Canada, 2008) it has been reported in…...

mla Bibliography Government of Canada Improves Situation for Homeless People in the Saguenay Region (2008) Human Resources and Social Development Canada. 17 Mar 2008. Jonquiere, Quebec. Online available at http://news.gc.ca/web/view/en/index.jsp?articleid=385699 Pollack, Gladys (2008) Reader's Digest. Canada. Online available at   http://www.readersdigest.ca/mag/2001/01/homeless.html 

Homelessness Nobel Prize Peace Prize

With this information, it could arm the public into taking more action into preventing homelessness in order to ultimately improve their own economic health. Although the humanitarian component is quite strong, it is, as Gurley says, fatigued when it comes to homelessness. Hopefully, by appealing to a facet of people's lives that has an impact on them and by educating them on how homelessness impacts their lives through economic means, they would take more measures to prevent homelessness and attempt to address the issue. In addition to the campus actions that the National Coalition for the Homeless has provided, it…...

Homelessness in Contemporary American Society

In general, any business organization can help the homeless by contributing money or volunteers to local shelters and to promote the availability of jobs for those whose circumstances are mainly attributable to their inability to find steady work and income. Private Individuals Unfortunately comparatively few private individuals take the initiative to do anything to help the homeless, mainly because they underestimate how far even a little help goes. The simplest way to help is to contribute money to established public and private programs already in existence because the more money they have the better assistance they can provide and to the…...

mla Sources Consulted Abbott, P. And Williamson, E. "Women, health and domestic violence." Journal of Gender Studies, Vol. 8, No. 1 (1999). Carey, M. "Some ethical dilemmas for agency social workers." Ethics and Social

Homelessness in USA

Homelessness in the United States The homeless population in the United States is far from invisible. It is impossible to walk down a street in any city without encountering someone sleeping in a doorway, pushing a shopping cart filled with personal belongings, or approaching a passerby for money. The homeless are no longer the skid-row white males roaming the countryside by hitching rides on freight trains and working for handout meals. Today, the faces of the homeless are a myriad of ages, genders, and races. Homelessness is inextricably linked to poverty. The poor are not able to afford housing, health care, education,…...

mla Works Cited Conan, Neal. "Analysis: Changing approaches to homelessness in cities around the country." Talk of the Nation: National Public Radio (NPR). November 13, 2002. ( 06-13-2003). http://ask.elibrary.com/getdoc.asp?pubname=Talk_of_the_Nation_(NPR)&puburl=http~C~~S~~S~www.npr.org&querydocid=:bigchalk:U.S.;Lib&dtype=0~0&dinst=0&author=NEAL+CONAN&title=Analysis%3A+Changing+approaches+to+homelessness+in+cities+around+the+country++&date=11%2D13%2D2002&query=homelessness&maxdoc=28&idx=5.(accessed Homelessness." Encarta. http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/refpages/RefArticle.aspx?refid=761579476.

How does homelessness affect a community?

Homeless affects a community in a number of ways, including social, economic, interpersonal, and intrapersonal. Socially, there is a stigma associated with homelessness that implies the person is mentally ill, a drug addict, or an alcoholic. While a number of the homeless population do fall into one of these categories, there are other reasons for homelessness. It is also hard on the economy, because these people don't contribute financially to society. There is a cost to feeding them and allowing them shelter, and that cost can be a lot for a community to handle. Homeless people struggle in interpersonal and....

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how do you write a homeless essay

how do you write a homeless essay

An Essay on Homelessness in Australia: A human rights issue.

warren coppard

warren coppard

Australian cities are still a major draw cards for many current residents of the nation and those seeking to settle in Australia. The fragility of the Australian land and the often-harsh environment has resulted in the bulk of the population moving to urbanized areas for opportunities to work, live and look to own their own home. These urban centers are often ranked as some of the world’s most livable cities and escalating demand for housing has seen housing affordability scale to heights that are out of reach of many new and existing Australians. The affordability issue is just one that has seen rises in the rate of homelessness in Australia since 2011. There are other factors that cause and influence the growth in homelessness and this essay will identify some of those in an effort to try to better understand why the problem of homelessness exists in a country as wealthy as Australia. This essay will focus on key issues that cause homelessness to still be a problem in Australia whilst also looking at the stigma associated with those that are homeless and how a human rights approach is one possible way of eliminating homelessness.

Homelessness is a human problem and it is therefore important that for this essay, research was conducted more broadly that just that of academic literature and reports. To do this, an interview was conducted with the CEO of Foundation Housing. This organizations purpose is to move people in to housing through emergency accommodation, medium term stay and long term affordable rental properties. Foundation Housing are one of a number of organizations that exist locally or nationally that assist those seeking accommodation. They operate differently to traditional charity model in that they are owners of multiple properties across the state. The purpose of the interview was to seek feedback on many of the topics raised in the research literature and gain an understanding whether a human rights approach to eliminating homelessness is both doable and front of mind for these organizations.

A recent Global Wealth Report released in October of this year, highlighted that Australia was in top place in terms of global median household wealth and second in the world for wealth per adult, just behind Switzerland. Add to this the 10th highest number of ultra-high net worth individuals in the world. Given this evidence of the wealth available in Australia, the growth in homelessness is seen as even more disturbing problem. Statistics showed that the number of homeless people in Australia grew 4.6% at the last census.

To look at why Australia has this problem, I will break this essay in to five distinct topics that can be linked to see how the homelessness occurs and how it may be eliminated. Each topic will present research and how it is viewed by the interviewee in the course of their dealings with the problem. Centrally to each topic though, is the human right aspect and how those affected are either having their rights respected, ignored or abused.

Homelessness has been identified as human rights under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) that was established by the United Nations in 1976 and designed to make governments obligated to providing adequate housing under a human rights. Australia is a signatory to this covenant and therefore obligated to ensure they are working towards complying. Much of the academic research related to homelessness is done to look at how effectively Australia and other signatories comply or ignore their obligations. Other research takes the view of those affected and attempts to highlight the plight and difficulties homeless people go through in everyday life. It is using research from these two areas’, policy compliance and those affected, that I will analysis whether a human’s right approach is the right fit.

Background research was conducted on the topic of homelessness via several means. There is ample academic literature that discusses the problem and the effectiveness of attempts to eliminate homelessness. To compliment this research, reports in to homelessness were also reviewed as they give evidence of whether the problem is improving or declining and the demographics of those deemed homeless. To add insight to this, some qualitative research was also done with Foundation Housing. The CEO, Kathleen Gregory, was interviewed for this. Kathleen is a leader in the area of affordable housing and reducing of homelessness and has contributed to several reports on the subject. After initially failing to get a response to my interview requests from organizations, I used a contact I know that does work in the homeless area and she made the introductions. The interview was conducted at Foundation Housing office. My questions for the interview were subject to a couple of rewrites as my research of the available literature gave a better insight in to the issue.

I have listed definition as a topic here as it became apparent through my research that defining homelessness is a part of the challenge in how it is addressed. This is highlighted by Chamberlain in his 2014 report on reshaping the policy agenda for homelessness. The first eleven pages of this report are dedicated to defining homelessness. It is important to understand how a human rights issue is defined to then be able to look assess how governments address the issue. Terms used in defining homelessness, such as ‘adequate housing’, invoke just as much discussion in the literature in how to describe ‘adequate’ in a context of where the definition is describing homelessness in certain contexts. For example, city versus rural, developed country versus developing country. Others go even further and states that there is no internationally agreed definition. This difficulty in defining the problem gives governments the ability to approach the topic without having to address the issue directly. How do you legislate for something that has a mixed consensus on how it is described? This has resulted in the Australian Federal Government referring to the rights of homeless people as privileges, as opposed to rights.

Despite the issue in defining the problem, there are agreed elements that constitute homelessness. Many reports refer to the ABS statistical definition as framework that are then able to measure the problem. This definition describes the elements of homelessness if a person; • Is in adequate dwelling, or • Has no tenure, or • If their tenure is short and not extendable, or • Does not allow them to have control and access to space for social relations.

Health issues for those suffering homelessness are widespread and linked to the stress that is brought on through their circumstances. Physical and mental health problems such as depression and loneliness can lead to substance abuse and accelerated aging through poor diets and limited access to health care. Th abundance of health problems can also lead to the reduction in life expectancy for homeless individuals. A good example of a health condition suffered by homeless people, especially those rough sleeping, is that of heat stroke. It has been reported that over 23% of respondents to health surveys have experienced this condition. This is relatively simple problem to alleviate through access to water and shelter.

Gregory points out that through their surveying of homeless rough sleepers using the Vulnerability Index — Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool (VI-SPDAT), Foundation Housing and other homeless assistance providers gain a good insight in to the types of health issues suffered. There was a continuous cycle of rough sleepers presenting at emergency departments for treatment. This was supported in reporting that showed 57% of those surveyed would present at hospital if feeling unwell. Access to regular GP’s meant that homeless people would generally wait until conditions deteriorated rather than seek out early advise. Gregory highlighted that as we have no legislative obligations to make sure people have adequate housing to return to, hospitals and other health providers “exit people in to homelessness”. This was a critical statement as it identified a key weakness in government action and how society has not established framework to deal with furthering the care of the vulnerable.

The root causes of homelessness are debated as much as those of a definition. There are those that lay the blame on the capitalist economic system through to those that discuss the breakdown of families and social exclusion. It is this multidimensional nature of homelessness that challenges service providers to eliminate the problem. Homeless people can arrive at their situation through interactions with the justice system, leaving the family home, loss of jobs or through substance abuse. To try and tackle all these causes would be an insurmountable task. This is why service providers seek to gain intervention to homelessness as early as possible.

64% of those rough sleeping in Perth were male. From this result, it is easy to think this over-representation is what concerns those providing services. However, Gregory discussed that the fastest growing group of homeless people are women over the age of 50. This is due to marriage failures, limited superannuation and savings. Gregory added that this trend will likely continue for another 20 years. This could be taken anecdotally as a generational factor given the length of the trend. These women tend to be more in transient accommodation via ‘couch surfing’ at friends and family homes and are not as represented in the rough sleeping surveys. It is this forward forecasting of the extent that homelessness will continue that further highlights the lack of framework to eliminate the issue.

There is evidence to show the link between homelessness and social. This can lead to a lack of human rights for those suffering from social exclusion in the absence of the right to an adequate standard of living, appropriate health care, freedom from discrimination and social security. For those that are rough sleeping, they are often discriminated against by the law and justice system for minor breaches of the use of public space. Rokach, in their 2004 paper, goes as far as calling homeless people the some of the most stigmatized groups in Western society through their constant battle for survival and the suffering they endure. This stigma is further increased through the fear in the general community as the number of homeless people increases. Unfortunately, those that are the more visible homeless, rough sleepers, face this more than those that are invisible and in accommodation or shelter.

Gregory highlighted this stigma in her dealing with a young mother of two who had spent 14 months living in a tent at a caravan park. The mother felt that the social stigma associated with homelessness was sufficient that should did not go looking for assistance or want to discuss with family and friends. This is also echoed in the previous comments in reference to women over 50 being the fastest homelessness growth group. The social stigma associated with this group and the lack of knowledge of the support available kept them seeking help for accommodation. These instances highlight how a shift in the power dynamic can see those suffering homelessness as having a lack of status and losing self-esteem through their circumstances.

Eliminating homelessness through a human rights approach is a logical step for a modern and wealthy country like Australia. However, being logical has not meant that it has happened. A top down approach that requires governments legislate that it become a legal requirement for individuals to have housing and shelter, may be a theoretical practice that governments are unwilling to adopt. There is a need to keep up pressure on governments by tackling the issue of individuals rights and remove inequalities that exist within a society. The Australian Human Rights Commission list 24 recommendations for eliminating homelessness with a strong emphasis on legislation being a key factor. Without adequate housing, many other basic rights of an individual become compromised. External pressure being applied by international human rights group also needs to be maintained. If Australia is happy to be seen as a signatory to these treaties, it needs to ratify fully the recommendation that are presented.

Gregory acknowledged the need for a legal framework to assist in eliminating or reducing homelessness. However, given the current lack of legislation, a more pragmatic approach needs to be taken. Some suggestions included, smaller homes that can be built closer to infrastructure and services, rental home owners being subsidized if they make their premises available and the use of government acquired properties being handed over to homeless service providers for the use of those in need (Gregory 2018). The interview highlighted the need for homeless service providers to work together and within the existing framework available. This ‘getting on with the job’ approach is required whilst successive governments lack the will to legislate the right to adequate housing. Gregory (2018) pointed out that service providers in Western Australia are possibly the best in the country for coordinating activities and ensuring the best outcomes for those seeking their services.

Homelessness, is at its core, is a human problem. It is one that is founded in the rights of individuals to have adequate shelter and not been in fear of losing this right. As this essay has shown, the starting point to fixing a problem is to define it. This is itself, is a problem as academics, service providers and governments continue to seek consensus on a definition. The causes of homelessness are varied and neither gender or age specific. Addressing the causes of how people become homeless is daunting and the current process in Australia of exiting individuals in to homelessness does not help. The health and social stigma of those that are homeless is an ongoing issue for society. This highlights how one right of the individual being neglected leads to the further compromising of other basic rights. Without a legal framework to work within, service providers are tackling the problem from a bottom up approach and are relying on changing societies views of the homeless to be able drive change at the government level. Despite this, there is still a lot to be done by a nation like Australia. If we are measured by how we treat our disadvantaged, then we are failing and organizations like Foundation Housing will continue to have to assist those that slip through the gaps.

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Written by warren coppard

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Helping The Homeless Essay | 800+ Words Essay on Helping The Homeless Essay

August 11, 2021 by Prasanna

Helping The Homeless Essay: People are categorized as homeless if they are living on the streets or are moving between temporary shelters, including houses of friends and family. However, the legal definition of homelessness may vary between countries or jurisdictions in the same country. Regardless, being homeless is detrimental to one’s physical and mental health. It has been even linked to higher usage of illicit substances a greater risk of suicide attempts. Such individuals also have limited access to resources and are more susceptible to extreme weather events. Even the current pandemic has left many of the homeless either deceased or facing severe repercussions of the virus. Hence, these individuals need help to get back on the right track. Doing so will at least enable them to have a near-normal life. We shall take a look at the ways we can help the homeless and the needy.

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Moral Support: Homeless individuals often lack access to basic needs and necessities such as food, clothing and education. Moreover, they might be socially, economically and politically deprived. This can cause mental distress and resentment towards others. Giving such individuals moral support and empathy might alleviate their troubles to some extent. It makes them feel like someone actually cares about their condition and wishes to change some aspects of it. Doing so will also open up opportunities that may help them live better lives. Moreover, such people will need help in order to discover their strengths and capabilities. A little moral support can help turn them into self-sufficient individuals who will be able to stand on their own two feet.

Social Platforms: In today’s day and age, the internet has become a platform for connecting with people around the world. Hence, it can also be used to create awareness about certain things. Various social media networks such as Facebook and Twitter helps to spread awareness as well as to reach out when people are in need. Granted, a homeless person may not have access or have limited access to the internet or a smartphone. Hence, helping these individuals to create an online presence is the least one can do. Such social groups can lend a helping hand to the downtrodden and homeless. Moreover, the internet is a place of opportunities and if given proper training, these individuals might be able to make some money to keep themselves from starvation.

Financial Help: Granted, financial help might not be very feasible in the long run, but it might temporarily alleviate the basic problems of living. This can include buying clothing, food, temporary shelter or medications for such individuals. Moreover, taking care of one or two homeless individuals might be feasible, but one should consider associating themselves with charitable houses to donate money or supplies to a large number of homeless individuals. However, the main goal of financial help must be to transform these homeless individuals into self-reliant and useful members of society through skill training or other productive activities.

Raising Funds: Another way we can help the homeless is by raising funds. There are many charitable organizations whose sole purpose is to help homeless individuals relocate and provide assistance so that they can become self-sufficient. Such organisations also impart skill development and training which might enable these individuals to become financially independent.

Collection Drive: One might consider organising a collection drive for food, clothing, or other essentials which might benefit the homeless and the needy. Collection drives can be done at places of public gathering such as offices, schools and even colleges. It is also considered to be one of the most feasible ways to provide help for the poor and downtrodden. People can drop off donations at predetermined locations, and these will be redistributed among the homeless. Even books that might educate or entertain the homeless can be donated as it might improve their morale.

Volunteering: People with marketable skills can volunteer their time and effort to help the homeless. Such noble acts may not bring in monetary incentives but are sure to leave people with boosted morale, empowerment and a sense of gratitude. Many homeless children do not have access to basic education or even learning resources, hence, individuals who can volunteer to teach these children can make a meaningful difference in society. Similarly, homeless individuals lack access to basic healthcare, hence doctors or medical professionals can volunteer to treat these individuals and make their lives a little more tolerant. Granted, volunteering takes a lot of precious time and effort, but sparing just a few hours in a week can make a lot of difference to these homeless individuals. Regardless of the type of volunteering work, any kind of help is a welcome change for this group of people.

Empathy: Showing empathy and understanding is basic human nature. This is due to the fact that nobody chooses to become poor. It is their circumstances and course of action that led to them being homeless. Moreover, making mistakes is human nature, hence, one should see through stereotypes and understand a person before passing judgment. Granted, there are people who never change their behaviour, attitudes and opinions regardless of their situation. But for the people who are willing to change their ways after seeing the error in their ways, all they need is a helping hand to get back on their feet.

In conclusion, homeless individuals are a part of society and they are also the weakest links. Hence, in order to help improve our society, we need to help the homeless and needy. Doing so not only makes our lives better, but it will improve the lives of others and this makes a meaningful difference to society.

Helping The Homeless

FAQ’s on Helping The Homeless Essay

Question 1. Why should we help the homeless?

Answer: Homeless individuals are still humans and they might not be able to live their lives without our help. They may not have access to resources or finance, without which they might perish. Moreover, helping these individuals is like helping society.

Question 2. What are some ideas to help the homeless?

Answer: One can help the homeless through any means. For instance, they can directly donate essentials or provide financial assistance to the homeless. We can also organise awareness drives and perform volunteering work to alleviate the condition of the homeless. Furthermore, we can also use social media to reach a wider audience or to raise funds for the homeless.

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It’s Too Early to Give Up on Homelessness in America

how do you write a homeless essay

California has seventy-one thousand shelter beds to serve a homeless population estimated at a hundred and eighty thousand. By basic measures, that isn’t the worst housing crisis in America—the state with the highest rate of homelessness is New York, followed by Vermont—but it means that California is the state where urban homelessness is most consistently visible, often as encampments, much in the way that utility poles are visible where cables are not buried underground. People with housing space need utility connections, and people without housing space need places to exist and sleep. Since 1967, Californians have invested in underground pathways for the grid, on the theory that being shaded by poles, wires, and other essentials is incompatible with the state’s promise of golden landscapes and good living, and much less safe in a storm. You can now walk through many California cities scarcely spotting a utility pole. Homelessness is different. In surveys over several years, voters have named homelessness and housing as the state’s most pressing problems, but a visible crisis of space remains. If all unhoused Californians sought a night’s emergency shelter, less than half of them could get it.

Late last week, California’s Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, issued an executive order for officials to start dismantling homeless encampments on state land. The order followed a U.S. Supreme Court decision in June, City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson, which upheld that city’s ban on homeless residents sleeping outdoors (a case that Newsom had pressed the Court to take up). It is presumed to supersede Martin v. City of Boise, a Ninth Circuit decision from 2018 that made it illegal to punish homeless people for camping if shelter beds were not available. Newsom, who is the country’s most powerful deep-blue governor by virtue of his state’s economic dynamism and his rising status within his party, has become one of the nation’s most active leaders in the fight against homelessness, and he presented his order in the terms of left-of-center concern. “This executive order directs state agencies to move urgently to address dangerous encampments while supporting and assisting the individuals living in them,” he said. He modelled his directive on the California Department of Transportation’s protocols for clearing encampments away from freeways.

The order travelled better than its pieties. “I’m warming up the bulldozer. . . .  I want the tents away from the residential areas and the shopping centers and the freeways,” R. Rex Parris, the Republican mayor of Lancaster, a small Southern California city that consists almost entirely of residential areas, shopping centers, and freeways, told the Times . Across the partisan channel, London Breed, the mayor of San Francisco, who is seeking reëlection in an incumbency weighed down partly by accounts of street homelessness and open drug use in the city , told the press, “My hope is that we can clear them all.”

The idea that leaders bulldozing tents—and the poor people who live in them—out of sight is now considered a winning political strategy might reveal the Swiftian level to which much social thinking has fallen. It is worth noting, then, that the project promises little success on its own terms. The Governor’s order, which amounts to uprooting encampments and their residents, “supporting and assisting” them through contact with outreach services, and most often sending them to something other than shelter or housing, is fated to be an expensive and labor-intensive project in reshuffling and buck-passing in the face of a problem that has seemed too hard for too long. The basic wish of the program—like many in America right now—is Please, Just Make These People Disappear. But, with no permanent solution available, homeless people driven from the north side of town land on the south side, still homeless. Chase them from a city, and they find themselves in the next town.

A few years ago, I undertook a months-long reported study of homelessness in San Francisco for the magazine. As I spoke with dozens of unhoused people, along with service providers, politicians, and community leaders, some of the most unsettling accounts I heard concerned displacements of camps. One young man dealt with upping and moving his life among tent encampments marked for clearance (dispersals are supposed to be announced in advance) while attending community college. Since unhoused people often carry everything they have with them, belongings that are removed can be an outsized loss. Officially, these belongings are supposed to be impounded, like a towed car—in street parlance, “bagged and tagged.” But the administrative burden of bagging and tagging is great, and one homeless person told me that, in practice, possessions were not infrequently classified as abandoned and then swept into the trash. I heard accounts of lost identity documents, family heirlooms and photographs, and medicines for H.I.V. One woman described a friend going through the formal recovery process for her belongings, including a trip to a remote holding site, without ever being reunited with them.

In studies, encampment dispersals, or “sweeps,” have repeatedly been shown to not just be ineffective , for the simple reason that people moved from here land there, but to exacerbate homelessness’s ill social effects . No one—or almost no one—dreams of living an adult life from a tent. But for many homeless people it can seem like the most tenable bad option. Some unhoused people with whom I spoke deliberately avoided shelters, which could mean trying to sleep beside a disturbed stranger screaming in the night. Shelters could also mean bedbugs, personal theft, and the looming threat of physical or sexual assault on one hand and infantilizing rules on the other: the hostel from hell. Some required residents to be drug-free at admission—a policy with obvious appeal, but hardly a feat that can be achieved on the threshold. (Even substance abusers in well-resourced lives work long and hard toward sobriety.) Some shelters, too, didn’t allow animals, and, for a person whose only devoted confidant in a life of instability is, say, a dog, abandoning this one friend for temporary access to a bed can seem an unthinkable exchange.

There is nothing like a sole or easy solution to the problem of housing the unhoused. But clearing encampments without anything like a requisite number of shelter or housing options subtracts space for the existence of the state’s neediest residents at both ends. Studies in California disprove the common false claim that homeless people travel to inflict their homelessness on distant, innocent communities. Migrants relocated by governors in Southern states aside, the vast majority become homeless in the place where they were last housed. The mayor there is their mayor; the governor, their governor; the city—even if they have no dwelling there—their home. These locals aren’t interlopers of the place but products of it as much as anybody else.

California is the country’s most prosperous and economically productive state, with a mean household income of a hundred and thirty thousand dollars. Its median household income is approximately a third less than that, and its Gini value for income distribution—a measure of inequality—is well above the national value and rising, indicating that prosperity flows disproportionately to the economic top. Housing, too: California’s housing prices are, on average, the highest in the nation, yet a quarter of its residents are said to be living with “severe housing problems,” a measure of unaffordability or lack of basic amenities. The rise in living costs in California, as in many other thriving states, has wildly outpaced growth in structures of access to available housing, generative income, and other basic measures of stability that make it possible for many people to keep up with and enjoy that prosperity. In San Francisco, whose housing shortage is notorious, the median rent for a studio apartment is currently two thousand dollars a month. Several of the homeless people I met were working full-time jobs and still could not find their way back into housed life.

An air of exhaustion surrounds the American homeless problem, and rightly so. Over the years, Newsom’s state has in good faith tried plausible-seeming solutions, including adding billions of dollars in new funds for health and housing programs, all without overwhelming success. A national election of unprecedented importance looms. The Presidential candidate now endowed with the task of preserving American democracy is a Californian, and vulnerable to attack as a proxy for the state. But it’s too early to give up. California’s problems are increasingly the nation’s problems. (New York City, which used to hold enough shelter beds for its homeless population, no longer does so, in the wake of migrants bused there from the South.) And progress is being made. In June, Los Angeles announced a ten-per-cent decrease in street homelessness compared with the previous year, the first double-digit decline in nearly a decade and a testament, perhaps, to efforts by its mayor, Karen Bass, to use motel housing for those who would otherwise live in tents. (Last week, Bass came out in opposition to the Governor’s encampment order; the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors this week passed a defiant motion preventing people in encampments from being taken to county jails.) In my reporting, I found evidence of remarkable success through advanced Housing First programs—nonprofits that set up unhoused people in subsidized apartments with professional counsellors and health resources to help them get back on their feet and gradually take over payment of their rents.

Such solutions take time to work: unhoused people are said to bounce out of housing situations several times before the problems in their lives, which tend to be complex and tangled, start to comb out, and they get back into the rhythms of a self-supporting life. But it does happen, and with time and smart spending, the best solutions, which involve multipronged counselling and persistence, do last. Looking out for the health, well-being, and the opportunities of the entire community is not a troublesome chore that people, their governments, and their enterprises get saddled with on the way to sealing deals for office towers. It is—or ought to be—the proudest work of a First World society. This country at the moment isn’t out in front. In a pinch, it has become clear, Americans will do the utmost to preserve our majestic landscapes. We should feel the same pride looking out across our population, too. ♦

An earlier version of this article imprecisely described people who were bused to New York from the South.

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How to Write a Salary Increase Letter (Example Included!)

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Negotiating your salary can be a key step in advancing your career and boosting your financial stability—but it can also be pretty intimidating. The good news is that with the right approach, it doesn’t have to be so scary. That's where a salary increase letter comes in.

Whether you're asking for a raise due to your great performance, increased responsibilities, or changes in the market, a well-crafted letter asking for salary increment can be a powerful (and smooth) way to make your case.

In this article, we'll walk you through everything you need to know about writing a salary increase letter, from understanding its purpose to tips on crafting an effective one. We'll also include sample letters and templates to help you get started. Plus, we’ve interviewed Muse career coach Jenn Smith , who shares her top advice on navigating this critical career move.

Need a higher salary? Check out open jobs on The Muse for your next big move »

What is a salary increase letter?

A salary increase letter is a formal document that employees use to request a raise from their employer. Unlike a salary review letter—which is typically initiated by the employer to communicate pay adjustments—a salary increase letter is written by the employee seeking a boost in compensation.

Writing a salary increase letter can be necessary for several reasons:

  • Performance improvements : You've consistently exceeded your performance goals or achieved a significant milestone and believe your contributions are worth a higher salary.
  • Increased responsibilities : Your role has expanded significantly, and your current salary no longer reflects the scope of your responsibilities.
  • Market adjustments : Industry standards and market rates for your position have increased, and your current salary needs to catch up to these benchmarks.

When writing a letter to request a salary increase, it's generally more effective to address it to your direct manager or your department’s director rather than HR. Your manager is more familiar with your work, contributions, and the value you bring to the team. They are also likely involved in budget decisions and have the authority to advocate for your raise.

Is it OK to ask for a raise through a salary increase letter?

Yes, writing a salary increase letter can be a formal and respectful way to request a raise. It allows you to clearly articulate your reasons, provide evidence of your achievements , and give your employer time to consider your request. Plus, a letter is a documented record of your request and can be reviewed by decision-makers at different levels of the organization.

On the other hand, having an in-person conversation can be generally more effective. “This allows you to present your case dynamically, outlining your accomplishments, contributions, and the value you bring, and respond to questions or concerns in real-time,” Smith says, adding that a direct conversation also allows for immediate feedback. “Your manager can provide insights into decision-making, share any constraints or considerations, and offer guidance.”

She also believes it’s a good idea to supplement your conversation with a follow-up email to ensure clarity and provide a reference for future discussions.

How to write a salary increase letter

These tips will prepare you for writing an effective pay raise letter:

1. Research salary benchmarks

Conducting extensive research will strengthen your case and help you present a compelling argument.

“Research industry salary benchmarks for your role, experience level, and geographic location,” Smiths says. “Use reliable sources like industry salary surveys, compensation reports, and online salary databases.”

Additionally, be sure to understand your company's salary ranges, performance evaluation criteria, and typical raise percentages.

2. Choose the right time

Timing is crucial when it comes to writing a letter requesting pay increase. Making your request at the wrong time can significantly reduce your chances of success.

“Typically, organizations have annual or semiannual performance review cycles,” Smiths says. “Discuss this with your manager before the performance review process starts so they can consider it as they begin budget conversations.”

One common mistake she sees is “asking for a raise at an inappropriate time, such as during a company's financial downturn or immediately after a major organizational change or layoffs.” Avoid doing that at all costs.

3. Keep it clear and straightforward

Begin your letter by setting the context for your request and remind your employer of your role within the company. Clearly state your position, tenure with the company, and the purpose of the letter.

4. Detail your contributions and impact

In the main section of your letter, outline your accomplishments and contributions to the company. Highlight specific achievements, projects, or responsibilities that demonstrate your value.

Provide evidence of your impact, such as performance metrics, positive feedback from clients or colleagues, and examples of how your work has benefited the company, explaining how your contributions justify the proposed raise.

5. Conclude with gratitude and reaffirmation

Summarize your key points and reiterate your appreciation for the opportunity to discuss your compensation. Express gratitude for the support and experiences you have gained and reiterate your commitment to the company. This positive tone reinforces your professionalism and leaves a lasting impression.

Salary increase request letter example

Here’s a sample letter for salary increase request to show you how these tips can be put into practice:

Alex Johnson 123 Elm Street Springfield, IL 62704 [email protected] July 25, 2024

Emma Thompson Director of Sales Innovative Tech Solutions 456 Maple Avenue Springfield, IL 62704

Dear Ms. Thompson,

I hope you are well. I am writing to formally request a review of my current salary. I have thoroughly enjoyed working at Innovative Tech Solutions over the past three years and appreciate the opportunities for growth and development that have been provided to me.

During my time here, I have consistently exceeded expectations and made significant contributions to the Sales team. For example, I spearheaded a new email marketing campaign that increased sales by 15% and successfully launched our new TechY product line, resulting in a 20% revenue boost.

In addition to my core responsibilities, I have taken on new challenges, such as leading the training program for new sales representatives and managing key client accounts, which have significantly contributed to our team's success.

I have also undertaken several professional development activities, including completing a certification in Advanced Sales Strategies and attending workshops on market trends, which have further enhanced my skills and ability to contribute to our team.

Based on my research of industry standards and salary benchmarks for my role and experience level, I believe that an adjustment in my compensation is warranted. Therefore, I respectfully request a salary increase to $85,000. This adjustment would better reflect the value I bring to the team and align my compensation with industry standards.

I am confident this increase will further motivate me to continue delivering high-quality work and contributing to the success of Innovative Tech Solutions. I am more than willing to discuss this request in person and provide any additional information that may be required.

Thank you for considering my request and for your ongoing support.

Sincerely, Alex Johnson

Raise request letter template

Now, here's a template for a raise request letter to help guide you in drafting your own:

[Your Name] [Your Address] [Email Address] [Date]

[Recipient’s Name] [Recipient’s Title] [Company’s Name] [Company’s Address]

Dear [recipient’s name],

I hope you are well. I am writing to formally request a review of my current salary. I have thoroughly enjoyed working at [Company’s Name] over the past [number] years and appreciate the opportunities for growth and development that have been provided to me.

During my time here, I have consistently exceeded expectations and made significant contributions to the [Department] team. For example, I [List your accomplishments, using quantifiable results whenever possible, such as increased sales by 15% through a new email marketing campaign; successfully launched a new product line, resulting in a 20% revenue increase; etc.].

In addition to my core responsibilities, I have taken on new challenges, such as [List additional responsibilities].

In addition to these accomplishments, I have undertaken several professional development activities, including [certifications, courses, and training programs], which have further enhanced my skills and ability to contribute to our team.

Based on my research of industry standards and salary benchmarks for my role and experience level, I believe that an adjustment in my compensation is warranted. Therefore, I respectfully request a salary increase to [desired salary or salary range]. This adjustment would better reflect the value I bring to the team and align my compensation with industry standards.

I am confident this increase will further motivate me to continue delivering high-quality work and contributing to the success of [Company Name]. I am more than willing to discuss this request in person and provide any additional information that may be required.

Sincerely, [Your name]

How often should I make a salary raise proposal ?

Typically, you should ask for a raise once a year, ideally around your annual performance review. If you have taken on significant additional responsibilities or have had exceptional achievements, it might be appropriate to request a salary review sooner. However, be mindful of your company's financial health and the timing of your request.

Should I wait for a performance review?

Waiting for a performance review is often a good strategy, as this is a natural time for salary discussions. However, if you feel that your contributions have significantly outpaced your current compensation, you might consider requesting a meeting outside of the review cycle. Just ensure your request is well-timed and substantiated.

What if the salary increase request is denied?

If a salary review is denied, consider asking for specific feedback. “Work with your manager to set clear goals—create a development plan that outlines the steps you need to receive a raise,” Smith says. “Consider discussing alternative forms of compensation, which could include bonuses, additional vacation days, flexible working arrangements, and professional development opportunities.”

Key takeaways

Whether you opt for a formal letter via email , a direct conversation, or a combination of both, the key is to present a well-reasoned case for your increased-salary request. When crafting your letter, keep these takeaways in mind:

  • Avoid approaching the conversation with an aggressive or entitled attitude. Politeness and professionalism will help you make a positive impression.
  • Document any professional development activities you've undertaken , such as certifications, courses, training programs, or conferences. This shows your commitment to growing within your role and adds weight to your request.
  • Be confident in your request to demonstrate your self-assurance and understanding of your worth. Clearly state your desired salary or salary range and show you are informed about salary ranges for your position.
  • Explain how a salary increase will help you contribute even more to the company's success. Position your request as a mutually beneficial arrangement that will enhance your productivity and the value you bring to the organization.
  • Use clear and concise language, avoiding jargon or overly complex sentences. Ensure your message is easily understood and directly addresses your key points. After writing it, don’t forget to proofread it.

how do you write a homeless essay

Dystopia Now, Socialism Soon?

The Future that no one asked for

by Francesca Fiorentini

August 9, 2024

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JANDOS ROTHSTEIN USING VARIOUS AI HIJINKS

This article appears in the August 2024 issue of The American Prospect magazine. Subscribe here .

I’ve seen enough: The Future sucks. I don’t mean the future, as in our planet’s survival or America’s descent into authoritarianism. Those things also suck, but I mean The Future: that technological utopia where everything is clean and made of rounded chrome that seamlessly syncs with the natural world. A combination of Wakanda, Naboo, and Back to the Future Part II , where waterfalls cascade around high-speed railways and children race their hoverboards around a multiethnic marketplace. That only happens in Hollywood, where things are designed to give people what they want. But in today’s late-stage consumer capitalism, things are designed to give people what they never asked for, and give shareholders a boatload of cash.

Here, The Future is thrust upon us like a round of drinks from the creepy guy in the club. It may seem cool in the moment, but there are strings attached. Also, why is the drink cloudy? The Future according to Elon Musk, Marc Andreessen, or Sam Altman amounts to needless technology to solve problems that don’t exist. On its face it’s not evil, until you recognize someone has to get rich and someone else has to be put out of a job while doing it.

More from Francesca Fiorentini

Take driverless cars, which are being trained in cities across America without consent from residents so we can curb climate change by ending personal car ownership … I mean end the scourge of having to strike up a conversation with your Uber driver. Or the dawn of military robotics, using titanium dogs and humans to rescue civilians caught in conflict zones … I mean kill civilians in conflict zones. And of course the AI gold rush, currently requiring megatons of fresh water to cool its energy-hogging processing centers, just so your cousin can generate an AI girlfriend with two butts. Nobody asked for AI (besides your cousin, maybe). I can’t even write this column without an AI tool popping up to ask me if I want to “change the tone” of the essay like some jacked-up Microsoft Clippy, while draining Albania’s energy grid during the hottest month ever recorded. The Future is quite literally robbing us of a future. And MY TONE IS FINE.

There couldn’t be a more perfect example of how much The Future sucks than the Tesla Cybertruck, which is as hideous as it is dysfunctional. The Cybertruck has the vibe of an apocalypse getaway car that says to the world, “I don’t need to move a sofa or do manual labor, I need to poke my way through the poors when the masses eventually rise up.” Only Tesla’s rush job has meant it keeps getting recalled for a stuck accelerator pedal, defective windshield wipers, and exterior trim that can fly off into traffic. And in a way too on-the-nose flaw, the Cybertruck’s front trunk, with its sharp adjoining body panels and no obstruction detection, is being called a “finger guillotine,” which will soon become a useful feature when that uprising of displaced workers pops off.

The Future in the hands of billionaires is a dangerous dystopia, full of dissonance and hubris.

I once saw a homeless man wearing an Oculus Rift in San Francisco and the irony was so overwhelming I had to laugh. I hope that he was at least virtually in a house? Right now in the richest country in the world, I could buy my two-year-old an AI learning robot but I can’t access an affordable preschool. Technology and innovation could play a role in helping humans with food, housing, voting, education, or climate change. But where’s the money in that? BOOOOO.

Maybe The Future has always been a massive lie, meant to only exist in movies. There were probably still homeless people in Back to the Future Part II , probably behind that clock tower, and surely Naboo had an underclass if they had a queen. (Wakanda is perfect.) The Future doesn’t magically get better because the technology is cooler, as long as it is still orchestrated by the same pig-headed power ghouls who run the present. There will be no future for us under this kind of extreme wealth hoarding, striking lack of regulation, and trash can trucks. To the finger guillotines!

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how do you write a homeless essay

Copyright 2024 | The American Prospect, Inc. | All Rights Reserved

On How to Eradicate Homelessness Essay (Speech)

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Introduction

Causes of homelessness, homelessness associated with hunger, how to eradicate homelessness, works cited.

The ugly state of homelessness is present and clearly visible in every street in most parts of the United States. It is devastating to see the homeless people trying to survive the hard life surviving the harsh weather conditions. Many people who have never had a firsthand experience would assume that only the alcoholics, drug addicts and the poor are the homeless. This is unlike what is reality. Anyone can be homeless despite a person’s class, level of education and sanity. Homelessness is a national catastrophe that should be well addressed to help in eradicating in society.

Many times homelessness has been misinterpreted to be an experience that happens to wicked and evil people. The notion that society has adopted is that homelessness happens to people who have no vision and dreams in life. The truth of the matter is that majority of the homeless are people with dreams, ambitions and desire to succeed. The barriers are the constraints that surround them making it impossible for them to rise up go beyond their limits. Society has played a big role in neglecting and despising the homeless. Society fails to understand that the homeless need care, support, and nurturing.

Understanding homelessness is very important when working to eradicate it in our society. This enables a person who has not been in this situation to understand how it feels to lack a place to call home. The general understanding is that homelessness is brought by negligence and through events that could have been prevented (Urban Institute). This is not true as there are people who have jobs, are educated, and with stable families but still are homeless. Hence, the biggest reason to understand homelessness and the best way possible to eradicate if not minimize the rate it’s in the country.

There are many causes of homelessness. According to the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, paucity has been the key issue that has rendered many families to the street. There are many families that have succumbed to life on the street due to lack. With the shortage of job opportunities and resources, many families cannot afford housing facilities (Maide). Domestic violence has been a factor that leads to homelessness. The violence that erupts in a home can result in the destruction of properties and separations. There are many broken families who are on the run with no place to call home. Eviction from homes to pave way for the construction of other facilities has been a factor that has contributed to homelessness. Often, families have been evicted from houses without a proper settlement plan. These families are left stranded with nowhere to go.

Teenage homelessness is widespread. Young girls run from their homes the minute they realize they are pregnant. They lack a place to live and they resolve to live on the street. Teenagers are also at risk of being homeless when they fall victim to vices like drug addictions and immorality. They tend to move out of their homestead to live in the street where they could easily access their hobbies. The other major factors that have contributed to homeliness are family disputes, expenses incurred in a divorce procedure, and the death of a loved one (Brendan).

Another aspect that has contributed to homelessness is the natural disaster. These disasters are beyond humanity and cannot be prevented yet they have rendered many homeless. The devastating hurricane Katrina is a good example where many families were left with no place to call home. The destruction of housing was rampant. The sight of young children, mothers and elderly people with no shelter was heartbreaking. These natural calamities cannot be prevented, unlike the other factors that lead to homelessness (Sommer).

Homelessness is closely associated with hunger, crime, child mortality and death (Bredan). When people are living in the street it is very hard for them to acquire other basic needs such as food and clothing. Young mothers on the street cannot be able to shield their young children from the harsh weather conditions. As a result, child mortality is at a high rate for the homeless. Diseases are easily spread among the homeless people in the street. Some become sick due to the unfavorable weather conditions cause deaths to the individuals in the street. A homeless person in the street has the highest chance of getting involved in an accident more than a person safely tacked in the house. Crime is rampant as the homeless opt to do anything to survive.

There is a need for society, government, and well-wishers to team up to help stamp out homelessness in the United States. This can be achieved by the provision of shelter homes for those hit by natural disasters like hurricanes, tornados and floods. The poor people in society should be given an opportunity to own a home (Burt, Carpenter and Hall). This can be attained by the provision of cheap houses that they can afford. It is very hard to get a house that is not expensive that suits an average person. The government should help in the construction of cheap but comfortable homes and place a fee that the poor in society can afford.

The lack of education which plays a bigger role in homelessness should be well tackled. More should be done to end ignorance on youths and adults by working with the cooperation that helps to end poverty. Such organizations include the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty. This one educates and provides homes for the poor in society. Another organization is the National Alliance to End Homelessness. This organization works hand in hand with other Nongovernmental organizations to eliminate homelessness in the country.

It is evident that some churches are working very hard to eradicate homelessness. These churches include the Salvation Army and Catholics. The churches help in building shelters for the homeless while providing them with basic needs. The churches although working all round the clock cannot be able to manage the overwhelming number of the homeless in society. There is a need therefore for every individual to work together and give aid to this organization (Bredan). It is wise to give the organization any aid possible than offering money to a homeless person who in turn uses the money to buy drugs.

In conclusion, homelessness is a national disaster that should be tackled quickly possible before it goes out of hand. It is wiser to understand that homelessness is not reserved for a particular group of people. Anyone can be homeless and therefore measures to end homelessness need to be taken care of by all people. Giving the homeless people on the street money and food are not enough. Efforts are needed to ensure that every human being has a roof on top of their head. By understanding the effects of homelessness the society would understand that what the homeless need is care, education and nurturing. A little help can go a long way to help the homeless.

Bredan, Coyne. New Report Shows Increase in Urban Hunger, Homelessness. 2005. Web.

Burt, Martha, R., Jenneth, Carpenter, and Sam Hall. Strategies for improving Homeless People’s Access to Mainstream Benefits and Services. 2010. Web.

Maide, Jeff. Top Causes of Homelessness in America. EzineArticles. 2010. Web.

Sommer, Heidi. Homelessness in Urban America: A Review of the Literature . 2001. Web.

Urban Institute . A New Look at Homelessness in America. 2000. Web.

  • The Poverty Rates in the USA
  • The Effects of Poverty Within Criminal Justice
  • Homelessness in the US
  • Mumbai Great Problem: Homelessness Problem in Cities
  • Homelessness as a Global Social Issue
  • Poverty in America: A Paradox
  • Economic Crisis: Social & Psychological Impact
  • War and Poverty Connection in Developing Countries
  • Social Security Strategies Reform Plan
  • Poverty in the World
  • Chicago (A-D)
  • Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2022, January 4). On How to Eradicate Homelessness. https://ivypanda.com/essays/persuasive-speech-on-homelessness/

"On How to Eradicate Homelessness." IvyPanda , 4 Jan. 2022, ivypanda.com/essays/persuasive-speech-on-homelessness/.

IvyPanda . (2022) 'On How to Eradicate Homelessness'. 4 January.

IvyPanda . 2022. "On How to Eradicate Homelessness." January 4, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/persuasive-speech-on-homelessness/.

1. IvyPanda . "On How to Eradicate Homelessness." January 4, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/persuasive-speech-on-homelessness/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "On How to Eradicate Homelessness." January 4, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/persuasive-speech-on-homelessness/.

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Published: Mar 16, 2024

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Barriers in accessing basic necessities, impact on physical and mental health, systemic issues.

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how do you write a homeless essay

Donald J. Trump, wearing a blue suit and a red tie, walks down from an airplane with a large American flag painted onto its tail.

Trump and Allies Forge Plans to Increase Presidential Power in 2025

The former president and his backers aim to strengthen the power of the White House and limit the independence of federal agencies.

Donald J. Trump intends to bring independent regulatory agencies under direct presidential control. Credit... Doug Mills/The New York Times

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By Jonathan Swan Charlie Savage and Maggie Haberman

  • Published July 17, 2023 Updated July 18, 2023

Donald J. Trump and his allies are planning a sweeping expansion of presidential power over the machinery of government if voters return him to the White House in 2025, reshaping the structure of the executive branch to concentrate far greater authority directly in his hands.

Their plans to centralize more power in the Oval Office stretch far beyond the former president’s recent remarks that he would order a criminal investigation into his political rival, President Biden, signaling his intent to end the post-Watergate norm of Justice Department independence from White House political control.

Mr. Trump and his associates have a broader goal: to alter the balance of power by increasing the president’s authority over every part of the federal government that now operates, by either law or tradition, with any measure of independence from political interference by the White House, according to a review of his campaign policy proposals and interviews with people close to him.

Mr. Trump intends to bring independent agencies — like the Federal Communications Commission, which makes and enforces rules for television and internet companies, and the Federal Trade Commission, which enforces various antitrust and other consumer protection rules against businesses — under direct presidential control.

He wants to revive the practice of “impounding” funds, refusing to spend money Congress has appropriated for programs a president doesn’t like — a tactic that lawmakers banned under President Richard Nixon.

He intends to strip employment protections from tens of thousands of career civil servants, making it easier to replace them if they are deemed obstacles to his agenda. And he plans to scour the intelligence agencies, the State Department and the defense bureaucracies to remove officials he has vilified as “the sick political class that hates our country.”

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COMMENTS

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