This site was created for a Contemporary World Issues course as part of a collaborative effort by Westerville North High School and Hartnell University. All opinions expressed herein are my own and do not reflect either institution.
History
While homelessness has obviously been an issue since the first civilizations came about, this website will focus on the homeless in only the United States.
16th and 17th Century
City and local governments often use bench dividers such as this one to prevent the homeless from sleeping on them.
Now
Currently there are over half a million people still without housing in the United States. Unlike past times though, the government has been credited much more for helping them and creating policy to improve their chances of one day being able to have a roof over their heads. Recent legislation such as "The Ending Homelessness Act of 2017" is a great step forward and shows not only is America becoming less indifferent, but just the opposite, proactive.
20th Century
Homelessness started to be recognized in America before the United States was even established. To be homeless in the colonies was seen as a deep character flaw in most people's eyes. It was believed if you were a good person, God would provide for you and you would naturally be able to live like the rest of society in regards of food and property.
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19th Century
One of the most major causes for homelessness in the 19th century was the panic of 1873, which lasted all the way to 1879 and triggered a depression in the United States and parts of Europe. The government at the time, under the leadership of President Rutherford B. Hayes, did little in the form of government intervention and has been criticized heavily throughout history for his lack of action in this matter.
The great depression (circa 1930) was a huge cause of homelessness for the first half of the 1900's. An estimated 2,000,000 people were without homes and this led to the infamous "hoovervilles". Communities full of impoverished people, usually on public land, with the name meant to blame President Hoover for their current situation. Coming out of World War 2 however, it was believed homelessness was to be non-existent by the 1970's. Reality was much different though. Homelessness soared and continued to increase at disturbing rates all the way through the late 80's. Prompting L.B.J.'s war on poverty. This rise in poverty is usually attributed to "Reaganomics", an economic system put in place, essentially saying that as the wealthy became richer the flow of money would trickle down to the middle and lower class, effectively raising the standard of living for all. Many think this to be a colossal failure.
Just The Facts
Here is a collection of true statements regarding the homeless of America.
Our Veterans
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According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, there are almost 40,000 veterans currently without permanent housing
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Roughly 70% of them have a substance abuses problems
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Around 57% are white males
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Make up 20% of the current homeless male population
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The number of male veterans sent to federal or state jail is 99%
Sources
Basic Background
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Over half a million people in the united states are homeless right now
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Almost 1/4 of them are children
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Approximately 1 in 5 have a mental illness
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More and more cities are creating laws that target the homeless making their day-to-day lives even harder.
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These include: the banning loitering, sleeping in public, and publicly begging.
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In addition to legislation, there are spikes, bench dividers when laws fail to deter homeless.
Leading Causes
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War or local fighting
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Natural disasters
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Industrialization
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Extreme Societal Inequality
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Lack of affordable housing
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General Poverty
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Job loss
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Substance abuse
Current Events
According to Civil Beat, Hawaii’s Institute for Human Services (IHS) is launching a $1.3 million initiative to fight homelessness, but parts of the plan have raised some eyebrows. The state is aiming to fly 120 homeless people living in Waikiki, a tourist hotspot in Honolulu, back to the continental U.S., while also allocating funds for a public relations campaign discouraging homeless people living on the mainland from moving to the state — a move some say contradicts Hawaii’s usual warm welcome to visitors. To read more about Hawaii's plan to fly homeless to the mainland click here
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The fleet of laser-equipped robots patrolling parking lots and company campuses in San Francisco has met resistance from the city's homeless population, after one machine was deployed to prevent tent encampments from forming. To read more on these robots click here.
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America’s homeless population has risen this year for the first time since the Great Recession, propelled by the housing crisis afflicting the west coast, according to a new federal study. To read more on this increase click here.
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“We just haven’t had definitive numbers like this before,” said Shahera Hyatt, director of the California Homeless Youth Project, a state agency. “It’s fantastic to have this data, but the numbers are staggering. We as a country really have to face the truth about youth homelessness. I hope this report finally spurs us into action.” To read more about homeless youth click here.
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In response to the over 500,000 homeless Americans, including 120,000 homeless children, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Financial Services, along with 14 Democratic Members of Congress, introduced groundbreaking legislation that outlines a strategic plan to end homelessness. The Ending Homelessness Act of 2017 represents the solution this country needs to effectively end homelessness in America.
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Homelessness is "the issue defining our state," said Mayor Eric Garcetti, who was joined by Assembly members Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) and Laura Friedman (D-Glendale). Assembly Bill 3171, authored by Assemblyman Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) and state Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens), would pay for homeless shelters, rental assistance, permanent housing and other efforts, and require cities to match any funds received from the program. To read more on this plan click here.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the nation grapples with rising homelessness and an affordable housing crisis, the final fiscal year (FY) 2018 spending bill that passed both houses of Congress this week includes vital investments to increase allocations for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Homelessness Assistance Grants and other key programs. To read more click here.
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A new report released today by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) shows that total homelessness increased this year for the first time since 2010. The 2017 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress reports that on a single night in 2017, 553,742 people were identified as experiencing homelessness, representing an increase of less than one percent over last year. To read more click here.
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The National Alliance to End Homelessness says President Barack Obama’s request for $10.967 billion to help homeless families and children in his proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 Budget. To read more click here.
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A second round of results of a study released today by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), confirm that rapid re-housing is the most effective intervention available. To read more click here.
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A new study released by The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) reconfirms that despite their scarcity, long-term housing subsidies are the ideal when it comes to ending homelessness. To read more click here.
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On a cold night in January 2016, Ulster County counted 47 families asleep in emergency shelters. A January 2015 snapshot put the national number of homeless people at more than half a million, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, a network of over 10,000 partners that provides data and research to policymakers and elected officials. These snapshot studies (a count done on just one night) are a common way to identify people with unstable housing. But with an underreported population that's in constant transition, it's not the whole picture of homeless families in America. To read more click here.
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On Saturday, December 3, Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Fund will hold its 6th annual "Cyndi Lauper & Friends: Home for the Holidays" benefit concert at New York City's historic Beacon Theatre, to raise awareness about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth homelessness. One hundred percent of the net proceeds from the concert will support the True Colors Fund's programs. To read more click here​.
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A young girl, we'll call Sarah, is your typical teen. She has dreams of graduating high school and becoming a nurse, but unlike many kids, she has no true place to call home.“Me and mom we don't get along,” she said. “I have four sisters and one brother and they all live in Pasco with my mom.” To read more click here.
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The National Alliance to End Homelessness today announced recipients for the 2017 Innovation and Excellence Awards. The Alliance’s Annual Awards Ceremony honors those individuals and organizations making extraordinary efforts to end homelessness in their communities, and recognizes their impact in advancing the mission to end homelessness nationwide. To read more click here.
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The 2016 annual assessment of hunger and homelessness released today by The U.S. Conference of Mayors found that despite the economic recovery, many cities across the country have rates of homelessness higher than the national rate of homelessness. To read more click here.
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In My Opinion...
I personally believe not enough is being done to help the homeless in the United States. I think people are too indifferent unless they are exposed to it on a daily basis. They are underrepresented in almost all forms of expression and the fact they have no money to lobby Washington with doesn't help their case. The number of homeless has increased for the first time in decade. If there were more programs not only providing food but teaching money management and acquisition skills, I think we would see noticeable lowered levels of homelessness. In addition to shelters I think that communities need to form a strong network and not just help people case by case. My overarching opinion is that long-term help is just as, if not more important than the immediate now.
