In her article “ Our Tired, Our Poor, Our Kids.” Anna Quindlen discusses the issue about homeless families in the United States and the impact of homelessness on the children. Quindlen describes one situation where six people, a woman and five children, live together in a room the size of a master bedroom. The idea, Quindlen says, is that the ineffectiveness of the welfare system has negative impact on families, particularly, mothers and their offsprings . She poses the statement that each day the younger children go to daycare, while the others go to school. During that time their mother, Sharanda, looks for an apartment when she isn’t at her drug-treatment meetings. Quindlen suggests that ultimately shelters will become the…
Even though, the authors all portray lives in poverty they explain it in unique ways. Jeannette Walls describes her life in poverty; however, she also teaches life lessons throughout her memoir. For instance, when the Walls family moves to Welch, West Virginia the brick buildings are crowding in close on both sides of the street. Welch is shabby and worn out with a film of black coal dust covering store signs, sidewalks, and cars (Walls 134). Regardless the fact that the town is dirty and needs some improvements, the family is just happy to have somewhere to live end enjoy life together. On the contrary, Mark R. Rank also depicts lifestyles in poverty, yet he clarifies the causes and effects of poverty. To illustrate, he informs that events like losing jobs, having work hours cut back, experiencing a family split, or developing a serious medical problem all have the potential to throw households into poverty (Rank 2 of 3). In spite of the fact Mark R. Rank describes poverty stricken families, he does it in a contradictory way than Jeannette Walls. Furthermore, Jade Walker’s purpose of writing this report is to describe the deprived people’s living conditions, but also to encourage ways to improve homelessness. In particular, she says remedies for child homelessness should include: an expansion of affordable housing, education and employment opportunities for homeless parents, and…
Places like these affect the life a child, and guide the child towards a stereotypical life. Not Dasani, she has a family that loves her, and lean on her for support. She is the anchor that keep the family together and sane. This is what Elliott is trying to explain. Family means everything and one will do the impossible to protect them, regardless of the situation at hand. With the family together there is no obstacle they can overcome. But there is only so much one can do especially at a young age. Dasani had to grow up quickly, giving her little time to live out her childhood. This is the problem with some current families. There are adults that are so irresponsible, and are not capable to caring for children. But the affection for one another is strong that keep them together. The author later quotes, “You’re not supposed to turn out like your mother.” The real question is; will Dasani grow up to be like her mother, or will she stay determine to fight for a better life of her own? Elliott wants her readers to know, that life in poverty is never easy. The choices are very limited and making the right choice is not clear for someone with…
In a New York Times article, “Rooms of Their Own” on January 21, 1990 by Anna Quindlen, she reports that after observing people on the streets that all they want it a safe place to live to call home where they can have some privacy. She describes that many are mentally ill that the government cannot support any longer. Some homeless are former inmates that just need a little help getting back into society. Anna argues that the government should have to help by housing them in small studio like room to help them get back on…
They are criticized for their living conditions, but are homeless people at fault for their situation? “Saving the Dreams of Homeless Kids” (Las Vegas Sun, January 15, 2016) by Delen Goldberg and Ian Whitaker and “Some People Choose to Be Homeless” (Creators.com, August 18, 2015) by Debra Saunders both present the issue of people who lack a home. Golberg and Whitaker discuss the situation of two kids who are either homeless or in danger of becoming homeless and the actions people are doing to help youth in need. Debra Saunders expresses that the destructive choices of people lead them to become homeless. In both articles the authors use tone, paragraph organization, and sentence structure to present two contrasting sides of the homelessness…
Homeless refers to the people who do not have an adequate and permanent residence. They live and sleep in the streets or in impoverished shelters, under bridges, or on street curbs. Although homelessness, which is a construct of poverty, is an important issue in all countries, it is particularly if interest within the United States because it is wealthier that many other nations; yet, a much higher share of its population has income near or below the poverty line, resulting in millions homeless citizens. The social phenomenon has increased since the 1980s and many state officials and social aid organizations and institutions are addressing the issue head on. This policy analysis will use empirical research to reveal how poverty has a negative effect on communities and inevitably, the thriving of poor oppressed people, leaving millions homeless, when systems fail them. Also, this paper will discuss the current issues that America has with homelessness and also the history of this social woe. Additionally, you will read the social structural sources that are responsible for this social problem such as lack of employment, under education, institutional racism, which are just a few of the factors…
Imagine spending each night out on the streets and waking up to a blathering commotion on rough, lumpy concrete. Your thoughts leading you to your own theory of as the only chances of survival are begging and relying on people for food or change and searching for anything edible in the nearest garbage cans. Homelessness is one of the most difficult journeys you might get in life. Whether you’re a child or an adult, there is a chance that you can encounter these horrendous conditions, but these circumstances do not just come out of nowhere. There are many factors that lead to becoming homeless. However, solutions are out there in the world. Solutions that may end homelessness. We should all work together to end homelessness everywhere throughout the world. This essay will discuss…
Poverty and homelessness remains a main concern in our society. Patrick Conway, of the Global Research Institute of the University of North Carolina conducted research on “Poverty of North Carolina.” The research illustrated that the national poverty rate was 14.5 % in the year of 2009, way below the North Carolina poverty rate. Poverty is still a rising and an ongoing crisis. According to a data set found in usda.gov for North Carolina in 2010, the poverty rate was between 16.9 to 22.4 %. Using the text, Nickel and Dimed by Ehrenreich, and other writing sources, students were presented with a scenario of living in poverty. In this hypothetical situation, the student is 21 years old, pregnant with a seven month old baby and has a one year old. In addition, the spouse is disabled and unemployed. In this…
In conclusion, lack of education, work opportunities, mental, psychological problems and social responsibilities are the major causes of being homeless. Homelessness is a very bad issue that would do a huge impact in the society. They should take serious methods to eliminate all these causes. Homeless people should never lose hope and they should challenge themselves to return to their normal life. And that a bad model that could effect their children and grand children for inability and follow their parents and this lead them to a bad…
The warmth and comfort in one’s home is something that is close to many people’s hearts. In the United States, especially in small suburban households, families come together to bond. In a small cozy home, children run and play joyously, and are nurtured with love from their parents. Parents provide for their children by giving them a roof over their heads, keeping food on the table, providing clothes to wear, and giving them a safe place to sleep. The children who are able to do this are part of a small, privileged class in the United States. There is a small population in the United States where youth live in the streets, and have to provide for themselves. In the United States, homeless youth is often disregarded, because many people believe that a parent would not abandon their child to survive on his or herself.…
Tents under highways, cardboard blowing in the wind, begging for money, eating out of trash cans. All of those things are what 3.5 million people, half of them children, experience every day (“National Coalition for the Homeless”).A homeless person is one who shall lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, at any given time. Most of the homeless are those with a mental illness, or the unemployed. (“Facts and Figures: The Homeless”). Knowing that oneself cannot provide for him/herself is a devastating realization, especially if children are involved in the situation.…
Poverty in America is a subject that though everybody recognizes is existent, most do not pay attention to very often. In 2010 the poverty line for a family of four was $22,314.00 and 15.1% of Americans were living off of less than that (Tavernise, 2011). While 15.1% is a high number to begin with, the truth is that many more people are living on the verge of homelessness. Countless families are split up every night with children going to a friend’s house or an extended family member’s house to ensure that everyone has somewhere to sleep. These people are called the “hidden homeless” by the Charlotte Observer (Whitesides, 2011). Even more people are either living in tent cities or in their cars all around the United States. The events that lead to homelessness range from drug abuse to being laid off from a career because of a poor economy; but sadly the former makes it seem as if everyone who is homeless is in their situation because of their own faults. Many people who are approached by someone who is homeless or sees them panhandling for money hesitate to offer money because of the discourse that all homeless people are alcoholics and drug abusers. Unfortunately, the truth is that “many adults panhandle on corners for money to pay for a cheap motel room so that their children can have a warm place to sleep for the night” (Whitesides, 2011). Through this essay, the topic of homelessness and poverty in America will be explored by understanding some of the causes that have contributed to poverty throughout history and how the homeless are coping with their situation.…
The problem of homelessness in America is escalating day by day. Homelessness doesn’t discriminate between races or skin color, although some may be a bit more prevalent. Homeless people range from former veterans, to immigrants, to families struggling to find a solid paying job and a stable lifestyle. Also, although most people relate a homeless person to an underdressed, rugged man, the homeless population now leans towards families. There are more and more homeless families on the streets every day. Homeless families can be an effect of discrimination because of race, a result of violence in a family, or an effect of a physical disability or mental illness.…
All across America there are many families without homes and even in Bowling Green there are homeless individuals and families The Daily News mentions, that Warren County is the 7th county in Kentucky for the amount of homeless people per capita. Rhodell Miller, Executive Director for Hotel Inc., stated that even couch surfers are considered to be homeless and anyone without a permanent residence. A good reason that Miller gave that lead someone to become homeless is because of the lack affordable housing in our area. The policies and procedures of income based housing just takes too long and most people are looking for housing immediately. Another big cause to homelessness that there isn’t a lot of housing that anyone can afford on just a minimum wage job. It is really surprising in the documentary Tent City, USA, that there is a lot of women living on the streets because it is better than staying in their abusive relationships. One women told her story and she said that she had a nice house, a big…
Homelessness is a growing social injustice in the United States. The degradation that these people face every day is terrifying. It is a crisis that we too often ignore, hoping it will restore itself. That assumption delivers a widespread lack of understanding about the facts that lead to homelessness. Homelessness exists as a problem that we should acknowledge and treat.…