Preview

Homelessness in America

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
460 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Homelessness in America
Argumentation-Persuasion Essay (outline) Topic: “Homeless In America” (Draft) Composition I | ENG1001

Keith Joiner

Thesis: Homelessness is not just a poor person’s problem, its everyone’s problem.

Introduction: Any person in this country, or anyone in this world could be unfortunate

enough to suffer through a natural disaster, or a catastrophe. Lets take Hurricane Katrina

as one example, that was a natural disaster that put most of the city of New Orleans in

that state of homelessness. The Earthquake in Haiti, or the Tsunami In South East Asia,

what about the mudslides in Guatemala, or the wild fires in California. These are just

some of the reasons people find themselves without a roof over their heads. So with these

examples, anyone of us could befall a unforeseen occurrence that could leave us in a

devastated situation, and without a home. So when that happens we need help, does the

government do enough?, or does the aid come quick enough? That is why this issue is not

just a problem for some unfortunate few, its everyone’s problem, and we can all do

something to help, because you never know if or when you maybe in the same situation

needing help, due to no fault of your own. There are also other reasons some people are

homeless, due to their own fault, or bad decisions.

Discuss ways some people end up homeless.

What can be done to help the homeless situation in the U.S. (give argumentation/ persuasion)

Can our government do more? Can we as individuals do more to help?

What programs are in place to help homeless? City, State, Federal level.

Will homelessness ever be solved in the U.S?

Conclusion: Sum up Main points of how and why people become homeless. What

government has and can do to help, what we as individuals can do, and answer the

question of the problem ever being


References: Cynthia J. Bogard, J. Jeff McConnell, Naomi Gerstel, Michael Schwartz. (Mar., 1999), Homeless Mothers and Depression: Journal of Health and Social Behavior, Vol. 40, No. 1 pp. 46-62 Retrieved August 20, 2010, from the American Sociological Association. Ralph Nunez. (Autumn, 2001), Family Homelessness in New York City: A Case Study Political Science Quarterly, Vol. 116, No. 3 pp. 367-379 Retrieved August 20, 2010, from The Academy of Political Science. Ralph Nunez. (Summer, 1999), A Snapshot of Family Homelessness across America Cybelle Fox Political Science Quarterly, Vol. 114, No. 2 pp. 289-307 Retrieved August 20,2010, from The Academy of Political Science. John M. Quigley, Steven Raphael, Eugene Smolensky. (Feb., 2001), Homeless in America, Homeless in California. The Review of Economics and Statistics, Vol. 83, No. 1 pp. 37-51 Retrieved August 20, 2010, from The MIT Press.
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    Capstone: Foster Care and Amp
    • 13475 Words
    • 54 Pages

    Capstone: Foster Care and Amp

    Tyler, K., &Melander, L. (2010). Foster care placement, poor parenting, and negative outcomes among homeless young adults.Journal of Child & Family Studies, 19(6), 787-794.doi:10.1007/s10826-010-9370-y…

    • 13475 Words
    • 54 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Cause Of Homelessness In The 1990's
    • 155 Words
    • 1 Page

    The Cause Of Homelessness In The 1990's

    Homelessness in the 1990’s was less prominent than in 2015. Although the 1990’s did have economic and homeless problems more people were able to find housing and support themselves compared to now where we see people on the streets on New York city begging left and right. Daniel Weinberger found that in the early 1990s the poor constituted 14.5 percent. (Weinberger, D. The causes of homelessness in America.). Today 36 percent of people live in poverty. Elisabeth Bumiller wrote an article for New York Times in the 1990’s stating that on an average night last month, there were 7,198 single adults in the city's shelters systems. (Bumiller, 1999). In 2015 there are 13,743 single adults. It is clear that homelessness in the 1990’s was not as bad…

    • 155 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Essay On Homelessness In America
    • 762 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Essay On Homelessness In America

    One of the greatest complications currently concerning America is homelessness. The citizens of America must face a world of global conflict, decline in jobs, rising costs for education and an increasing amount of poverty, making it almost impossible for them to earn a living. Children and adults alike are facing life without a warm home and cooked meals. In the past couple of years, the national poverty rate rose to roughly 13.2% of the population. 1 in 7 homeless people are suffering from hunger. In addition, 3.5 million people were forced to sleep in places such as park benches, sidewalks or anywhere that they could possibly inhabit, ignoring the living conditions and the danger surrounding them.…

    • 762 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Cause And Effect Of Homelessness Essay
    • 583 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Cause And Effect Of Homelessness Essay

    One paycheck can mean the difference between having and not having a home.As stated by NAEH’S ,lack of job is a commonly given reason for homelessness .In 2008 , 8,924,000 individuals in the United States were unemployed, rising to 14,265,000 in 2009. Poverty and the lack of affordable housing are the principal causes of becoming homeless. Even if a person is working a full time job making minimum wage,he or she is not able to afford rent required for a home.Another cause of homelessness is due to mental illness or physical disabilities, as a result it becomes difficult for people to coexist with other civilians. Which in most cases leads to addictions and causes them to lose their homes and families.Domestic violence is the third leading cause of homelessness among families, violence in a household can force the victim to leave their homes. Such things as divorce ,sexual abuse, or neglect can also perpetrate to homelessness as reported by The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban…

    • 583 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Poverty and Homelessness in the United States
    • 2431 Words
    • 10 Pages

    Poverty and Homelessness in the United States

    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.…

    • 2431 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Homelessness in America
    • 4391 Words
    • 18 Pages

    Homelessness in America

    Homelessness is a massive problem in the United States and historically homeless persons were primarily men who were kept out of society’s “view” by living in “Skid Row” zones. However, between 1980 and 1990, the American society saw an explosion of a new form of social problems, this new problem moved from single male homeless members to a family issue. Every year, hundreds of thousands of American families suffer from circumstances that result in the family unit becoming homeless; these homeless families include more than 1.6 million children (Webb). Now among the industrialized nations, the United States has the largest number of homeless women and children. This paper will focus on homelessness among families and the children and the impact of the family unit. The paper will also clarify general information about homelessness and provide background information to offer an understanding of the degree and significance of family homelessness.…

    • 4391 Words
    • 18 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Homelessness: The Homeless
    • 1805 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Homelessness: The Homeless

    “She lives with a tribe of homeless teens- Runaways and throwaways, kids who have no place to go to other than the cold city streets, and no family except for one another. Abused, abandoned and forgotten, they struggle against the cold, hunger, and constant danger” (“Can’t get there from here” by Todd strasser). Here in the United States, about more than 610,000 people face the tragedy of losing their homes (Annual Homeless Assessment). As a matter of fact, according to the “Global Homeless Statistics,” it is estimated that about 100 Million people are homeless worldwide. Many of us, having a roof over our heads, mistreat them, making them seem invisible to our world. Sometimes, we even treat them as minority, as if they were…

    • 1805 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Cause Of Homelessness
    • 1165 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Cause Of Homelessness

    One of those reasons of course is for financial reasons. People lose their jobs or there are no jobs. When this happens the possibility of foreclosure due to nonpayment or eviction is much greater. When this happens a person is forced into a system that sometimes does not have the resources to assist them forcing them on to the streets. Ipatenco states another reason for homelessness is that addiction. Her studies have shown that sixty eight percent of cities report that addiction is the largest cause of homelessness, notes the Portland Rescue Mission. People who are poor and addicted to drugs or alcohol are at a higher risk of becoming homeless. Being poor and addicted means there likely isn’t enough money to pay for the addiction and rent or a mortgage. Without an intervention or treatment program, it’s difficult for homeless individuals to find housing and get off the streets, according to the National Coalition for the Homeless. (Ipatenco) Physical trauma and mental illness are also at the top of the list as reasons for homelessness. For example an abused woman finally gets out of her situation but has nowhere to go but a shelter or the streets she is consider part of the homeless population. A person suffering from mental illness and has alienated themselves from friends and family, has been unable to hold a job and maintain housing may also become homeless due to these…

    • 1165 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Social Injustices of Homelessness
    • 809 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Social Injustices of Homelessness

    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.…

    • 809 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Homelessness Satire
    • 810 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Homelessness Satire

    It is a melancholy hearing about the issue of homelessness worldwide. There are countless homeless people on the streets of these large cities. So we ask ourselves; why are people still without homes when new jobs are being created everyday or when unemployment still has not reached zero? This seems to be an ever haunting problem even though it would be so easy to erase it. I think we have reached our limits of dealing with thousands of homeless people blocking doorsteps and sidewalks disturbing us with their begging hands. While most claim to use the money we provide them to buy food or shelter, most will use it feed their addictions. Do you want your money being spent on cigarettes and alcohol? Why should we have to give them our spare change when we have new clothes to buy, vacations to take or gas tanks to fill?…

    • 810 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Homelessness In New York City
    • 1193 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Homelessness In New York City

    Today the typical homeless family head-of-household is a young, single woman without a high school diploma or substantial work experience. There is a 50 percent chance that she is currently pregnant. She has most likely experienced substance abuse and is probably the victim of domestic violence and perhaps has lived in foster care as a…

    • 1193 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Argumentative Essay: Homelessness In America
    • 2028 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Argumentative Essay: Homelessness In America

    During the Great Depression, jobs were lost, and the rates of homeless again, increased throughout America. Natural Disasters are another factor in the homelessness problem. The Great Chicago Fire, The San Francisco earthquake, the massive flooding of the Mississippi in the 1920s from Ohio through New Orleans displaced over 1.3 million people. The Drought of the 30s in Oklahoma and Texas, Hurricane Katrina, are just a few examples of disasters that affected millions of people’s households. The snowball effect of unemployment and poverty attribute to homelessness. People living in generational poverty, for example, may not have the knowledge or resources to become educated and move out of poverty. People living in generational poverty do not have the resources and support to become educated and move out of poverty. In 2011, the official rate of poverty in America was 15.0%, which is 46.2…

    • 2028 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Homelessness Problem Analysis
    • 1237 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Homelessness Problem Analysis

    Modern day Chicago depicts hundreds of people sleeping on benches, empty parking lots, and filled emergency rooms. Yet, this is a crisis that seemingly has no solution, especially in cities such as Los Angeles, New York, or the barren streets of Chicago, Illinois. Key issues in America are leading to the under looked problem of homelessness. Since Great Depression, the United States has recognized the constant presence of homelessness without a long-term solution. These people and families are pushed under the rug of our society, into the corners of cities, and out of sight from the government. However, with full dedication from local governments, the problem has a simple solution: The United States ought to establish nation-wide programs…

    • 1237 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Poverty and B. Conclusion Sentence
    • 1495 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Poverty and B. Conclusion Sentence

    Background Knowledge: Homelessness is not new to our nation, and it has greatly increased over the past ten years. In 1987, the McKinney Homeless Assistance Act was put into law. (Burger, 68-83) However, our government has moved away from the need to address the causes of homelessness. Instead our government has focused on the individual responsibility of those who become homeless, blaming their misfortune as their own fault. (Baum, 5-9) It is this belief that has helped to increase the homelessness of our nation.…

    • 1495 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Sample Task - Descriptive Essay
    • 395 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Sample Task - Descriptive Essay

    Rich countries like Japan, Australia and the United States (to name a few) have been sending volunteers to aid poor and developing countries like the Philippines. Indeed, they have done much to improve the lives of the people in these countries. However, eventually, the governments of these countries tend to pass on the responsibility of taking their citizens’ welfare into the hands of the wealthy. Somehow, they forget that it is their task to uplift the lives of their people. And, rich countries are not required, whatsoever, to lend assistance.…

    • 395 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More