Research Paper #2
Final Draft
Homelessness Is Not An Option
We see them as a crowd, a collective entity; we call them the homeless, as if that defines who they are, but we neglect to add the unspoken word in that title: people. People whom with social disabilities or financial problems usually will be abandoned by the society and become homelessness along the streets. ¡§During the past year, over two million men, women, and children, or nearly one percent of the US population, were homeless.¡¨ (The National Law Center) The growing homeless population is a factor that shows people are suffering unexpected financial problems and struggling in maintaining their life basis.
Typically, people have the impressions that homeless people are sloppy, lazy, and irresponsible; however, the truth may be shocked because there are many people who have jobs and non-habitual to drug or alcoholics still remain homeless. ¡§It is a tragic aspect of our culture that homeless people, in addition to suffering from the hardship of their condition, are subjected to alienation and discrimination by mainstream society. It is even more tragic that alienation and discrimination often spring from incorrect myths and stereotypes which surround homelessness.¡¨(The National Law Center) Homelessness results from a complex set of circumstances that require people to choose between food, shelter, and other basic needs. Once the choices are limited which means people can no longer obtain what they need often result in homelessness.
Homelessness and poverty are inextricably linked. Poverty means you do not have enough money to bye your essential or basic needs. Some people are homeless because of a lack of affordable housing. Others because of incomes those are too low to pay for basic living expenses. However, what all of this comes down to is poverty. Poor people are frequently unable to pay for housing, food, childcare, health care, and education. Difficult choices must be made
Cited: ¡§National Law Center On Homeless And Poverty.¡¨ The National Law Center. 06 December. 2000. The National Law Center. 25 March. 2001 <http://www.nlchp.org/> LaGuardia, Dolores, and Hans P. Guth. American Voices: Culture and Community. (4th Ed.) Mountain View, CA: Mayfield, 1999. ¡§Habitat for Humanity.¡¨ Habitat For Humanity: South Bay- Long Beach. 1996-2001. Southern California Habitat offices. 25 March. 2001 <http://www.habitatlb.org/>