Rethinking Homeless Shelter Essay
Rethinking Homeless Shelters The Silicon Valley is known for containing magnates who rarely worry about financials. This however, does not mean there are not less fortunate people living in the area as well. More likely than not the average person is financially stable but this does not exempt the local government from improving the lives of the homeless to the best of their abilities. New York Times writer Christine Quinn, in a January article about rethinking the homeless shelters in New York, outlines strategies to improve the quality of life and future for those living there.(1) This is especially a problem in the Silicon Valley where those without STEM degrees are left in the dust in an area where that kind of educational achievement
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Although homeless shelters may be beneficial to those who inhabit them they are not helpful in terms of making it so that the individuals will not be reliant on the shelters and are more self-sufficient. Because much of the business done in the Silicon Valley is technology based many people who do not have the degrees necessary for these jobs are unemployed or take low paying jobs.(2) This heavily prevents them from being able to access homes. One of Christine Quinn’s suggestions for New York was to offer G.E.D. preparation classes and exams as well as vocational training programs and job placement support, targeting growth industries where well-paying jobs are most likely to be available. This would allow people to begin working towards gaining the proper credentials for a Silicon Valley job that will pay them well. An access to education and job opportunities would help break the cycle of poverty for these individuals because they would slowly and steadily become self-sufficient. Furthermore, by targeting good paying jobs as well as giving an education the shelters would be providing all that is needed to meeting financial needs. The people would have the ability to gain and education and therefore the credentials needed for a well paying job. This is especially important in the Silicon Valley where houses, apartments etc. are generally more
Although homeless shelters may be beneficial to those who inhabit them they are not helpful in terms of making it so that the individuals will not be reliant on the shelters and are more self-sufficient. Because much of the business done in the Silicon Valley is technology based many people who do not have the degrees necessary for these jobs are unemployed or take low paying jobs.(2) This heavily prevents them from being able to access homes. One of Christine Quinn’s suggestions for New York was to offer G.E.D. preparation classes and exams as well as vocational training programs and job placement support, targeting growth industries where well-paying jobs are most likely to be available. This would allow people to begin working towards gaining the proper credentials for a Silicon Valley job that will pay them well. An access to education and job opportunities would help break the cycle of poverty for these individuals because they would slowly and steadily become self-sufficient. Furthermore, by targeting good paying jobs as well as giving an education the shelters would be providing all that is needed to meeting financial needs. The people would have the ability to gain and education and therefore the credentials needed for a well paying job. This is especially important in the Silicon Valley where houses, apartments etc. are generally more