The Public Reaction Of Homelessness

As of 2015, more than half a million people are considered homeless across America. As for why individuals or even families are now living in the streets, the reasons vary from each case. Since the 2008 recession, many Americans lost their jobs due to the sudden housing bubble bursting. This results to foreclosure and the bad economy in general. Another reason is being released from institutions and out to the streets instead of placing them in half-way housings. Examples of such places are Prisoners being released after serving time, a mentally ill patient after their term of stay has expired, or a juvenile being released from foster care after reaching an age limit to be on their own. Finally, natural and man-made disasters. After an earthquake, hurricane, or warfare, both homes and businesses are likely destroyed resulting a family being displaced.

The public reaction of homelessness are sometimes based on myths, misunderstandings, and stereotypes. One of these misconceptions is that the homeless are too lazy to work. In truth, not all are lazy. Some of these individuals might have once had a high paying job before a business went bankrupt or some are still working in low paying jobs but can’t afford a living space such as rent. Teens get kicked out of their parent’s house for causing trouble. In actually it may not always be the case. While a parent would kick them out for such actions like committing crimes, other teens are on the streets because of other reasons such as being homosexual or getting pregnant. All homeless people are criminals. Again, not all are criminals. While a small number of the homeless population were released from the prison system, not all are violent.

So what are the various statistics of the homele...

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...have continued education to reinforce job skills they will use in the work force.

This concludes with the healing process for the homeless individual. A person would enroll into counseling or rehabilitation program to talk about their problems or to detox themselves from the drug or alcohol use. Along with the counseling and therapy programs, they might be involved in a peer support group. In this group they would meet with other individuals who were once homeless, abused, or addicts. Sharing these stories would help boost their self-esteem and to better understand their previous or current situation. Other will choose to seek guidance or even attend a religious group to help themselves and to start the healing process. While some won’t complete the programs and return to the streets, some would hope that the healing process could finally make them free from poverty.