Essay On Homelessness

Homelessness can be defined as the temporary condition that people fall into whenever they cannot afford to pay for a place to live, or when their current home is unsafe or unstable (Homelessness Defined. 2009, October 19). Homelessness can also be described as a state of vulnerability because homeless people are exposed to health risks, violence, and harassment by the police; exposure to the elements and limited privacy (Homelessness Defined. 2009, October 19). In America, more than 3.5 million people experience homelessness at some point in their lives (Overview of Homelessness in America. n.d.). There are four main groups of people that the homeless can be separated into. These groups are separated into families, youth, veterans, and the

First off, being homeless is bad on an individual’s health. People who are homeless are 3-4 times more likely to die than someone who is not homeless. Also, being homeless reduces your life expectancy by a total of 25 years. (Kalyanaraman, N. 2012). This is because the homeless are more likely to carry bacteria and disease because of their lack of hygiene. Not only does this create problems for the homeless people themselves, but this also creates problems for people in society. This is because bacteria and disease are more likely to be spread throughout society by the homeless (Kalyanaraman, N. 2012). Additionally, crime is a problem among the homeless. A fifth of homeless people have committed a crime in order to stay the night or several nights in jail. Also, around 30 percent of homeless people admitted to committing crimes, such as petty theft from convenient stores. Lastly, the homeless are susceptible to violence, metal illnesses, and addiction. Over 22 percent of homeless people are victims of violence by other homeless people, police, or people just passing by (Homelessness Defined. 2009, October 19). Over 22 percent of the homeless suffer from mental illnesses and this puts others at risk as well as themselves. Finally, the homeless are more likely to become addicted to drugs and alcohol due to depression and this also puts themselves and others at risk (Homelessness Defined. 2009, October

We served chicken and rice, green beans, and mashed potatoes. I spent 4 hours serving and around 80 people came through during the period I served. Tables were set up for the homeless to enjoy their meals and bathrooms were provided so that the homeless could clean up a bit in privacy. Also, a counselor was there for the homeless and he was there in order to speak to the homeless about ways to get their lives back on track. A preacher was also in sight and he was there if anyone wanted to talk about God and getting saved. As I served, I saw various groups come through, which included families with young children, individuals in their twenties and thirties, veterans, and the elderly. Almost all of the individuals looked somewhat scruffy, some more than others, and this was due to the conditions of living outside and having poor hygiene. Also, most of the individuals that came through looked tired due to the lack of sleep and poor sleeping locations. Additionally, I noticed that some of the individuals had bruises and scratches on their arms and legs. I could tell the chronically homeless suffered from poor hygiene the most, like rotting teeth. Everyone that came through was extremely grateful and every drop of food was eaten. One family with two young children and two elderly men ended up staying the night that night. I felt that this was a great experience and