by Shane Riley

Created on: January 04, 2009

THE CAUSES for HOMELESSNESS in THE USA

I have fount that there are seven major causes for homelessness. These causes include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Poverty Homelessness and poverty are inextricably linked. People, who are poor, are frequently unable to pay for housing, food, childcare, health care, and education. Difficult choices must be made when limited resources cover only some of these necessities. Often it is housing, which absorbs a high proportion of income that must be dropped. Being poor means being an illness, an accident, or a paycheck away from living on the streets. While the number of poor people has decreased in recent years, the number of people living in extreme poverty has increased.

2. Eroding Work Opportunities and Housing Declining wages and the loss of many good paying jobs have put housing out of the reach of many good workers: in every state, more than the minimum wage is required to afford a one or two bedroom apartment at fair market rent.

3. A Decline in Public Assistance The declining value and availability of public assistance is another source of increasing poverty and homelessness. Only a small fraction of welfare recipients' new jobs pays above-poverty wages; most of the new jobs pay well below the poverty line. Although more families are moving from welfare to work, many of them are faring poorly due to low wages and inadequate work supports. Only a small fraction of welfare recipients' new jobs pays above-poverty wages; most of the new jobs pay far below the poverty line.

4. Lack of Affordable Health Care For families and individuals struggling to pay the rent, a serious illness or disability can start a downward spiral into homelessness, beginning with a lost job, depletion of savings to pay for care, and eventual eviction. Homelessness severely affects health and well-being. Health problems are extremely high among people experiencing homelessness. People experiencing homeless are far more likely to suffer from ever category of health problem. Children without housing experience numerous health problems that affect their development. Children without a home are more often in fair or poor health and have higher rates of asthma, ear infections, stomach problems, and speech problems. Homeless children also experience more mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression, and withdrawal. They are more likely to experience hunger, and they are likely to have delayed development. These illnesses have potentially

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>