by Tim Williams

Created on: June 13, 2009   Last Updated: June 15, 2009

Who ever thought that in this 21st century, more of our citizens have lost their homes at a rate equal to that of the Great Depression of the 1930's. This dramatic rise in homelessness is attributed to many factors, starting with the way our base economy has shifted from the most dominate one in the world following World War II, to a service oriented one today. The manufacturing base and economic structure that we had 40 years ago, is no longer around and with this change, the middle class jobs that created the wealth and stability that once secured the United States as the premier country for the world's goods, is gone.

Slowly and steadily the wages and the types of jobs that the middle class produced during the greatest economic expansion in Americas history from 1946-1963, has been eradicated to now, the majority of the population has been reduced to low income and poverty levels. They are no longer able to save money or pay down debt. Instead they have created enormous debt that has contributed to the current economic crisis.

More Americans were lured into the worst housing collapse since the 1930's, by way of the financial institutions and the banks, by what we now know as the easy qualify - only to find out later, they couldn't afford to make their mortgage payments. Stagnant wages, loss of jobs and health problems, have all contributed to the rise of homelessness all over the country. People are finding it more difficult everyday to come up with ways to pay rents for apartments and landlords can't afford the upkeep of their properties and are forced to close, leaving the occupants with no place to go.

With personal savings at record lows, these citizens who have been forced out of their apartments or homes due to job loss, foreclosure, fire or any other disaster, don't have the funds set aside for moving or down payment and are forced out into the cold leaving them with no where to go. While more people are being swept into this situation, cities and towns still look at these persons with scorn and disdain, as it was their fault to begin with.

In part, some might agree, but the bottom line is municipalities have to banned together to help and eliminate this scourge on us all. It is occurring at an alarming rate in every city and town all across America. If the United States citizens and the United States Government don't alleviate this crisis soon, all citizens will be affected.

There is a dramatic, physical and mental national health concern, with the vast numbers of people that are homeless. These people find it almost impossible to find and secure the beneficial food that is so important to maintain ones own physical health and if these people continue to live this way, many will succumb to mental health problems, causing further financial and economic hardship on the rest of the population in the United States.

This problem is so acute that the Government must take action now to avoid a major catastrophe from developing. In many cities it is already happening. The citizens of the United States have to change the perception on the plight of the homeless, because today many of us could be swept into this situation at any time. The creation of living wage jobs for all that needs one, would make a huge difference, one that would impact the entire economic future of the United States. A WPA type of program would be one sure way of securing the success of eliminating the plight of homelessness in America.

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