In the years of the Great Depression (the 1930s), Homelessness was widespread – but it was known as Hoboism – and accepted as such. It the years following the Second World War (the late ‘40s and ‘50s), Homelessness virtually disappeared – or went underground. It was hardly visible. But, it has now returned as a blatant epidemic – and has increased fairly rapidly over the past 25-30 year, taking over city parks and open spaces and showing up alongside urban highways and beneath overpasses. Homeowners and rental residents don’t like to see it and have to contend with its proximity…...,. County and City officials, sheriff’s deputies and police don’t know how to deal with it. Proposals to deal with Homelessness and actins taken to provide housing for the destitute don’t seem to do much to bring about a solution and see its reduction. In winter, some homeless people die of hypothermia despite efforts to provide homing shelters.
Although there are some people who choose the homeless lifestyle because of its anonymity and avoidance of responsibility, the root cause of homelessness is the high cost of housing, especially in urban areas where homeless people congregate to obtain the services that are absent in more rural areas. Despite resentments and hostile rhetoric on the part of more stable community residents, we live in a relatively compassionate country where no one likes to see people, especially children, starve or freeze to death. So, we offer services to keep people alive. It usually works.
Still, the problem remains, even though officials try to provide more affordable housing. Far be it for me to think that I can offer a solution. I’m just as clueless as those salaried people who work on the problem as their job. But, I do think this: we need tn approach that treats the issue on an individual basis. That takes a lot of people to address the homeless problem. And, I wish I knew how to do that.
HOMELESSNESS
In the years of the Great Depression (the 1930s), Homelessness was widespread – but it was known as Hoboism – and accepted as such. It the years following the Second World War (the late ‘40s and ‘50s), Homelessness virtually disappeared – or went underground. It was hardly visible. But, it has now returned as a blatant epidemic – and has increased fairly rapidly over the past 25-30 year, taking over city parks and open spaces and showing up alongside urban highways and beneath overpasses. Homeowners and rental residents don’t like to see it and have to contend with its proximity…...,. County and City officials, sheriff’s deputies and police don’t know how to deal with it. Proposals to deal with Homelessness and actins taken to provide housing for the destitute don’t seem to do much to bring about a solution and see its reduction. In winter, some homeless people die of hypothermia despite efforts to provide homing shelters. Although there are some people who choose the homeless lifestyle because of its anonymity and avoidance of responsibility, the root cause of homelessness is the high cost of housing, especially in urban areas where homeless people congregate to obtain the services that are absent in more rural areas. Despite resentments and hostile rhetoric on the part of more stable community residents, we live in a relatively compassionate country where no one likes to see people, especially children, starve or freeze to death. So, we offer services to keep people alive. It usually works. Still, the problem remains, even though officials try to provide more affordable housing. Far be it for me to think that I can offer a solution. I’m just as clueless as those salaried people who work on the problem as their job. But, I do think this: we need tn approach that treats the issue on an individual basis. That takes a lot of people to address the homeless problem. And, I wish I knew how to do that.