The Homeless Epidemic

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how, with the increase in families, and thus children and teens on the street, there has been a subsequent increase in youth drug use, pregnancy and crime, especially violent and sexual crimes. It looks at how this disturbing trend has created a new challenge to how to deal with the homeless epidemic in the US, as new resources are needed, and how many of the traditional charitable organizations are unequipped to deal with this new need, meaning that few services are now available to the homeless.

From the Paper:

"There are many causes for homelessness, many not attributable, or not the fault of, the individual homeless person. For example, such factors as a combination of low paying jobs and a general lack of affordable housing force many people into homelessness. This is one of the main causes of homelessness for families. Despite being employed, the wages and benefits are too low to allow for adequate housing to be secured. (Jeneks: 1995). Other factors include substance abuse problems and the general lack of needed services. The mental health epidemic, coupled with the lack of public healthcare, has created a large fraction of the total homeless population. Domestic violence, unemployment, irresponsible life-style choices, poverty and natural disasters are all also contributing factors to being homeless. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Aday, Lu Ann. (1994): "Health Status of Vulnerable Populations". Annual Review of PUblic Health. 15:487-509.
• DePastino, Todd. (2003): Citizen Hobo: How a Century of Homelessness Shaped America. New York: Random House.
• Jencks, Christopher. (1995): The Homeless. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
• Kozol, Jonathan. (2006): Rachel and Her Children Homeless Families in America. New York: Crown Publishing Group.
• United States Code, Title 42, Chapter 119, Subchapter I, section 11302. "General definition of homeless individual". United States Code. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government.

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• Research Paper # 128993 : "Western Civilization's Problem of Homelessness"
• Cause and Effect Essay # 90103 : "Causes of Homelessness"
• Analytical Essay # 89627 : "Homelessness "

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