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Introduction

      Homelessness in the United States is a critical issue that requires everyone’s attention. Hundreds of thousands of Americans live on the streets in shelters. It is estimated that there are between 700,000 and 800,000 homeless individuals in America on any giving night , and that between 2.5 million and 3.5 million Americans will experience being homeless during any given year (Economist, 2003).  Over a five year period approximate 2 to 3 percent of the U.S. population, or 8 million people will be homeless for at least one night during any given year and about 10 percent of these will remain homeless (Harvard Mental Health Letter, 2005). Homelessness results from a number of factors some of which include an inability to pay for housing, loss of employment, and domestic violence. For many people being homeless may last a few days and for some a lifetime, some children are born into it, while others experience it at least once during their lifetime (Noll & Watkins, 2003).

      

       Historically, homelessness has always been a problem in American society. Homeless people were known as “the wondering poor,” “sturdy beggars,” and as “vagrants”, but it was not until the late eighteenth century that homelessness became noticeable to society (Kusmer, 2002). According to the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty (2004), homelessness has been an enduring problem in the U.S. since the great depression, and has become more prevalent and diverse since the 1980’s. Lack of affordable housing has been cited as one of the major contributors to the problem of homelessness (2004). Housing is a scarce and important commodity; people without homes are more susceptible to illnesses and death as a consequence of living on the streets (O’Connell, 2004). Homeless people also have an average income of less than half as their domiciled households and can be considered the poorest of the poor (Anderson et al., 1993 as cited in Craig and Timms, 2000), and “[g]iven the evidence linking homelessness to poverty and social disadvantage, it is hardly surprising that homeless people report higher rates of psychiatric disorder relative to the general population” (Craig & Timms, 2000). Researchers have found that a relationship exist between substance abuse and homelessness. Alcohol and drug use are “disproportionately” high among the homeless, addiction also increases the possibilities of displacement (National Coalition for the Homeless, 1999).  Homeless people have higher risk of death than the general population and also face many medical problems, such as diabetes, chronic diseases, arthritis, pulmonary diseases to mention a few, all which require attention, but many times such health conditions go untreated because of the lack of resources.  Homeless people face barriers when accessing health care, primarily because of a lack of insurance (Hwang, 2001). The issue of domestic violence is also prevalent among the homeless, especially against single mothers with children, which is considered the fastest growing homeless population (Davis, 2004) due in part because nearly 4.4 million women are physically abused (Tower, 2003). There are of course other factors that enhance the chances of becoming homeless. These factors include education, race and employment.

 

       It is important to raise community awareness about the effects of homelessness and the factors that contribute to it because it is a prevalent and serious issue in America society. Three important issues need to be highlighted when trying to increase community awareness about homelessness. First, the community needs to know who the homeless population is. Second, an understanding needs to exist of the causes of homeless, and finally why the community needs to become aware of issues dealing with homelessness. The homeless population can be defined as having a “lack [of] a fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence and...has a primary night time residency” (Hersberger, 2005 p. 199). There are a variety of factors that causes homelessness. People become homeless when they lose their homes, their family disintegrate, or due to a natural disaster, etc. (Davis, 2004). Because of factors like these there is a need for the community to become involved in decreasing homelessness, but this requires that the community become aware that the issue exist. Awareness may result in the community taking an active stand to combat homelessness. Toro and Warren (1999) suggest that awareness brings about participation and the establishment of education, job training, emergency shelters, and soup kitchens, which are beneficial for the homeless. 

 

       The main purpose of this paper is to establish the foundation for a basic understanding of homelessness and to provide ideas for increase community awareness about homelessness.

 

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Copyright 2006