Homeless Neglect Essay Example

American based organization, claiming to help all only helped a few.

While Americans provided minimal funds to assist in the restoration and reconstruction efforts for their fellow citizens, they generously donated billions of dollars to aid the impoverished and homeless populations suffering from natural disasters abroad. It is crucial for us to recognize the urgency of supporting our own people, who are currently enduring hardships. Upon repeatedly reading my opponent's article, I gradually comprehend the lack of compassion exhibited by the American population towards their own compatriots.

City commissioners, mayors, politicians are the main people who want to remove the homeless population from public places. However, they are unwilling to assist them in establishing homeless shelters or finding alternative housing options. The citizens in America are quick to judge the homeless as lazy because they cannot find employment, yet they fail to recognize that these individuals cannot secure jobs without a permanent address. While obtaining a P.O. Box is one option, has it ever occurred to my opponent that homeless people are unable to obtain one?

Having a box is essential for the homeless, but obtaining one and sustaining it requires payment. Without money, acquiring a box is simply unattainable. It is important for the City Commissioners to realize that not all homeless individuals are lazy. In fact, one third of the homeless population already have jobs. Additionally, in many cities, over half of the homeless individuals are employed as well. However, despite being employed, their situations remain dire due to the unfavorable economic conditions. The jobs they hold are often minimum wage, which cannot possibly cover the daily expenses in today’s society.

The individuals experiencing homelessness have previously

had financial stability. However, various circumstances such as alimony, child support, the deduction of student loans from their income, job loss, reduced working hours due to cutbacks, or financial difficulties have led them to become homeless. Consequently, they are unable to meet their financial obligations and face eviction from their residences. As a result, they resort to living in vehicles or on the streets. It would be incorrect to label these individuals as lazy since statistics indicate that they are dedicated and industrious.

Misguided is the fear of conversing with a homeless person because they may appear to be talking to themselves. It is both incorrect and harmful to judge or look down upon these individuals due to their circumstances. Regrettably, city officials frequently arrest and prosecute these innocent people under the false assumption that they are using drugs, when in truth they are grappling with mental illness. For instance, a state trooper unlawfully searched and detained a homeless man on grounds of suspicion of drug dealing, which was entirely untrue.

The homeless man is wrongly accused, even though he has done nothing wrong. Americans unfairly judge and avoid them, assuming they are drug addicts. Homeless people, struggling to find food, are looked down upon by Americans. These individuals desperately search for anything they can eat to survive - rifling through dumpsters, alleys, and sidewalks. In Fort Lauderdale, the mayor took extreme measures by spraying rat poison on the dumpsters to deter the homeless from eating from them.

Instead of providing assistance to the homeless such as food or money, we prefer to watch them rummage through dumpsters and listen to their complaints about being a disturbance to

tourists and onlookers. Homeless individuals, lacking employment opportunities, rely on collecting and selling recyclables like cans and plastic bottles just to fulfill their basic need of having a meal for a day. McDonald's is a popular choice for the homeless community as it operates round the clock and offers a more affordable menu.

Many Americans often express dissatisfaction with the presence of homeless individuals in fast food restaurants, as they may be seen begging for money or bringing down the reputation of the establishment. However, why should Americans complain about assisting a homeless person if their request for help is for a noble cause? While Americans may generously support feeding homeless people in other parts of the world like Africa, Asia, and China, they tend to neglect their own homeless population within their own country. It is ironic that America is known as a helping nation, always ready to offer assistance and financial aid, but when it comes to lending a helping hand to the homeless within America, financial constraints quickly arise.

Americans often display a negative attitude towards their finances, believing they have no obligation to help the less fortunate, including the poor or homeless. They attribute their own possessions to hard work and expect others to do the same. However, this viewpoint is not always suitable. I firmly believe that as Americans, we should take initiative in supporting our nation and its people, leaving no one behind. The homeless population specifically faces significant disadvantages and deserves improved treatment.

Many homeless people are encouraged to find shelter in unpleasant shelters with a high occurrence of mold. The staff at these shelters often display poor behavior and mistreat

the residents. Many homeless individuals choose not to use these facilities for two reasons: either they engage in drug use, which is against the shelter's rules, or they refuse to follow the designated check-in and check-out times.

Homeless individuals in the United States face numerous difficulties when trying to access available shelters. One main issue is that many of them have jobs, which makes it hard for them to meet the check-in hours at these shelters. Even if they do arrive on time, they often encounter long lines and extensive waiting periods. Moreover, there is no assurance that their preferred shelter will be able to accommodate them. Furthermore, those who work night shifts encounter almost impossible obstacles in reaching the shelter before curfew.

It is unfortunate that many homeless individuals opt to sleep outside in order to avoid the challenges of finding shelter. It deeply concerns me that, despite the availability of shelters, they are only able to accommodate a limited number of people. This becomes even more disheartening when considering those who cannot meet curfew or check-in requirements for various reasons; it is truly disgraceful. Additionally, the thought of these individuals enduring harsh winters on the streets is even more distressing. Kozel shares the story of a man who lived in a goodwill slot for several years until he outgrew it, which saddens me as it highlights the hardships people face in finding a secure place to sleep at night.

Not only is the task of finding a suitable place to sleep difficult, but it also comes with the added challenge of establishments having rules against homeless individuals sleeping on their property. Unfortunately, this often leads to

their arrest. Despite these obstacles, homeless individuals must make do with whatever they can find. Regrettably, there is a shortage of shelters in the United States to support our homeless population. As a result, they are forced to seek shelter in various locations such as benches, under highways and bridges, in boxes and trees, etc. Meanwhile, we are fortunate enough to have a roof over our heads and frequently overlook the presence of homeless people we encounter. They endure harsh weather conditions including sleet, rain, snow, and extreme heat.

The presence of politicians who want to shut down homeless shelters is the most troubling aspect. These individuals allow the accumulation of mold and mildew, thereby creating unsanitary living conditions that harm homeless individuals. The intention appears to be to eradicate them through illness. Requests for additional funding from the state or city are consistently denied, leaving the shelters without sufficient resources for maintenance. While there are compassionate Americans who volunteer their time to clean and maintain the shelter, they rarely receive substantial assistance.

In 2001, America experienced a dire situation after the devastating September 11th incident, also referred to as 911. This event resulted in the loss of lives and loved ones for numerous individuals. Regrettably, scant effort was directed towards aiding the homeless population who were already vulnerable prior to this tragic occurrence. Amidst the chaotic aftermath of the attacks, multiple homeless individuals near the twin towers perished instantly without any recognition or identification. As a result, within three months following this catastrophe, there was a notable surge in New York City's homeless population.

Homeless individuals faced increased challenges due to the economic downturn. It was crucial

for all Americans to offer support during this period, but unfortunately, their involvement decreased. Job opportunities and charitable donations declined, while homeless shelters and security measures saw an increase. Regrettably, these individuals continued to face difficulties as proof of identification became necessary for security reasons, causing further complications for those without a permanent home.

According to Alyson Paige, homeless individuals have no hope as they must provide identification if they lack an address. Furthermore, if they do not possess any form of ID, they are required to acquire a new one and present a birth certificate. The government expects these individuals, who have recently experienced substantial loss, to somehow obtain these crucial documents. Given the circumstances faced by homeless people in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina, this absence of surprise is unsurprising.

The breaking of the levies resulted in people being swept away and losing their lives due to drowning. Both the homeless population and those with houses were affected by the floodwaters, seeking shelter under highways and dumpsters but finding no solace during the crisis. The aftermath mirrored that of 9/11, with a sharp rise in homelessness and death toll. Following Hurricane Katrina's passage through New Orleans, the number of homeless individuals surged significantly to around 12,000 people.

Mayor Ray Nagin was appealed to by both homeless individuals and Hurricane Katrina victims for $20 million in rental assistance and 3,000 additional permanent supportive housing vouchers. Unfortunately, their pleas were disregarded, leaving them stranded on the streets. While FEMA did offer some help to a limited number of homeless people during interviews, its failure to provide sufficient assistance led to 30% of those living under the bridge being

there due to FEMA's shortcomings. Despite being a federal government agency, FEMA was unable to fulfill its promises and provide the necessary aid. In contrast, when earthquakes struck Haiti and Japan, America generously donated billions of dollars towards helping those affected.

Despite Americans donating approximately $5.2 billion for Haiti, FEMA only contributed $400 million for our own citizens during Hurricane Katrina. In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, FEMA provided aid totaling $970 million. Japan received around $4.2 billion following the earthquake. This highlights America's limitations in assisting its own people who face homelessness, unemployment, and hunger, even though it is capable of providing substantial support to other nations during times of disaster.

While Americans have charities that assist the homeless, these organizations are restricted to specific locations and help only a limited number of individuals. It would be advantageous if homeless charities also prioritized offering literacy programs to improve skills and boost employment prospects. Although it is praiseworthy that most homeless charities provide food and shelter, it is crucial to address the unfair criticism faced by these individuals who are unfairly labeled as lazy.

In order for a man to gain skills and find employment, it is crucial for the government to take action. This can be done by hiring experienced staff to coordinate funding streams, including federal grants. Additionally, it is important for providers of mainstream services such as health clinics, public assistance offices, and food pantries to be trained on integrating homeless awareness into their usual procedures. However, achieving this will require homeless programs to reach out extensively to service providers who may not typically address this issue.

In 2012, the government plans to decrease financial

assistance for homeless individuals by about $20.5 million. Otto explains that after allotting funds for crucial services such as providing apartments to more than 1,000 homeless individuals and families through the city's permanent supportive housing program, and operating a resource center for homeless families, there will only be limited funds available for other necessities. This raises concerns regarding the government's capacity to assist only a small portion of the American population when estimates indicate that there are between 700,000 and 2 million homeless individuals. It underscores politicians' indifference towards our citizens.

It is absurd that they can only "help" more than one thousand people. In my opinion, providing assistance to over 1,000 individuals from the government essentially means helping no one. The number of people in need is around 2 million, while the assistance being provided extends to only 1,000 individuals nationwide. It is truly disheartening to witness such suffering in the wealthiest country. We strive to present our nation as prosperous and supportive, but we are unable to help our own citizens out of homelessness. Funding cuts, disdain towards the homeless, prioritizing others over our own people, and neglecting the homeless population in America can be attributed to our country's leadership.

When will the wealthy individuals in America show compassion towards the homeless? Our city commissioners, mayors, and other influential figures possess a strong influence that can easily manipulate the vulnerable population. Most Americans are easily swayed and tend to conform to popular opinions without questioning the actions of these officials, even if they personally believe them to be misguided. Only a small number of Americans genuinely care about helping the homeless and are willing to

offer financial support for them to find shelter or food.

Only a small percentage of wealthy individuals in America acknowledge the poverty issue and are capable of taking action. However, individuals like myself, with limited resources to spare, are willing to generously donate their last penny to provide sustenance for those less fortunate. People like me aspire to become millionaires and make substantial contributions to aid the homeless and impoverished. Moreover, it is individuals like me who devote their weekends to volunteering at nearby shelters to engage in casual conversations or assist in feeding the homeless population.

It is people like me that Americans need to be, yet they strive in a different direction. Thank God for President Barrack Obama, our country's leader, who demonstrates how we should act towards every individual. He possesses great qualities that people like me strive to emulate. He helps every individual, regardless of their homelessness, poverty, middle-class status, or high-class status, without discrimination. I hope our country can embrace change and alter our thoughts and viewpoints on how we perceive homeless individuals, just like my President.

Stop the unnecessary violence and unjust arrests of innocent people and instead focus on making a positive change. Let's put an end to mindless conversations that degrade and criticize individuals, labeling them as lazy, unclean, and unfit for the American image. If we truly want to see a difference in these people's lives, we must be willing to help the homeless population by keeping shelters open and providing them with food. If preserving the American image is so important to some Americans, then they should take action and become the change they wish to see.The article

"About Homeless People After the 911 Situation" by Paige, Alyson on EHow.com discusses the impact on homeless people after the 911 situation. The article provides information on how charities in the U.S. raised $64 million for Japan relief efforts. Additionally, there is a Squidoo article titled "Why Don't Homeless People Just Get Jobs?" which addresses the reasons behind homelessness. Jasmine R. Bell's research argument for ENC 1101, Section 10 with Dr. DeSilver Cohen is also referenced.