Homelessness Argumentative Essay Example

be institutionalized, any place not meant for regular sleeping accommodation by humans, or a supervised temporary shelter. (Social Work Policy Institute) The

McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987 is America's first attempt to combat the plague that was homelessness. The act outlines meaning of homelessness and the federal governments plans and allocations to take it down. (National Coalition for the Homeless)Many people may believe that homelessness is caused by Just sheer irresponsibility; however, what many fail to realize is the fact that some historical factors play into long generational spells of homelessness or poverty. Historical events such as the use of morphine during the civil war, to the industrial revolution, nd even natural disasters can ruin lives for years to come. Downtown Congregations to End Homelessness) The act itself is essential to current homeless crisis and also is within social workers' responsibilities per the National Association of Social Workers code of ethics. In the preamble, it reads, "The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance human wellabeing and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty. (National Association f Social Workers, 1999)The purpose of social workers is to help people in need and that is the goal of policies on homelessness. players may change in the game but the rules still apply. There has always been some form of homelessness in the country. As time periods change the causes of homelessness have changed. For instance, during the colonial times from the 1660's to the 1770's the primary homeless were called "wandering poor" and

the primary cause was caused by the recent increase in migration and the land territory skirmishes.

Government intervention of the time was to corporally punish the itizens. During the Pre-lndustrial Period, 1820-1850, the primary homeless were unemployed men; their reasons were the bumpy business cycle and the lack of stability in Jobs in mills, mines, and on docks. The government of this time stepped in by allowing Jails to provide overnight lodging or flat out imprisonment. Following the Civil War from 1870 to 1900, this time was known as the "vagabond" era filled with train hoppers and freed slaves in search of places to live.

The cause of this displacement was anywhere from low employment to the number of immigrants ntering the country. This time period brought out the Rhode Island Tramps Act of 1880 emulated by nearly every state designed to arrest and convict homeless people. During the Great Depression from the years 1929 to 1940, the bulk of the homeless population was the middle class employees, familys, and African Americans. Breadlines, soup kitchens, shelters, and shantytowns began to pop up around the country in attempts to help relieve the depression of homelessness of the time.

From the year 1980 to the present the homeless population consists of people with alcohol nd drug abuse as well as families with children, and single people with high incidence of behavior disabilities. (Leginski, 2007) In the early 1980s, the initial responses to widespread and increasing homelessness were primarily local. Homelessness was viewed by the Reagan Administration as a problem that did not require federal intervention. In 1983, the first federal task force on homelessness was created to

provide information to localities on how to obtain surplus federal property; this task force did not address homelessness through policy actions.

After bipartisan isputes a reluctant President Ronald Reagan signed it into law on July 22, 1987. On October 30, 2000 President William Clinton renamed the legislation the McKinney- Vento Homeless Assistance Act after the death of Representative Bruce Vento, a leading supporter of the act since its original passage in 1987. (National Coalition for the Homeless). The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act uses the key words "lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence" to describe homeless people and those who would be eligible for the benefits the act provides.