The Social Issues of Homelessness

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Sociology 2, Social Issues & Problems Section 80528
November 24, 2008

The Social Issue of Homelessness
Homelessness has always been a major social issue for cities across the nation but in recent years it is reached astonishing proportions. In this essay I will try to summarize ten recently published articles and each of the authors view of homelessness. First I will discuss some of their opinions of the causes of the recent increase of homelessness and who or what is to blame. Next we will look into just a few of the effects of homelessness, both to the homeless and those around them. After that we will explore possible solutions that have been tried or proposed.
Many of the causes for this alarming increase in homelessness have …show more content…

In an article by Wendy Koch of USA Today, titled “Homeless numbers alarming” Philip Mangano, executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council Homelessness can be quoted as saying “Everywhere I go, I hear there is an increase in the need for housing aid, especially for families. The main causes are job losses and foreclosures”. Meanwhile the gap between the wealthy and poor widens and the middle-income become the new low-income. The once low-income are now homeless and/or living in poverty. Emma Vandore and Greg Keller of SF Gate state in their article titled “Gap between rich, poor grows in wealthy nations” say that this “rising inequality threatens social mobility – children doing better than their parents”. According to Glide/Wells Fargo Women’s center, “applicants for its workforce development programs have climbed 20 percent”.
Homeless shelters across the nation are reporting record breaking numbers of people coming to them for shelter. Many shelters are being forced to do a lottery system and turn people away. States are even putting many families up in hotels, motels and inns. In many cases this can be cheaper for a state than paying for a homeless shelter. Wait lists have also been developed because of the massive need for shelter. James Temple of SF Gate says that in San Francisco, CA, “the waiting list for families seeking shelter has doubled since this time last year and that on a recent spot check at

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