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Family Education and Vocational Training to Prevent Homelessness

Page history last edited by Alyssa Blumenthal 13 years, 6 months ago

 

Aly B's Portfolio

-HOMELESSNESS-

Why Should You Care?

 

shelter

Homelessness Can Affect Anyone

 

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SOME STATISTICS

 

 

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     Homelessness is a societal problem in which those choosing to support it or ignore it stand on completely opposing sides. Being that that is an important cause to me, I found that it is crucial that I elaborate on the cause of homelessness. I noticed that many comments argue that in many cases, homelessness is a choice, or a lack of motivation and that ultimately homelessness comes down to complete apathy and thus another person lands on the streets. I wanted to point out that the sector of homelessness that I or we would aim to ultimately deal with is not the small percentage of homeless people that are on the streets because they chose to be or refuse to work. Rather, we would aim to help those who landed on the streets due to factors outside of their personal control and people who ultimately want to make it on their own dollar, rather than

somebody elses.

  According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), there are 671,859 people experiencing homelessness on any given night in the United States. This mean that roughly 22 of every 10,000 people are homeless. 37% are people in families, 63% are individuals, 18% is considered "chronic" and 20% is made up of veterans. With these numbers it becomes more apparent who is homeless for factorial reasons and who is homeless by choice.

 

WHY DO FAMILIES BECOME HOMELESS?

 

Families become homeless for a variety of reasons but the major reason being an unforeseen financial crisis. This sector of homelessness is one that could potentially affect any one of us. Often times medical emergencies, a car accident or a death in the family throws family into financial debt that they can't seem to get themselves out of. Approximately 85,000 families experience homelessness each night.

 

WHY DOES THE YOUTH BECOME HOMELESS?

 

Youth homelessness is much less common than any other type of homelessness however it cannot be ignored by any means. Most often, a familial disruption, such as divorce, neglect or abuse can send a young person into homelessness. Youth homelessness requires different prevention methods than does other forms of homelessness because youth are not of age to live on their own or work. An estimated 50,000 youth experience long term homelessness, however most only experience short term homeless.

 

WHY DO VETERANS BECOME HOMELESS?

 

In 2009 the Department of Veterans Affairs estimated approximately 131,000 homeless veterans. That makes up 20% of the entire homeless population. Veterans typically become homeless because of a war related disability such as a physical disability or mental anguish such as post traumatic stress disorder that result unsafe behaviors such as addiction, abuse and violence. Ultimately leading to homelessness.

 

WHY DOES THE "CHRONIC" BECOME HOMELESS?

 

Approximately 124,000 people in the United States are homeless due to chronic reasons. That makes up 20% of the entire homeless population. Chronic refers to long term and/or repeated bouts of homelessness coupled with a physical or mental disability.

 

WHY DOES THE NON-CHRONIC SINGLE ADULTS BECOME HOMELESS?

 

Non-chronic single adults become homeless most often because they are survivors of domestic violence of former prisoners re-entering civilian life and thus can't get back on their feet and land homeless.

 

Breaking it Down

AMERICA- statistics

THE STATE OF FLORIDA- statistics

THE CITY OF TAMPA- statistics

METROPOLITAN MINISTRIES-

 

 

 

 

 

 

A complex problem with a surprisingly simple solution- housing.

 

How simple is housing?

The cost and whose dollar?

 

   

 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: METROPOLITAN MINISTRIES

-AN IDEA TO EXPLORE-

Hear Their Stories...  

 

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ABOUT METROPOLITAN MINISTRIES:

 

 

 

What Works, What Doesn't...

 

 

What frustrates me the most about homelessness is that it can be prevented.

 

Why should a person who is capable of begging on the streets not be able to have even the simplest of jobs?

 

Organizations exist, like Metropolitan Ministries, that offer the right kind of help for struggling people.

 

Giving a homeless guy $2 is not going to change their lives for more than 30 minutes. It will either buy them food, if their really hungry, or potentially drugs, alcohol or cigarettes.

 

If education is free then why are there so many people uneducated?

 

In my opinion, half the problem lies in our idea that by providing a free public school education, everyone will educate themselves. However, these people coming up with this idea are most likely people that had parents that were also educated, supportive and around. I know that if I didn't have a kinship of support throughout my education, I might not have made it through. They say education creates success. Why else do we go to school? I think that if we have $5,000, why not use it to expand an organization like Metropolitan Ministries?  With this, they can build more living areas for homeless people to reside, have the capacity to feed more people and the means to educate these people so that they can simply do a rotation of taking in homeless people, rejuvenating them and their families with food, a bed and a social network of others in their situation. Not only that, but they provide them with knowledge necessary for the working field, helping them to find jobs, finding them jobs and then a place to live permanently and then letting them go, no longer homeless. Homelessness is an obvious issue that we see everyday we walk outside, if this is something that interests you then please join my group so we can work on preventing homelessness in the future and curing the present day issue.

Link to 7 September

 

 

 

 

 

FEEDBACK

 

Many people are uneducated because they do not realize how lucky Americans are to be able to recieve free education up until college. They lack the support and encouragement to continue with their education, and believe they cannot acheive more than the life their parents have given them. Most are also lazy, and do not try. But once again, this goes back to the lack of encouragement and support. - Andrea Inman

 

Is it the schools or is it the parents, or is it both? causal argumentation- Something to think about.

 

Comments aren't working for me - so here it goes:

My suggestions to make your writing to explore better:
1) Break your ginormous paragraph into smaller paragraphs so it isn't so intimidating and run-on.
2) You mention Metropolitan Ministries, but I only see that they help your problem - but not HOW they help. Why should I believe they deserve the grant? What have they done recently to help the homeless?
3) You state the problem is no education and that homelessness can be prevented. But what about the people who are homeless who deserve to be? Who have never done any kind of work in their life, who aren't willing to get help, and who have no desire to better themselves? These types survive by preying on those who feel bad, by going to soup kitchens and eating food, and moving from place to place. What about THOSE homeless people - how can the metropolitan ministries change them?
4) The problem, in your opinion, seems to start with the education system. Why not find another program that educates students and families how to prevent homelessness, instead of changing those who have made bad judgment a bad habit?
5) State some facts! How many are homeless in Pinellas/Hillsborough County?
6) WHY SHOULD I CARE? I always hear about helping the homeless...it's so old. Make me want to care for this cause.
7) Did you hear about the recent problem in Lakeland? They are looking to ban homeless people from camps. Basically kicking them out of town. -Andrea Inman

 

I believe that a key problem for most homeless people, and just people in general is a lack of motivation. People who are not motivated to learn and educate themselves don't care about school. As this lack of motivation, no matter if it's from bad parenting, traumatic life events, or the like, is the biggest downfall for our homeless population. They've lost the will to function normally in everyday society. So maybe Metropolitan Ministries should, instead of educating the homeless broadly, try to find something that the individual can attach themselves to and care about and therefore become motivated to partake in such activity. This can help the person to rebuild their feeling of self worth and feel like they're a part of something bigger than themselves. -Tim

 

I totally agree with this. I feel as though when homeless people know that it is so easy for them to get money out of begging why should they make an effort to be better? i mean they have nothing else to lose so why should they care? Being in the streets and not doing anything is what they're used to. You live in a Country full of opportunities and you're basicly throwing them all away. Even if most of these people have grown up in places where they've seen things most of us don't or have had a bad example from their parents shouldn't that motivate them to be above it and make a better life for themselves? Not fall back into the same steps as their ancestors. Also giving these people money is just facilitating their idea of hard work, we shouldn't award this sort of behavior, instead try to give them a push from a different angle. -Estefania

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MY COMMENTS

 

 

 

 

 

Comments (5)

Tim said

at 11:26 am on Sep 7, 2010

I beleive that a key problem for most homeless people, and just people in general is a lack of motivation. People who are not motivated to learn and educate themselves don't care about school. As this lack of motivation, no matter if it's from bad parenting, traumatic life events, or the like, is the biggest downfall for our homeless population. They've lost the will to function normally in everyday society. So maybe Metropolitan Ministries should, instead of educating the homeless broadly, try to find something that the individual can attach themselves to and care about and therefore become motivated to partake in such activity. This can help the person to rebuild their feeling of self worth and feel like they're a part of something bigger than themselves

Jenna said

at 11:47 am on Sep 7, 2010

You have a very good topic for essay. you can relate a lot ot the homeless people here in st. petersburg. I like the idkea of using the money to help create a program that will help iwth the homeless problem that keeps occuring.

Alyssa Blumenthal said

at 11:48 am on Sep 7, 2010

I totally agree with you Tim. Metropolitan Ministries does exactly that. They actually show that with work comes reward and they build on this until people are motivated to work on their own.

Estefania Sanchez said

at 11:49 am on Sep 7, 2010

I totally agree with this. I feel as though when homeless people know that it is so easy for them to get money out of begging why should they make an effort to be better? i mean they have nothing else to lose so why should they care? Being in the streets and not doing anything is what they're used to. You live in a Country full of opportunities and you're basicly throwing them all away. Even if most of these people have grown up in places where they've seen things most of us don't or have had a bad example from their parents shouldn't that motivate them to be above it and make a better life for themselves? Not fall back into the same steps as their ancestors. Also giving these people money is just facilitating their idea of hard work, we shouldn't award this sort of behavior, instead try to give them a push from a different angle.

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