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Johnson Lo
Davis 2
2 November 2015
Homelessness Issues
Homelessness is a drastic problem that is well spread throughout America. However, the
issues that it causes are not immediately apparent in everyday life. Homelessness not only occurs
in cities, but smaller towns as well. Due to medias emphasis of other issues, homelessness is
widely ignored and allowed to flourish. As a result, the problem is seen as insignificant, even to
those who are aware of the issue. Drug abuse, physical and sexual abuse, disease, and a growing
homeless population continue to plague the streets of America as we ignore what is happening
right in our backyards. The Homeless Care Act of 2015 should become a law to prevent an
increase in substance abuse, spread of disease and physical abuse, and to decrease the size of the
homeless population.
Drug abuse is a problem that causes many problems in society. These results can be seen
throughout the world. This includes mental and/or physical damage, loss of loved ones, loss of
money, and homelessness. In an article from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, the Kathy
Quirk writes: Many of the homeless suffer from mental illness and substance abuse. This
statement is straightforward and easy to understand. Although not all homeless are victims of
drug abuse, being homeless puts them at a higher risk of such dangers since they are exposed to
it more. However, the chances of this happening can be decreased. In an article written by the
University of California San Francisco titled What are homeless persons HIV prevention needs?
the author states that providing homeless individuals with housing and cash benefits has been
shown to reduce risk taking behaviors such as unprotected sex, drug use and needle sharing.
The issue of drug abuse is prevalent is todays society and can be stopped from being spread
further in the homeless population if we fund care for those in need. By funding the Homeless

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Care Act of 2015, drug abuse as well as other issues can be reduced drastically in large cities and
even smaller towns.
The spread of disease and physical abuse among the homeless is one of the less apparent
issues in society. Disease being spread is not something that we easily see and are unaware of.
Physical abuse typically does not happen in daylight, and so it is hidden from everyone. The
United States Interagency Council on Homelessness states that the mortality rate for the
homeless is four to nine times higher than for the general population. This unfortunate fact is
due to the large magnitude of disease and abuse which is present within the homeless
community. The homeless live in unsanitary conditions as a result of an inability to pay for basic
care. In Victor Kappeler's article titled Why Is Homelessness a Police Problem? he writes: "There
has been a decrease in spending on public health care services." Since the government has cut
funding on care for the homeless, there has been an increase in the population which results in
more disease and abuse. This creates more dangerous areas in cities at certain times of the day
when the homeless population gathers. As a result of the ignorance of the situation, the homeless
population continues to rise.
The growth of the homeless population creates more drug abuse, disease, and violence in
the streets of America. These problems arise due to the situation that some of the homeless are
currently experiencing due to a lack of funding by the government. This includes funding
veterans which make up a significantly large percentage of the homeless community. Victor
Kappler continued to write in his article: "The number of homeless veterans is increasing." Even
with the current benefits which are available for war veterans, the number of homeless veterans
is still rising. Lack of care to treat the veterans who find it difficult to adjust back into society
creates a larger gap between the homeless and the general population. Behavior observed in the
homeless population which is erratic, violent, and out of the norm drive people away from

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helping those in need. This creates a bias in America about homeless resulting in even less care
for the homeless and a greater increase in homeless population. A fact sheet by the National
Alliance to End Homelessness states: "Approximately 671,859 people experience homelessness
in the United States on any given night." This number has increased as time goes on. Increase in
homeless population continues to create and add on to existing problems such as drug abuse,
disease and violence in the streets of America. Some people see these issues and think that it is
not their responsibility to care for the homeless.
Perhaps the biggest argument against subsidizing care for the homeless population is that
we as working class people in America should not have to pay to help others who choose not to
work. Granted, there are people who do choose to be homeless, but they are not the population
which we are targeting. Support for the involuntarily homeless are the population of interest.
Even so, people still question whether or not we should help them using our hard earned money.
In his article titled The Welfare of the Community, Joseph Westfall addresses this argument
against supporting homelessness: Why should working taxpayers be forced to take fiscal
responsibility for those who do not take responsibility for themselves? As individuals, we are
each responsible for our own actions and their consequences. If people's actions result in a drop
in their well-being, that is their personal responsibility, and they should take the brunt of the
repercussions. This statement appears valid, however it fails to encompass a large portion of the
homeless population who are unable to support themselves. People argue that homeless can
apply for disability checks, but some disabled homeless cannot apply for such financial aid from
the government since they are mentally disabled. Others such as veterans may not have access to
such forms of aid since the government has been cutting funds to help the less fortunate. Yet
even with this knowledge, people still argue against helping the homeless. Some cities in the
United States even set laws against aiding the homeless. Michael Clark wries: Restrictions on

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public space typically force food sharing organizations, such as churches, to acquire permits or
the citys permission to operate within a public space, such as a park. In Houston, organizations
must obtain the citys consent to feeding the homeless on public land, or face upwards of a
$2,000 fine. In Hayward, California, organizations must obtain a permit and $500 dollars of
insurance to feed the homeless, and are only allowed one feeding per month. This shows how
some cities are attempting to stop homelessness by not helping them. This only makes being
homeless in America harder than it used to be. Our country has more resources than many others,
yet we still choose to keep what we have to ourselves. How can the homeless recover from their
downfall in life if we make it more difficult for them? Maslows hierarchy of needs highlights
the insufficient care that we are giving the homeless. The first and most vital factors in order to
live are our physiological needs such as food, water, and shelter. The homeless lack those three
necessities needed in order to live. The homeless population is not able to recover from their
status in life because they are not able to meet the basic needs in life which America is able to
provide.
In order to decrease substance abuse, a spread of disease and physical abuse, and to
decrease the size of the homeless population, we need to subsidize care for the homeless. A
change in these issues can also prevent further problems in society such as drug abuse in
adolescents, abuse and assault within families, and a growing larger lower class. In a country that
thrives on a large middle class, taking people out of the lower class and helping them be
successful in life will benefit the country more than just leaving the homeless on the streets to
fend for themselves. The Homeless Care Act of 2015 can help forward this countrys growth and
success.

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Works Cited
Bawarshi et al. "Media Analysis of Homeless Encampment "Sweeps"" University of
Washington, n.d. Web.
Clark, Michael. "Do Not Feed the Animals: The Dehumanization of Americas Homeless."
Berkeley Political Review. N.p., 09 Dec. 2014. Web.
"Fact Sheet: What Can We Do About Homelessness?" National Alliance to End Homelessness:.
N.p., 10 Jan. 2010. Web.
"Housing First." Impacting Homelessness in America. Harvard Law School, 28 June 2014. Web.
Huitt, William G. "Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs." Valdosta State University, n.d. Web.
Kappeler, Victor E. "Why Is Homelessness a Police Problem?" Police Studies Online. Eastern
Kentucky University, n.d. Web.
Marin, Peter. "Helping and Hating the Homeless: The Struggle at the Margins of America."
Michigan State University, n.d. Web.
Paquette, Kristen. "Unaccompanied Youth Experiencing Homelessness." Homelessness
Resource Center. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2010.
Web.
Quirk, Kathy. "UWM Alum Gets People Talking with Documentary on Homelessness." UWM
News. N.p., 23 Sept. 2015. Web.
"United States Interagency Council on Homelessness." Opening Doors: Chronic Homelessness.
N.p., n.d. Web.
Westfall, Joseph. "The Welfare of the Community." Santa Clara University, n.d. Web.
"What Are Homeless Persons' HIV Prevention Needs?" Homeless Persons. University of
California San Franciso, Sept. 2005. Web.
Wizner, Stephen. "Homelessness: Advocacy and Social Policy." Yale Law School, 1 Jan. 1991.
Web.