HOW TO SOLVE PROBLEMS 1

Running head: HOW TO SOLVE PROBLEMS

How to Solve Problems

David “Toby” Meyers

PHL/251 – Critical Thinking

Laura Provencher

May 20, 2011

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How to Solve Problems

Success in life is about Problem Solving. The better you solve problems, the more

fulfilled and less problematic your life will be. The streets, the depressed and those with a lack of

inherited resources have more problems to solve. This includes the stigma and stereotype that

comes with being unhoused makes life very difficult and problematic. While there may be no

solution to the way others think of you, there are two problems that continuously follow those

unhoused. These two problems are work and housing. While there are many other problems that

contribute to being unhoused and problems that arise because of being unhoused, these

problems, when solved, can make life easier. The other problems are drugs, crime and violence

as well as not being accepted and easily exploited. But those are not problems of the unhoused

those are problems in society, in general. An unhoused person is more susceptible to these

problems, but what is more important; the way society functions or getting off the street.

In order to solve the problem of homelessness the homeless and members of government

need to settle on a few programs in order to assure life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is

equally attainable for all citizens despite circumstances.

The description of each of the problem situations have to fully identify the problem itself

as well as the possible solutions. There is not just some list of problems that all the unhoused

have. There are no simple solutions either. Many people give up or fall to mental illness while on

the street because this problem is so hard to fix. There is no simple fix, especially in this political

climate, where resources for the unhoused are considered to be a waste of money. Since no

politician has ever experienced a lack of resources and without this understanding, homeless

services are considered futile. This they say this is because the problem lies within the person.
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“Juan Prada of the Coalition on Homelessness suggested that people may have left the

city because Newsom's policies have made it harder for many homeless folks to survive here.

Prada pointed to the fact that the city has quietly stepped up enforcement of certain quality-of-

life crimes, particularly camping in the parks. In 2003, 436 citations were issued for that

misdeed; last year the city issued almost three times as many – a total of 1,114 citations. Plus,

under Care Not Cash, homeless people are charged for food and heat during shelter stays, Prada

said. "We're hearing it's too much of a hassle for $59. Some people have left the city maybe,

though we have seen increasing encampments in the outer neighborhoods.... The 700 people

housed: that's great. For the other ones, we don't know where they've gone. What kind of

homeless policy is that?” (Brahinsky, 2009).

A persuasive argument must be the approach to getting work. A persuasive argument

attempts to persuade a person to adopt a certain point of view or to take a particular action, in

example an employer to give a homeless person a job. Getting work is something as an unhoused

person must persuade that they are as worthy or more worthy than those housed. It is against the

law to not disclose the fact that you are not housed. Employers can run credit checks, housing

checks and some even keep lists of addresses for shelters, day services and halfway houses in

their county just so they know who is and who is not housed or is living on welfare. Many people

lose their self confidence and become frustrated because this kind of persuasion is most difficult.

The type of argument where most people are convinced before you interview that you are not

capable because you are unhoused and it is difficult to persuade them otherwise.

Housing the homeless as a subject is very specific. I may be the one person who believes

that this problem is academic and that the solution is scientific. Therefore humor the author an

explanation for due discourse. Everyone needs housing. Housing is expensive and like diamonds,
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real estate value changes over time and the housing market is especially affected by real estate

speculation and housing market rates. Except that housing goes up in value while diamonds

decrease in value as they are released. There is more than enough housing in all to house every

person on the face of the planet. There is a lack of affordable housing. That the current

affordable housing, “only meets a small fraction of the need,” (WRAP, 2011).

Image shows (WRAP, 2010) lack of affordable housing money, versus homeless resource

funding. This image gives Continuum of Care a whole new meaning, one of a recklessness

toward houselessness. “Of the estimated 1.6 million homeless American youth, between 20 and

40 percent identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT). In one study, 26 percent of

gay teens who came out to their parents/guardians were told they must leave home; LGBT youth

also leave home due to physical, sexual and emotional abuse.” (NLGTFF, 2007). Emergency

food and shelter are not going to help people get off the street. Stronger discrimination laws and

building infrastructure and creation of jobs is the only way we will win the war against

homelessness.
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“In the past 20 years, California's housing prices have steadily outpaced its residents'

incomes. Housing production hasn't kept up with the influx of new families from around the

world and household growth within the state. And the location and type of new housing does not

meet the needs of many new California households. As a result, only one in five households can

afford a typical home, overcrowding doubled in the 1980s, and more than two million California

households pay more than they can afford for their housing. Meanwhile, the federal government

has dramatically cut back programs that used to help local governments accommodate new

growth. Voter-imposed property-tax and spending freezes have further constrained local

governments from responding effectively to new growth. Infrastructure funding now comes from

new growth. And affordable housing development, while still funded in part by the federal

government, also requires a larger local commitment than ever before,” (ABAG, 2003).

“According to the 2004 San Francisco Plan to Abolish Chronic Homelessness, it costs

over 3 times as much to have someone live on the street then to provide them with a permanent

home with supportive services, including home-based case management and treatment. It may

cost taxpayers over $60,000 per year for emergency room services and incarceration for a

homeless person while permanent supportive housing for that same year would cost only

$16,000,” (SJDH, 2011).

For identifying work resources for the homeless, programs such as “One-Stop Homeless

Prevention Center” and day labor are available in some places. The labor market is declined so

far with outsourcing and illegal immigrant labor that the competition is too steep for homeless to

use labor and must be educated to take on other jobs. There simply are not enough jobs. Many

homeless services are being cut because of overspending in other areas. In example, San Jose’s
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City Hall is costing well over $343 million, (Roberts, 2002) or is it $390 million (Lohses, 2006),

plus an Ice Rink Stadium leaving homeless resources out in the cold.

City of San José

General Fund Deficits

2002-2003 $ 46.3 million
2003-2004 $ 92.1 million
2004-2005 $ 81.7 million
2005-2006 $ 58.0 million
2006-2007 $ 34.9 million
2007-2008 $ 19.9 million
2008-2009 $ 29.6 million
2009-2010 $ 84.2 million
2010-2011 $ 118.5 million
2011-2012 $115.2 million
Image taken from (Mayors Office San Jose, 2011).

The solution is to make more work and educate homeless people. As well as the

resources to look for jobs; one cannot squeeze blood out of a turnip and you cannot get a job

when there are not any. Government must be aware of the need for work. There are 409,000

jobless claims as of May 14th and a negative number of jobs created. However, this does not

consider the number of homeless looking for work. Those long term unemployed numbers into

the tens of millions currently. Normally homeless and those that do not qualify for

unemployment benefits are not counted federally or locally among those unemployed. The way

that would be achieved is to have all homeless people register to vote. Then have a national

movement to sleep inside the Government buildings until a living wage is set, affordable housing

is provided and millions of jobs open. Homelessness will end when we recognize the needs of

ordinary people. The discrepancy between the American Dream and the actual living conditions

of the majority of the American People.

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“About 3.5 million US residents (about 1% of the population), including 1.35 million

children, have been homeless for a significant period of time. Over 37,000 homeless individuals

(including 16,000 children) stay in shelters in New York every night. This information was

gathered by the Urban Institute, but actual numbers might be higher. The official number in

poverty is 37 million – 37 million men, women, and children who can’t put food on the table or

meet the basic needs of their families. To understand poverty in America, it is important to look

behind these numbers--to look at the actual living conditions of the individuals the government

deems to be poor,” (Eucher, 2007)

Yes, a homeless person must provide a pursuasive argument for a buisness owner to give

them a job. Must prove themselves against the stereotype of homelessness. The housing market

is at its most expensive ever and working families with three breadwinners cannot buy a home.

Years and years of research exist about housing and homelessness. The fact is that housing is too

expensive. The steps of problem solving have not been applied to the problem of homelessness.

The problem has not been identified, therefore no plan can be made, no use of imagination or

sorting out actual plans can then be made and no solution is provided and therefore we cannot

say anything works. While politicians minimalize the homeless and categorize the unemployed

they do not create jobs. They do not want large low rent districts. They spend so much time

trying to get rid of low rent housing and shelters. While we stereotype the homeless as junkies,

criminals and the insane. We speak of them as if there is this big rock candy mountain of

homelessness with these social programs, we miss the obvious; our economy is shot, feudalistic

capitalism is not working and affordable housing is the last thing on a real estate agents mind. In

other words, we first need to change our habits as a country before we start critisizing the

homeless for the problems in their lives.

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We must learn to take care of each other or we will all perish togeather.
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References

Alexeff et al (1993). Myths and facts about affordable and high-density housing.

Retrieved on May 20, 2011 from: Association of Bay Area Governments.

http://www.abag.ca.gov/services/finance/fan/housingmyths2.html.

Brahinsky (2009). Where have the homeless gone?

Retrieved on May 20, 2011 from: SF Guardian.

http://www.sfbg.com/39/24/news_homeless.html.

Eucher (2007). Oral Presentation.

University of Pittsburg (2009).

Retrieved on May 20, 2011from: http://www.pitt.edu.

http://www.pitt.edu/~groups/probsolv.html.

Roberts (2003).City Hall cost shocks other cities.

Retrieved on May 20, 2011from: Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal.

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2002/04/29/story2.html.

Lohses (2006). The Real Cost of S.J. City Hall.

Retrieved on May 20, 2011from: San Jose Mercury News.

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-145379697.html.

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Foundation (2007). Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender

youth: An epidemic of homelessness.

Retrieved on May 20, 2011from:NGLTFF

Office of the Mayor San Jose (2011). San Jose Budget Deficit.

Retrieved on May 20, 2011from: Office of Mayor Chuck Reed.

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http://www.sanjoseca.gov/mayor/goals/budget/BudgetDeficit.asp.

San Jose Department of Housing (2011). Ending Homelessness.

Retrieved on May 20, 2011from: The Housing Department’s Homeless Program

http://www.sjhousing.org/homeless/ending.html.