Homelessness. We Can’t Just Say, It Is Their Own Problem.

We ignore them. We Pass them. We Avoid them. You might just be turning your back to the things that you don’t want to see or you don’t want to be. Let's stop for a moment and let's listen to them. What are they saying? Why do they have to live on the street? What were their reasons becoming homeless? After we hear all, let’s think about it. Is it really their own problem? Or, is it a problem caused by our society? How to help them: https://ssparechange.wordpress.com

1. “I don't have money. Houses are too expensive for me.”

People often say, homeless are too lazy and not working hard. Maybe this is how we want to believe, because then we don’t have to worry about social responsibility for growing homeless population in our society. However, some numbers show, homelessness could be caused by not just individual but social problem embedded in the capitalistic society. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, families across the country would need to earn a "housing wage" of $15.37 an hour, nearly three times the current minimum wage, to afford a two-bedroom apartment at the average fair market rent. It proves, the problem is not a person’s laziness but house’s price is too for low wages workers in inequality problem.

2. “I work at KFC, I get paid $8.6 / hour, but I can’t even buy enough food for my wife and kids."

In addition to the lack of affordable houses, growing inequality is also correlated to the homeless population. Over the past 25 years, living costs have been increasing but the lowest income has not kept pace with it. In an official report, the minimum wage has continually decreased in value since the late 1960s; adjusting for inflation, the current minimum wage is worth 27% less than it was in 1968. This economic circumstance made the lowest workers unable to pay for food, house, and medical care.

3. “I fought for my country for 7 years during my 20s. But, because of that, I am now just a homeless man on the street.”

Did you know that 33% of homeless males in the U.S. are veterans? Veterans have a higher chance of becoming homelessness. They have lack of income due to limited education and lack of transferable skills from military to civilian life, combat-related physical and mental health issues and disabilities... All the problems interfere with job retention and weak social networks, unable to adjust themselves to civilian life, putting them into tough economic situation. They served for the country, but the country leaves them on the street. Do they deserve that?

4. “I spent all my money for my son’s medical care. Now, I am on the street with my son.”

Lack of affordable medical care is another cause of growing homeless population. The increasing cost of health care and insurance is a big economic burden for lower income families. The medical care can cost a family up to $8000 per year, and this is not easy to pay for low incomes. Any sudden illness, chronic disease, or accident could make families and individuals financially devastating.

5. “I am mentally ill. But seeking for help is not my option. I can’t pay for it.”

25% of homeless population suffers from mental illness. This mental illness actually caused the spurt of homeless population in the 1980s. Although mental illness severely affects into people’s lives just like any other physical health issue, federal funds were withdrawn from low-income housing and social assistance programs for the mentally ill in the 1980s. The change in politics increased the homeless population who were unable to take care of themselves.

6. “Without alcohol, I can’t survive a day. I want to stop drinking, but no one helps me without money.”

Suffering from mental illness often goes along with drug and alcohol addiction problem as well. Accordingly, drug and alcohol addiction affect about 20% of the homeless population. Again, however, the high coast of health insurance leaves homeless people without access to proper care to treat these mental illnesses. Disability, the following mental problems, and lack of policy to support them in our social system are all combined to make the people live on the street without a hope.

7. “I don’t want to go to school. My friends told me I am too dirty and smelly.”

Homelessness does not only involve into adults' life but also their children's one. 35% of the homeless population are families and children, which is the fastest growing segment of the homeless population. The lack of affordable housing, expensive health insurance, low-wages generationally affect into children’s life financially and psychologically. Homelessness is a devastating experience for children, because it could be noisy, chaotic, lack of privacy and shameful. No one wants to be born as a homeless kid. No one deserves it.

8. “I applied for a job. After the interview, they told me leave my number that they can reach. But, I couldn’t, because I don’t have a cell phone.”

You might still say this to the homeless, 'go to find a job' or 'stop asking someone else for money.' The problem is, how could they apply for a job without a proper attire, and how could they contact with employers after the job interview? These difficulties hinder the homeless from being hired for a job to earn money and to get out of the situation. It is a cycle that they are trapped in and that they cannot break themselves. They need some help.

9. “I am broke. I have no one to call for help. I am really scared.”

Most homeless people are from low (possibly lowest) socio-economic background. People around their neighbors might be already experiencing similar economic difficulties. Thus, although any minor economic failure can significantly change their life and their family members’ lives, they cannot ask other family or friends for financial help. People from the same economic condition cannot help each other. Once they are in the situation, it is very hard for them to get rid of the poverty on their own.

10. “I don’t have money. But, I am also a human being too. Just like you.”

Despite their financial devastation, homeless are still human, like all of us. To sarcastically speak, in the capitalistic society, money could define class or social status of people, but the lack of money should not take away basic human rights. As all listicles discusses above, the homeless problem might not be individual fault, but social matter caused by economic and political circumstance in society. For both reasons of humanitarian and social responsibility, we need to get closer to them and listen to them to figure out what we can do as a society and as another human.