The Social Problem: The Issue Of Homelessness

Social problems are defined as a “conditions that undermines the wellbeing of some or all members of a society and are usually a matter of public controversy”. According to the McKinney Act “Homelessness is a person without permanent housing who may live in the streets, shelter, or any unstable situations” (Schift, 2003). Homelessness impacts the whole society, not just the afflicted community, because resources are extracted from the entire society to manage the homelessness population. The publics tax money is used to pay for services that helps the homeless population, making homelessness not just a problem for the individuals, but a common source of concern for us all. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness about 600,000 people will experience homelessness in one night. The most troubling aspect of homelessness is that it’s made up of families with children. This is particularly …show more content…
There’s lot of negative stereotypes on how people become homeless, this causes community members to assume the worst about the population. The public often carry misconceptions about the homeless populations. Many people have expressed that they believe that homeless people are lazy, uneducated beings who played a large role in their own demise. In reality, people experiencing homelessness are educated individuals who got stuck in this position due to other uncontrollable factors in their life. Communities need to become more aware of the everyday struggles that the homelessness population faces. After understanding in-depth the plights of these people, the public will then be able to relate to them and this will motivate community members to become financially invested in the homelessness projects. Once the community is educated about that population, I believe they will more likely donate their time and resources to ensure the safety of that