“There's enough grief in this world without always getting into whose fault it is.” -Lisa Samson. Homelessness is a problem in society today that most people know exist, but many choose not to do anything about. Per the National Alliance to end Homelessness, “On a single night in January 2015, 564,708 people were experiencing homelessness.” On top of this, there is a large number of people at risk of homelessness, and other people who have experienced homelessness at some point in their life. Not everyone in this situation receives help, and various members of today’s society don’t help the homeless. There are several reasons for this, and one of these reason’s is that people believe that homeless people are at fault for their own situation.
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These places are usually the media, stereotypes, and what they hear from those around them. Media does not talk about homeless a lot, but when it does it tries to make things interesting and dramatic, the truth doesn’t matter as much as the drama. They want to make something people want to watch so it cannot always be trusted to know the facts, but people tend to assume that it is the unchanged, unbiased facts, even when it is not. Stereotypes are common and known by many as the truth, and the stereotypes of homeless people that are believed by many. In “Common Stereotypes and Misconceptions about Homeless People,” an article written by someone who was once homeless, and shelters and works with homeless people still, “Some of these negative (stereotypes) are so ingrained into our society that even some people who are trying to help may believe some of them. Many of these incorrect representations make people who would otherwise want to help unwilling to help people they've come to believe do not deserve it.” These stereotypes include heavy drug and alcohol abuse, when, in reality, it isn’t as big in homelessness as people believe, and people who do drugs and drink don’t always start that way. Many start afterwards because of the pressure placed on them and the stress of their situation. Others believe that most homeless people are criminals, mentally unstable, or lazy. Criminals in the homeless community are often only labeled as criminals because they did something that they couldn’t have avoided because they did not have a home. This includes loitering, sleeping in public, and a number of other things that cities charge for, even though homeless people have no other choice. If they did, then why would they do it? Most people don’t want to sleep on a bench, or the ground, but they have no where else to go, and then get punished for the misfortunes they
These places are usually the media, stereotypes, and what they hear from those around them. Media does not talk about homeless a lot, but when it does it tries to make things interesting and dramatic, the truth doesn’t matter as much as the drama. They want to make something people want to watch so it cannot always be trusted to know the facts, but people tend to assume that it is the unchanged, unbiased facts, even when it is not. Stereotypes are common and known by many as the truth, and the stereotypes of homeless people that are believed by many. In “Common Stereotypes and Misconceptions about Homeless People,” an article written by someone who was once homeless, and shelters and works with homeless people still, “Some of these negative (stereotypes) are so ingrained into our society that even some people who are trying to help may believe some of them. Many of these incorrect representations make people who would otherwise want to help unwilling to help people they've come to believe do not deserve it.” These stereotypes include heavy drug and alcohol abuse, when, in reality, it isn’t as big in homelessness as people believe, and people who do drugs and drink don’t always start that way. Many start afterwards because of the pressure placed on them and the stress of their situation. Others believe that most homeless people are criminals, mentally unstable, or lazy. Criminals in the homeless community are often only labeled as criminals because they did something that they couldn’t have avoided because they did not have a home. This includes loitering, sleeping in public, and a number of other things that cities charge for, even though homeless people have no other choice. If they did, then why would they do it? Most people don’t want to sleep on a bench, or the ground, but they have no where else to go, and then get punished for the misfortunes they