Homelessness in America: Causes, History, and Solutions

Introduction

This paper introduces, discusses, and analyzes the topic of homelessness in America. Specifically, it addresses the historical background of the homeless, present-day issues, and the causes of homelessness across the country. The number of homeless people is growing in America, largely because of the mortgage crisis and a faltering economy that is putting more people out of their homes and out of work. Homelessness has always been an issue in this country, and America needs to develop new solutions to help address the problem.

Historical Background of Homelessness

Historically, there have always been homeless people in the United States. From indentured servants who came to the country with nothing but the clothes on their backs, to the "bums" and "hobos" of the Great Depression, homelessness has existed in some form throughout American history. This older homeless population, however, did not typically live on the streets. Two researchers note, "The U.S. homeless population of the 1950s and 1960s was typically composed of older men living in cheap hotels and was declining significantly in the 1970s. However, in the 1980s this 'old' homeless population was replaced by a 'new' homeless population" (Baggerly & Zalaquett, 2006). This new population included more children, greater ethnic diversity, and younger individuals.

Since the 1980s, the problem has received increasing attention from the media and the public — perhaps because the homeless population had grown, or perhaps because people became more aware of the difficulties homeless individuals face. Public concern has grown partly because homeless encampments can create deteriorating neighborhoods, contribute to crime, and generate fear among residents. Government concern has grown as well, since rising numbers of homeless people strain local shelters and drop-in centers, driving up the costs of protecting and caring for homeless individuals — especially families and children.

Present-Day Homelessness and Economic Factors

Present-day homelessness is being shaped by a struggling economy, the home mortgage crisis, and a range of other factors. Homelessness has trended upward in many parts of the country since the 1990s. A group of researchers notes, "It appears that the economic recovery of the 1990s may have had little impact on the extremely poor, from whose ranks homeless individuals and families generally come" (Tompsett, Toro, Guzicki, Manrique & Zatakia, 2006). It is typically the extremely poor who are most vulnerable to homelessness, but during periods of acute economic crisis even middle-class families can lose their housing.

One reporter describes the trend on the ground: "'We saw family homelessness begin to increase last winter,' says Sally Erickson, Portland's homeless program manager. 'There's definitely a spike in the last six months.' The number of requests for emergency shelter doubled from fiscal year 2007 to fiscal 2008, which ended in June" (Koch, 2008). Most experts believe this spike will continue as long as the economic crisis persists. As more people lose their jobs and their homes, they have nowhere to turn but the streets and homeless shelters, swelling the overall homeless population in America.