HOMELESSNESS
As 2026 begins, a review of the state of homelessness in the U.S. helps to learn how much progress has been made. Homelessness is not an issue that has developed overnight. Its beginnings can be traced back to the founding of America. When the first group of Europeans landed, I’m sure there were many who […]
AUTOCRACY EFFECTS ON THE POOR AND HOMELESS
Definition A system of government where power is concentrated in a single leader or several elites (wealthy, corporations, businesses) and is not accountable to the people. It limits freedom, civil liberties, and political rights by suppressing opposition, controlling information, and often ignoring the democratic process. Auerbach, Micheal P. EBSCO.com, 2025 Characteristics Leadership – Seen as […]
LIVING IN POVERTY
CUBOARDS ARE BARE FRIG IS EMPTY FOOD STAMPS GONE CHILDREN HUNGRY HELP NEEDED WALKING THE STREETS BEGGING FOR MONEY SEARCHING FOR FOOD LOOKING FOR CRUMBS HELP NEEDED CHILDREN SICK HEALTH IMPAIRED SUPPORTS ARE GONE HOSPITALS FULL HELP NEEDED ROOM IS COLD CHILDREN SHIVER HUDLLED TOGETHER NO FOOD…NO CARE HELP NEEDED
POVERTY – NO BOUNDARIES
No One In Sight Miles Around Searching For Shelter Longing For Food Cold Weather In Sight Still Living Poor Urban Apartments Crumbling Houses Abandoned Parks Unkept Streets Unsafe Sidewalks Impassable Still Living Poor Suburban Neighborhoods Run Down Housing Insecure Landlords Absent Haves & Have-nots Shelters Unfound Still Living Poor Rural-Urban-Suburban Needs Unmet Searching For Shelter […]
RURAL, URBAN, and SUBURBAN POVERTY IN AMERICA
To classify whether an area is rural, urban, or suburban, census information takes the number of housing units, distance from the airport, the presence of group quarters, and more to define the three geographic areas. Population determiners for categorization include: Urban – at least 2000 housing units or a population of at least 5000. Any […]
DISCRIMINATION TOWARD THE HOMELESS
I was struggling with identifying a topic for my next blog. I recognized I wanted to write about morality and racism and its relationship to homelessness. My decision to choose discrimination as the focal point was made for two reasons. One, both morality and racism are embedded in the broader term…discrimination. Second, recent negative comments […]
HOMELESS – CITY VIEW
BUSES COME AND GO RIDERS ON AND OFF BELONGINGS ON THEIR BACKS CARTS FILLED WALKING UP AND DOWN STREETS SOME DIRTY AND SOME CLEAN BODIES STRUGGLE UP A SLOPE WEARY AND WORN FACES STARING STRAIGHT AHEAD MOVEMENTS SLOW AND DELIBERATE DESTINATION ACHIEVED BELONGINGS UNLOADED SETTLING ON BENCHES AND CURBS LOOKING FOR FOOD AND PLACES TO […]
HOMELESS PREVENTION
For decades, a number of laws, policies, and programs have been used to reduce and/or end homelessness. Housing (housing first, rental vouchers, rent assistance, public housing), safety net (Medicaid, SNAP), shelters, and safe areas have not affected the rising homeless rates in America’s cities. Despite a plethora of federal government bills, laws, executive orders, policies, […]
HOMELESS – LIFE
BODY IS STRONG MIND IS WEAK ROAD IS RUGGED TAKES ITS TOLL NEAR THE END MOVEMENT SLOW THOUGHTS SHAKY WHERE TO LIVE WHERE TO EAT NEAR THE END ALL ALONE DAYS ARE LONG TIMES CHANGE FEAR MOVES IN NEAR THE END MORE HELP NEEDED NO WHERE FOUND HARDER TO ACCEPT REALITY CHECK NEAR THE END […]
HOMELESS – TEENS
EACH DAY A STRUGGLE HAD NO FRIENDS SCHOOL WAS HARD PARENTS DIDN’T UNDERSTAND NO WHERE TO TURN DIDN’T GET BETTER ONLY GOT WORSE HOME WAS A NIGHTMARE FAMILY NO HELP NO WHERE TO TURN CONFLICTS CONTINUED ANGER WAS PRESENT KEPT TO MYSELF FEELING DOWN NO WHERE TO TURN SEARCHED FOR AN ANSWER DECIDED TO QUIT […]