Homelessness

 An extreme concern of Humanity,is a nationwide issue, that has one of the least appealing success rates, yet it's a social problem that receives a lot of attention. Humanity is all humankind collectively, generating kindness and benevolence.  I feel you must know the definition in order to be concerned about the desperate need for Humanity. When I  say concern OF Humanity, its because I don't feel a lot of people even "understand" the meaning of the word.

Just last year, the national poverty rate rose to include 13.2% of the population.  1 in 7 people were at risk of suffering from hunger in the United States. In addition, 3.5 million people were forced to sleep in parks, under bridges, in shelter or cars. Now, if Homelessness is a topic that needs to have better numbers, I don't know of any reason a human being should have to sleep outside. 3.5 MILLION people had to sleep outdoors last year.

In The United States, government acknowledges four categories of people who qualify as legally homeless:

1. Those who are currently homeless
2. Those who will become homeless in the imminent future 
3. Certain youths and families with children who suffer from home instability caused by a hardship
4. Those who suffer from home instability caused by domestic violence

The reasons behind citizens becoming homeless are very detailed and explained in the census, yet the resolution to the issues are very foggy and unclear as to the plans and programs that need to put in place to help resolve the issues. Here in Columbia, South Carolina Organizations are set in place that assist people that have fallen into the homeless population for whatever reasons, and tries to provide shelter as well as a plans and opportunities to help them get out of the homeless situation, Sadly and thankfully at the same time a lot of the people in these organizations are volunteers because they are non-profit organizations and are not funded by the government.

There are however plans  set in place by the city council to "relocate" the homeless from the Downtown area  and have them shipped to the outskirts of  the city because business owners feel that the homeless residents  interfere with the profits of their companies. The plan, seems to be very unconstitutional to me because it prohibits the residents from returning to the Downtown area, and if they do they can face the possibility of being placed under arrest if they do not have a place of residence.

 Here in Columbia, S.C. it was once a regular scene in Finley Park to see different churches or caring citizens, set up to feed the homeless, using their own funds and food, now there is a law set in place where that can no longer happen It make me wonder how people can sleep at night knowing that they are fine with saying that you can not feed a person that is hungry!

 

 I feel that the solution to homelessness is going to have to start with a program to rehabilitate the homless first. If I were in control I would build a housing development of apartments that would get the residents off the streets immediately. The development would be a community that would be fully equipped with a medical facility, a Laundromat, a grocery store, an educational institute, a bank, and child development center. There will be jobs in each area and the residents will be trained and become employees were they can earn income to save and eventually pay for their own apartment and necessities. I feel like we have to help our citizens not relocate them and sweep the issue under the rug.