Homelessness in California
Introduction
Homelessness has always been an issue that is hardly solved and continues to increase over time. According to (Levin and Botts) more than 151,278 homeless people are sleeping in streets, shelters, cars, and so on. Notably, this was the highest number from 2007. The increased cost of housing and living respectively continually keeps especially low-income families from having adequate places they can call homes, thus finding comfort in the streets. Notably, close to 5000 residents stay in half square mile of the city’s Skid Row. Although in the main cities the number of homeless people is slightly lower, on the other hand, the number is more in rural towns and suburbs. Interestingly, California is the largest state in the U.S. and that one among nine Americans stays there. Surprisingly, one among four homeless people stay in this state as well. Although homelessness can happen to everyone, it happens more to people of color including Latino, African-American, Asians, American Indian and Alaska natives (Levin, and Botts).
Homelessness is not an easy way of living. Think of living in streets without knowing where to spend night! Sleeping in the streets which are not safe thus contributing to health complications. For instance, how do families living in streets stay with their children? Perhaps what do they tell their children who see their counterpart have good life and are well taken care? Think of old people who mostly stay in the streets with their underlying health conditions, where do they obtain food and medication? Be that as it may, streets are the homes every day of hundreds of people. They have lost hope in their lives in terms of having better living standards. Nevertheless, this problem of homelessness can only be resolved through having a permanent housing which allows this people to pay small part of rent. On top of this basic solution, homeless people should be provided with free essential services and resources to start rebuilding their lives. A permanent housing entails construction of permanent house for the homeless people to stay and the state of California in conjunction with the current administration should make this a priority. By providing permanent houses, homelessness will resolve other issues faced by the homeless people including reduction of drug use, improvement of health conditions, reduction of STDs and improved safety. This paper will therefore discuss in depth homelessness in Los Angeles and permanent housing as the lasting solution for this problem.
Work Cited
Levin, Matt, and Jackie Botts. “California’s Homelessness Crisis — And Possible Solutions — Explained | Calmatters”. Calmatters, 2019, https://calmatters.org/explainers/californias-homelessness-crisis-explained/.