Portfolio Essay 2
A friend asked me a question as I gave a homeless gentleman holding a sign $5.00. The sign read, "I won’t lie, I need a beer," My friend asked me how could I give anybody money who clearly intended to use it to support their alcohol habits. He added to this by saying, "instead of begging for money on a corner, they should be out somewhere trying to get a job & a stable place to live." My response to my friends comment was, "what if the homeless individual had a disability, or some other handicap that prevented them from being productive members of society?" When I asked my friend this, I could see my friend’s entire demeanor change. He went from an individual with an obvious problem against homeless people, to an individual that looked like he wanted to donate everything he processed to help every homeless person he could. This conversation made me come to the conclusion that, "The basic human rights of many are being taken away by a the injustices of the federal government."
Let me paint a picture for you. Here is a some overwhelming evidence that I fell could of helped my friend to see how the federal government has abandoned the commitment to help the citizens that make the. Since the 1970’s the federal government has deemed thousands of governmental housing developments closed. But in actuality there are a lot of these developments that are still in livable condition. The reason that this information is pertinent to my argument is because in some instances the federal governments’ only rational for closing these developments was due to the communities out poor for better neighborhoods. The reality is that we as society have contributed to the elimination of some of the resources necessary to help prevent thousands of individuals from living on the streets. The idea that there is housing available that is/was funded by the federal government, & on a corner at the end of the same block there is a homeless man holding a sign such as the homeless man I encountered earlier in the introduction is a travesty. What does this say about our human rights? If my annual income or my social status somehow justifies the amount of rights I have as an American citizen, or better yet as a human being, then what is the point in having the U.S Constitution, or any of the numerous Amendments that have been established to prevent injustices such as these.
Maybe if I were to tell my friend about the different segments of the homeless population that are in need of the housing resources that are currently being eliminated by the federal government. He might get a clearer picture on how the housing resources that are being eliminated by the federal government are vital for preservation of our impoverished society. I would let him know that one of the most common segments of the homeless population is the individual’s that suffer from mental disorders. The most common mental disorder known of this segment is a disorder known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This disorder in particular occurs when an individual suffers a major psychological event; such as the death of someone close to him or her, war, or any other event that could potentially be traumatizing to a person. However, PTSD is not the only mental disorder represented by the nation’s homeless population, disorders such as schizophrenia also cause a person not to function effectively in society. Schizophrenia is a psychological disorder that severely impairs a person’s thought processes, perceptions, & causes distorted beliefs. Shockingly, individuals like these are out on the streets with no housing or resources to help them survive. Another segment of the homeless population is the veterans of the nations armed forces. These particular veterans have served in the military, but for various reasons don’t receive the benefits that most veterans are offered. So in turn they are forced to live on the streets, while they are being processed for benefits, or refused benefits by the Federal Veterans Association (VA). Understanding that these segments only account for a portion of the overall population that is currently homeless. Not including the teen runaways that are running from sexually abusive environments, or the single parents that are forced to be homeless due to economic instability. Do you think that these the idea of these individuals would change his mind?
Here are few some more startling statistics I gathered to support the fact that the federal government is eliminating the housing resources that individuals need to help prevent them from being homeless. Or if they are currently homeless, the resources that could potentially help them get their chance at economic stability. According to statistics gathered by the Western Regional Advocacy Project the federal government in 1978 appropriated $83 billion dollars in the fiscal budget for maintaining affordable housing for the homeless population. As of 2005 the federal government only appropriated a total of $29 billion dollars, which is 65% less than 18 years prior. In other words, the finances that were allotted to help assist the increasing amount of homeless citizens on the streets has now been cut to less than 45% represented in the fiscal budget. Examples of these housing resources are sober houses, community housing, FEMA emergency shelter plans, HUD Continuum of care plans, ICH, & other programs that are targeted to help assist individuals that can’t obtain stability due to mental disorders. Another staggering fact is that as of 2005 the federal government spent $122 billion dollars on subsidies for the middle-class & affluent homeownership programs, in comparison to 1978 when the federal government only devoted $38 billion dollars, which is approximately $84 billion dollars more. This means that the federal government has directed most of their attention towards individuals/families with substantially higher incomes to receive more support than those who actually may need more assistance due to their deteriorating economic positions. To add insult to injury in 2004 61% of the subsidies that were allotted went to households that earned over $57,787.00, while only 20% went to households that earned less than $18,465.00. With a property threshold for households of 4, with 2 minor children was $19,157.00. Thus meaning that over 60% of the subsidies for housing went to households that made over $57,000 dollars, while households that made under $18,500 dollars only received 20% of the assistance, thus pushing more families into homelessness. I’m using these staggering statistics to help you better understand that since 1978 the federal government has cut many resources that could potentially provide housing for thousands of homeless individuals. As well as eliminating the resources that could potentially be preventative to the increasing amount of households that are currently being forced to make living on the streets a reality. These figures alone would help my friend to understand why I gave the homeless gentleman $5.00.
Maybe I’ve taken the subtle approach thus far. But the reality is that the federal government has abandoned the essential human rights of us; society. Let me give you the raw facts that should illustrate why I tried to open my friend’s eyes to the injustices of human rights that the federal government was doing in regards to the housing resources that are being eliminated. Since the 1970’s the federal government has required communities to summit competitive applications for federal largesse, giving the impression that this approach could effectively address the issue of homelessness with the grant amounts provided. However, in return for the grants giving, the feds would have to devote a majority of the money back to the federal government. This has to be one of the most underhanded, acts of betrayal I have ever heard. To think that while the federal government is writing these grants in intentions of redirecting the rise in homelessness, they’re secreting basing the approval of these grants contingent on receiving majority of the grant capital back. This is a complete contradiction to the federal governments for housing reform 25 years prior. In addition to this fact, in the span of 7 years the government has created 500,000 fewer affordable housing units in rural areas all across the nation. This is an average of 35,000 fewer units per year that are intended to help struggling individuals with affordable housing. Which equates to thousands of individuals each year being forced out on the streets, due to the federal government’s intentions of retrieving the money allocated to prevent such injustices.
In closing, if I could change my friends mind about what was happening by the federal government. I could possibly make you see that if we as a society don’t do anything about this, our children may be on the brink of an economic epidemic. If we don’t change the system that is in place the number of homeless Americans will triple by the next 25 years. My friend now understands the severity of the situation do you? And for those that are concerned what are you willing to do to make a change?
Citation:
Western Regional Advocacy Project "When the Federal Government Abandoned Affordable Housing, it Abandoned Millions of Americans to Poverty & Homelessness"April 1, 2006Accessed viaWww.mindfully.org/Reform/2006/Affordable-Housing-Abandoned1apr06.htm
July 30, 2008
James Rogers, "Homelessness, the poor, & local poverty regulation" Re-accessed viawww.reformed.org/webfiles/antithesis/v1n3/ant_v1n3_homeless.html
On July 29, 2008
Kyosuke Yoshida "Homeless in the United States" June, 2, 1995 Accessed viaDwardmac.pitzer.edu/faculty/jkaret/cbny96/ap8kyopap.html - 7k-July 9,2008
Let me paint a picture for you. Here is a some overwhelming evidence that I fell could of helped my friend to see how the federal government has abandoned the commitment to help the citizens that make the. Since the 1970’s the federal government has deemed thousands of governmental housing developments closed. But in actuality there are a lot of these developments that are still in livable condition. The reason that this information is pertinent to my argument is because in some instances the federal governments’ only rational for closing these developments was due to the communities out poor for better neighborhoods. The reality is that we as society have contributed to the elimination of some of the resources necessary to help prevent thousands of individuals from living on the streets. The idea that there is housing available that is/was funded by the federal government, & on a corner at the end of the same block there is a homeless man holding a sign such as the homeless man I encountered earlier in the introduction is a travesty. What does this say about our human rights? If my annual income or my social status somehow justifies the amount of rights I have as an American citizen, or better yet as a human being, then what is the point in having the U.S Constitution, or any of the numerous Amendments that have been established to prevent injustices such as these.
Maybe if I were to tell my friend about the different segments of the homeless population that are in need of the housing resources that are currently being eliminated by the federal government. He might get a clearer picture on how the housing resources that are being eliminated by the federal government are vital for preservation of our impoverished society. I would let him know that one of the most common segments of the homeless population is the individual’s that suffer from mental disorders. The most common mental disorder known of this segment is a disorder known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This disorder in particular occurs when an individual suffers a major psychological event; such as the death of someone close to him or her, war, or any other event that could potentially be traumatizing to a person. However, PTSD is not the only mental disorder represented by the nation’s homeless population, disorders such as schizophrenia also cause a person not to function effectively in society. Schizophrenia is a psychological disorder that severely impairs a person’s thought processes, perceptions, & causes distorted beliefs. Shockingly, individuals like these are out on the streets with no housing or resources to help them survive. Another segment of the homeless population is the veterans of the nations armed forces. These particular veterans have served in the military, but for various reasons don’t receive the benefits that most veterans are offered. So in turn they are forced to live on the streets, while they are being processed for benefits, or refused benefits by the Federal Veterans Association (VA). Understanding that these segments only account for a portion of the overall population that is currently homeless. Not including the teen runaways that are running from sexually abusive environments, or the single parents that are forced to be homeless due to economic instability. Do you think that these the idea of these individuals would change his mind?
Here are few some more startling statistics I gathered to support the fact that the federal government is eliminating the housing resources that individuals need to help prevent them from being homeless. Or if they are currently homeless, the resources that could potentially help them get their chance at economic stability. According to statistics gathered by the Western Regional Advocacy Project the federal government in 1978 appropriated $83 billion dollars in the fiscal budget for maintaining affordable housing for the homeless population. As of 2005 the federal government only appropriated a total of $29 billion dollars, which is 65% less than 18 years prior. In other words, the finances that were allotted to help assist the increasing amount of homeless citizens on the streets has now been cut to less than 45% represented in the fiscal budget. Examples of these housing resources are sober houses, community housing, FEMA emergency shelter plans, HUD Continuum of care plans, ICH, & other programs that are targeted to help assist individuals that can’t obtain stability due to mental disorders. Another staggering fact is that as of 2005 the federal government spent $122 billion dollars on subsidies for the middle-class & affluent homeownership programs, in comparison to 1978 when the federal government only devoted $38 billion dollars, which is approximately $84 billion dollars more. This means that the federal government has directed most of their attention towards individuals/families with substantially higher incomes to receive more support than those who actually may need more assistance due to their deteriorating economic positions. To add insult to injury in 2004 61% of the subsidies that were allotted went to households that earned over $57,787.00, while only 20% went to households that earned less than $18,465.00. With a property threshold for households of 4, with 2 minor children was $19,157.00. Thus meaning that over 60% of the subsidies for housing went to households that made over $57,000 dollars, while households that made under $18,500 dollars only received 20% of the assistance, thus pushing more families into homelessness. I’m using these staggering statistics to help you better understand that since 1978 the federal government has cut many resources that could potentially provide housing for thousands of homeless individuals. As well as eliminating the resources that could potentially be preventative to the increasing amount of households that are currently being forced to make living on the streets a reality. These figures alone would help my friend to understand why I gave the homeless gentleman $5.00.
Maybe I’ve taken the subtle approach thus far. But the reality is that the federal government has abandoned the essential human rights of us; society. Let me give you the raw facts that should illustrate why I tried to open my friend’s eyes to the injustices of human rights that the federal government was doing in regards to the housing resources that are being eliminated. Since the 1970’s the federal government has required communities to summit competitive applications for federal largesse, giving the impression that this approach could effectively address the issue of homelessness with the grant amounts provided. However, in return for the grants giving, the feds would have to devote a majority of the money back to the federal government. This has to be one of the most underhanded, acts of betrayal I have ever heard. To think that while the federal government is writing these grants in intentions of redirecting the rise in homelessness, they’re secreting basing the approval of these grants contingent on receiving majority of the grant capital back. This is a complete contradiction to the federal governments for housing reform 25 years prior. In addition to this fact, in the span of 7 years the government has created 500,000 fewer affordable housing units in rural areas all across the nation. This is an average of 35,000 fewer units per year that are intended to help struggling individuals with affordable housing. Which equates to thousands of individuals each year being forced out on the streets, due to the federal government’s intentions of retrieving the money allocated to prevent such injustices.
In closing, if I could change my friends mind about what was happening by the federal government. I could possibly make you see that if we as a society don’t do anything about this, our children may be on the brink of an economic epidemic. If we don’t change the system that is in place the number of homeless Americans will triple by the next 25 years. My friend now understands the severity of the situation do you? And for those that are concerned what are you willing to do to make a change?
Citation:
Western Regional Advocacy Project "When the Federal Government Abandoned Affordable Housing, it Abandoned Millions of Americans to Poverty & Homelessness"April 1, 2006Accessed viaWww.mindfully.org/Reform/2006/Affordable-Housing-Abandoned1apr06.htm
July 30, 2008
James Rogers, "Homelessness, the poor, & local poverty regulation" Re-accessed viawww.reformed.org/webfiles/antithesis/v1n3/ant_v1n3_homeless.html
On July 29, 2008
Kyosuke Yoshida "Homeless in the United States" June, 2, 1995 Accessed viaDwardmac.pitzer.edu/faculty/jkaret/cbny96/ap8kyopap.html - 7k-July 9,2008
posted by Michael Oliver | 12:31 PM
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