Category Archives: Reflections on our Reading

Causes and Luck

Causes of Homelessness, Homelessness, Reflections on our Reading

After reading the overview of Jencks: The Homeless, I was reminded of the some of the causes that lead to the numerous homeless people who were discussed in the book group presentations in class. The most interesting for me was concerning marriages, the crack epidemic, social skills and family ties. I never would have thought of marriage as a cause for homelessness and how that affects women more than men. Jencks thoughtfully groups marriage and joblessness together, which makes perfect sense. If the working partner loses their job, in Jencks’s case the husband, that could cause strife in the relationship and leave the couple homeless, especially in this case, the woman who has a smaller probability of getting a job. With social skills and family ties, those are huge factors that would have also never occurred to me. One would think that living alone would be cheaper, yet it is not. And when there are no family ties to keep homeless people from living alone then the end result may be the streets.

However, the most well-known cause out of the ones I mentioned is the one that ends up being centered on the idea of luck. The chapter summary on The Crack Epidemic poses some important questions surrounding what most homeless people are stereotyped with as the cause of their current situation. It is asked “how does luck – bad luck for the homeless, good luck for the affluent – play a role in explaining individual outcomes?” That question right there is exactly what the problem tends to be – luck, or circumstance, not drugs and alcohol. If I have learned one thing from combining all of the book presentations, is that not one thing, especially stereotypic, is the cause of one’s homelessness. For those who believe that our lives are run by luck, then any number of us can end up on the street in a single moment. Some of us are just not as lucky as others. Should a concept as fickle as luck create a barrier between human beings?

Here’s the course site link to the University of Maryland’s Reeve Vanneman’s online summary of Christopher Jencks’ The Homeless.

Importance of Accurately Counting Homeless Populations

Homelessness, Reflections on our Reading

As the Applied Survey Research website states, “The United States federal government … requires counties to count their homeless populations every two years in order to be eligible for continued federal funding” (ASR ). Because of this, counties are required to complete a Point In-Time count of homeless individuals in their county every two years. Other than requiring that this process be carried out, counties have few limitations or guidelines to follow.

While Point In Time counts seem like a good idea in theory, the truth of the matter is that each county has a high level of autonomy when it comes to deciding how these PIT counts are to be completed. While some counties perform entire canvasing techniques of counting, others do partial counts and sampling methods. This illustrates the potential flaws of these counts and their accuracy, as counties can very well represent the number that they want to represent their city versus the actual counts. The key problem is that some cities believe that high levels of homelessness in their region points to structural problems in the city, reflecting negatively on them. Because of this, their goal may be to find a very low number of homeless individuals.  However, this is not a good strategy in the long run because they will not obtain information on the main issues the homeless are facing or what services they require.
When it comes to counting in these Point In Time counts, each county has the option of deciding how they will carry out their counts of the homeless population. Another issue that surrounds each individual county gathering data in the ways that they want is that it would be incredibly difficult to compare two cities who have obtained the data in such different processes. While one city may place high importance on gathering the most accurate data on their homeless, another may downplay their amount of homeless by minimalistically sekking their data.
Some of the issues with gaining an accurate count, even if the cities are very concerned with obtaining good data is the lack of funding. Although these counts are a requirement of the Federal Government does not provide the funding to make these Point In Time counts happen. This means that the financial burden of carrying out these counts lies on the country itself. While counties and some non-profit organizations sponsor the counts, it seems that if there is a high importance of gathering accurate data on the amounts of homeless individuals, there needs to be additional government funding. Otherwise, each city can skimp by and gather their counts and other data as minimalistically as possible without any reprecussions. While it is very important to continue to produce these counts of homeless individuals, it is also important to gather reliable data and counts that are as accurate as possible. Without increased attention to the accuracy of these counts, it will be nearly impossible to offer the services and care that adequately serve the needs of the homeless.

 

http://www.appliedsurveyresearch.org/homeless/

Understanding and Responsibilities

Causes of Homelessness, Reflections on our Reading, Solutions to Homelessness

Statistics prove that homelessness is a large systematic problem rather than an individual problem. Some methods in counting homeless people seek to minimize and deny the problem. After a foundation of what homeless life is like and examining statistics I am emotionally struck and determined to seek solutions. After beginning the book, Beside the Golden Door Policy, Politics, and the Homeless by James Wright, Beth Rubin, and Joel Devine, I am acquiring a better understanding of the issues, controversies, theories, social and demographic characteristics of the homeless, and methods of counting the homeless. I have uncovered several important points that contribute to a better understanding of homelessness. In addition, I am synthesizing similar ideas and data between this course, Hunger and Homelessness and Public Policy Analysis.

Beside the Golden Door is a combination of the authors own experience and social science and advocacy literature. In order to tackle homelessness a comprehensive understanding is required. This involves debunking myths. For instance uncovering facts show, “half or more of the homeless people do abuse alcohol and other drugs, but the other half do not” (7). Understanding the homeless population leads to developing effective solutions. Cost benefit analysis and a rationalism approach can be applied by policymakers. The “quality of urban life would improve if there were fewer homeless people” (9) because more individuals could contribute economically to markets and rely less on governmental assistance.

Understanding the homeless population can lead to coming up with effective solutions. The average age of homeless adults is in the mid-thirties due to the large non-means tested spending on Medicare and social security for the retired population. The welfare system is flawed because the people who need the assistance the most are the least likely to receive it. In the course Public Policy Analysis our most recent topic was welfare. The 1996 Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) has many failures, with the primary failure of a sharp decline in TANF caseloads. The TANF to poverty ratio fell in all states, but the impact differed in regions. Other flaws in TANF include block grants, contingency funds, restrictive eligibility policies, and short time limits.

A leading obstacle is the loss of low income housing, “the solution to homelessness is less poverty and more low-income housing, everything else treats the symptoms of homelessness but not the root causes” (29). Eradicating homelessness and helping those who are homeless conflicts with the underlying principles of the U.S. economy. A comprehensive approach to understanding homelessness is necessary. My hope is as a society we can move beyond hiding the problem and toward solving the problem.

*To purchase Beside the Golden Door: http://www.amazon.com/Beside-Golden-Door-Politics-Institutions/dp/0202306143/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1392499074&sr=8-

* To read more about TANF

2&keywords=Beside+the+golden+door TANF Center on Budgetand Policy Priorities

 

We Have the Power To Help

News link, People, Reflections on our Reading

Listening to all the presentations given in class, really opened my eyes. Many of them touched on similar conflicts and struggles of homelessness which showed how prevalent these issues are in our society.  In everything that we have learned so far in class including documentary clips, texts and book presentations my views of homelessness have changed. My enitre life I have grown up in the suburbs where I do not see the effects of homelessness and poverty. Realizing the truths behind homelessness had made me think about what I can do to help.

After graduation I am planning on becoming an Elementary School teacher. As a teacher, I will be faced with many obstacles involving the life of my students at home. Some might come from families who are in poverty and are under priveledged. As a teacher it is my responsibility that I give them as much care and help in the classroom as I can. While reading Homeless Mothers by Deborah Connolly, I saw the effects that povery can have on children whose parents are under priveledged. Some do not get the care or event he love that every child deserves.

homeless

I recently read an article in the LA Times about a LA Unified School District giving back to the homeless. This article brought me hope that our schools are giving back. The students in these schools were very passionate about helping in any way that they could and one student said “”Just looking at them you can tell there is so much need and they’re in so much  pain,” from this you can see how this student is becoming an advocate for helping the homeless. The article mentions how many of the students vowed to return to the shelters and to encourage friends to  raise money for the area”, showing how these students really do want to make a difference. As a future teacher, this makes me very proud of students today realizing the struggles in the world and realizing that they have the power to help.

To buy Homeless Mothers by Deborah Connolly visit this site: http://www.amazon.com/Homeless-Mothers-Face-Women-Poverty/dp/0816632820/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1392069254&sr=8-1&keywords=homeless+mothers+deborah+connolly

To read the LA Times article click on this link: http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-student-volunteer-homeless-20140209,0,2391622.story#axzz2sxOq6XPM

“Painfully Invisible”

About being poor, Books and Films, Homelessness, Poverty, Reflections on our Reading

In the film watched in class, Taylor’s Campaign, a man who has suffered from homelessness himself is running for city council on a fifty dollar budget. The aim of his film is to show his feelings towards the mistreatment of the homeless population of Santa Monica.  In this film, there were many themes seen that relate directly to the other readings that we have done so far in this course. However, it was also very eye-opening in many ways because it focused on a small group of homeless individuals and allowed an inside look into their daily lives and the stuggles that they face.

While some of the residents of Santa Monica who were interviewed expressed extreme negative opinions towards the homeless population, saying that they are a waste of life, shouldn’t be allowed to live in their nice neighborhoods, and all-around lazy individuals who are looking for a hand-out, this is not what the footage revealed. On the contrary, these homeless individuals worked hard daily, collecting cans and doing what they could to make the money necessary to buy essential items. This example illustrates how the mainstream society passes judgement on the homeless population without knowing their stuggles or understanding how many times, it is outside forces that have pushed them into the homeless situation. One homeless woman expressed that she wanted out of the situation she was in but that it seemed impossible. Time and time again through this film  well as other readings, the homeless population expressed that they are not looking for a handout, as many people belive.

In many ways, the themes seen in this film directly correlate to the book Voices From the Street: Truths about Homelessness from Sisters of the Road (Morrell 2007). In this text, Morrell writes “when you become invisible to mainstream society, the myth is that you stop being human, that you’re somehow made up of different stuff. But you’re not. Your humanity doesn’t go away because society doesn’t see it” (Morrell 105). This shows how mainstream society treats the homeless as if they are outcasts to which they cannot relate. It is not surprising that many homeless persons feel a strong sense of not belonging when they are ignored or clearly looked at with disgust by those not in their situation and unwilling to try to understand their plight. This is recalled by Morrell when she discusses the homeless and poverty-striken population, stating “they feel painfully invisible to others in the larger society” (Morrell 35).

“Homelessness is a Crime”

About being poor, Portraits of Homeless, Poverty, Reflections on our Reading

In  Kenan Heise’s The Book of the Poor (2012 Edition), he discusses the topic of impoverished women being put in jail for simply trying to act in ways necessary for survival. As one narrator named Betty recounts, “People don’t comprehend. My child was hungry. I took him to the A&P, and I took a can opener and a spoon along. I fed him right there in the store. They called the police. They took my child from me and sent me to the 11th and State” (Heise 40). This is an important epidemic to bring to the table and examine more in depth, as it is a topic that not many consider. While some people view any aspect of law-breaking inexcusable and punishable, I think it is important to first put oneself in the shoes of these women and mothers. Without any help or education on the means of support that is available, it seems that the desperation of these women lead to law-breaking as a means of basic survival. The fact that an increasing number of women are coming into contact with law enforcement in order to obtain fundamental necessities to live off of shows that programs to work with these individuals is crucial. As a direct result of lack of options, these women see no other path besides crime in order to get by, an issue that is both heartbreaking and frustrating, knowing that there is so much more assistance that could be provided in order to avoid this unfortunate fate for these women.

Perhaps the most surprising aspect learned from The Book of the Poor and other reading so far, is the comparison of the image society holds of those who are poor and the reality of those who are impoverished. While most members of mainstream society have the misconception that the poor are people who are unintelligent and without basic skills, in actuality this is not always the case.  It is so surprising to learn that many people who fall into homelessness are educated and some of which used to maintain a high quality of life, having an education and earning decent pay. Some people in society are ignorant to the true facts of homeless and poor individuals, thinking that they are freeloaders and law breakers who are constantly looking for handouts and refusing to be productive. However, this is simply not the case. “I held up my end of the bargain. I worked, paid taxes, and mistakenly believed I would be protected by a safety net should the need arise…caseworkers have lost compassion and are forced to look for scams more than to a person’s needs.” (60). This illustrates perfectly how people who find themselves in positions of homelessness and extreme poverty can become discouraged, a viewpoint that others rarely consider. Overall, this quote shows how much society has failed these people, many of whom have worked hard and been productive members of society throughout their lives.

Another interesting topic that came up throughout my readings this week was the issue of crime and homeless individual’s experiences with police.  As Jessica Morrell’s book Voices from the Street (2007 Edition), a collection of interviews with homeless individuals, illustrates most homeless individuals have negative experiences with law enforcement. She recalls a story shared by a woman about a well-respected police officer that she knew who had been involved in brutality towards homeless individuals. She recounts “with tears in her eyes, she shared with us that he and some fellow officers had more than once come to Old Town/ Chinatown to beat up people who were homeless” (Morrell 52). This raises awareness to the fact that police officers in some instances use their force and power over individuals who are unable to fight back or seek help. As the book goes on to say, those who are homeless are given tickets for sleeping, told to leave public parks, are physically abused, and basically singled out in ways that other members of society are not. As one homeless interviewer sums up his experience with the law, “homelessness is a crime” (Morrell 69).

“We don’t want to just exist.”

About being poor, Reflections on our Reading

A constant theme found throughout Barbara Ehrenreich’s Nickel and Dimed, Kenan Heise’s Book of the Poor and Linda Tirado’s  “This is Why Poor People’s Bad Decisions Make Perfect Sense”, was the dissatisfaction of barely getting by or merely surviving. Though short and simple, one of the most profound quotes that resonated with this idea was in chapter eleven of Book of the Poor when one of the women stated, “We don’t want to just exist” (loc. 783). The amount of data we were presented contradicted her desires and reinforced the fact that a majority of the people in poverty are barely surviving.

Homeless people and people in poverty consistently find themselves on the receiving end of unfair judgment and scorn. Rarely do we understand the limited options that people in poverty are left with. When they are faced with the decision to starve, panhandle or steal, they will choose the option that allows them to live another day. No human being should die as a result of poverty or homelessness.

Reading the statistics in chapter four of Heise’s book were shocking, especially when it stated that over one hundred thousand people die as a result of poverty a year. It is a testament that our system is unbelievably flawed. Reading about individual’s lives and their experiences with poverty and homelessness is intriguing and offers a  perspective that data fails to depict accurately.  Their stories and the obstacles they are forced to overcome sends the message that despite constant efforts to remove themselves from poverty, they are met with even more obstacles and dilemmas. At what point do you decide that escaping poverty is an unrealistic goal? At what point does poverty become a way of life and living in a motel “a piece of the American dream”?

No hope, no way out

About being poor, Homelessness, Portraits of Homeless, Reflections on our Reading

“It’s best not to hope. You take what you can get as you spot it.” Linda Tirado’s essay “This is Why Poor People’s Bad Decisions Make Sense”  was captivating and awe-inspiring. Out of all the reading and topics in class, her life account and struggle pushed beyond the normal boundaries of writing due to her bluntness and lack of compassion toward herself and others in similar situations. For example, when she speaks about her knowledge of knowing how to cook and prepare a meal, it is not because she is not capable of putting something together, it is because she does not have the means to do so.  In addition, when she pushes away the fact that she makes terrible financial decisions, she states, “I will never be not poor, so what does it matter.”

It is hard for me to believe that some people’s lives get to a point where they lose motivation, lose hope, and feel like there is no way out. After listening to those personal accounts from Invisible People, my view of homelessness turned completely around. As I have had both negative and positive experiences with homeless people, nothing matters when it comes to viewing each person as an individual.

Yet, the answer to all these problems cannot be solved by a quick fix. However, it can be solved by the reshaping of our roots and foundations. Education and society’s investment in children can cause a positive change when instilling proper attention and focus on social practices that aid the development of children on all levels. If children have roots that teach values and goal oriented thought process, homelessness would not occur. As this would be a daunting task, just as each homeless person should be judged individually, all children can create an impact by understanding and sharing their understanding of the world around them.

Empathy

Reflections on our Reading

After reading “Nickel and Dimed” and “Book of the Poor”, I got some great insight into the lives of people living in poverty. Sometimes it is easy to get caught up in the stereotypes and judgments of people living in poverty. People question them, saying why don’t they just get a job or they think they did something bad which put them in that situation. By reading these and hearing the voices of these people helped me create a sense of empathy. Something that really stuck out to me was a man named Robert. He mentioned how he feels as if he has no where else to turn and no other options. Therefore, he has turned to crime (robbery), drugs, and alcohol. The fact that people feel like they have no where to turn, shows how there needs to be a change within our society. They have lost hope in society and hope in themselves.

homeless2[1]

During this past week, empathy had played a huge role. This data exercise put numbers into perspective. I got to see how people struggle financially on a day to day basis to make ends meet. It made me ask myself, what can I do to help? How many people are there solely in Redlands that are struggling? What is the city government doing about it? Lastly, what can we do about it? People often think that they cannot do anything because they are only one person. But helping the society has to start somewhere, even if you are just one person.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Nickel-Dimed-Not-Getting-America/dp/0312626681/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390870070&sr=8-1&keywords=nickel+and+dimed

http://www.amazon.com/The-Book-Poor-Their-Poverty/dp/1936863332/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390870352&sr=8-1&keywords=book+of+the+poor

 

Homelessness

Reflections on our Reading, Uncategorized

There have been a lot of interesting facts I have learned throughout this first week of class by lecture and the materials we have read. Starting off with “The Book of the Poor”, I found it interesting that poor people will share with others whatever they find, such as food. I was also shocked that a lot of these homeless people are depressed and the fact that their depression got in the way of them obtaining a job. For example, there was one man in the book, who wouldn’t even walk into the building to try and find work due to his depression. There was a quote that said, “Still so many are lots poorer than we are; but yes, I am-we are poor”. This made me think how everyone is poor in this world, even if you are rich because you are poor when you want something that you don’t have. There are things that even rich people want but they can’t have. Moving on to Ehrenreich’s book, I personally didn’t like all of the ways she went about through her experiment. For example, she stated “I would always have a care. I just figured that a story about waiting for buses would not be very interesting to read.” However, I don’t agree with this, because waiting for ab us shows you that you don’t have freedom as a homeless person. You don’t have the option of being able to hop in your own care any time of the day and go where you want. I personally feel that Ehrenreich could write a lot about this experience. Yes it may be boring about waiting for the bus but here is a lot through the experience itself.