We have been constantly going over the importance of homeless counts and the ways in which they are conducted. Each state across the country has their own way of gathering the necessary information, some proving to be more effective than others. These counts are done in institutions such as emergency shelters and also unsheltered places which include the streets and parks. The overall purpose of these counts is to help communities so that they can be provided with enough resources to hopefully someday end homelessness. It is reasonable to say that it is absolutely impossible to come down to an exact number of homeless people yet homeless counts are an attempt to gather accurate information in order to provide the necessary resources.

Aside from homeless counts it is also beneficial to have an understanding of the things that lead to homelessness. This class has allowed me to gain a better understanding that loss is a major factor to this problem such as the loss of family, loss of jobs and loss of home. It is very easy to point the finger or simply place the blame on addiction when in reality there are so many other factors involved. Too often people become homeless because there are issues that are out of that individual’s control forcing them into homelessness. Even when a person loses everything, it can become difficult to get out of homelessness. On the other side, there are situations where people who actually want to help and make a difference run into several barriers that are out of their control which prevent them from giving homeless people the help that they desperately need. There are an immense number of things that one can learn yet simply being conscious of your place in society can be beneficial. For example do not just give people the resources that they need, but give them the tools that will help them in the long run. Sometimes it is down to one person’s attitude, instead of an entire group of people that can really make a difference.