The book presentations this week repeatedly pointed out the obvious issue of homelessness in our country. While each book was centered around different themes, they were all able to demonstrate that there is something which is being done wrong. The laws that are currently in place are not doing enough to keep homeless people off the streets, nor are they providing enough support for those people. The programs that are constantly referred to are not doing things right. Several groups pointed out that society is focusing on short term rehabilitation when the focus should be long term. In other words, having the missions of these programs be more permanent rather than temporary will bring significant results in the homeless population.

Very few people realize that in order to better understand homelessness, the issue needs to be looked at from a social and economic perspective rather than blaming the individual. For example the affordability of housing is a major issue that has driven several Americans to end up on the streets. This has brought up the question which is whether society should foes on fixing the housing situation or to first attempt to fix the individual. It is very difficult to keep a constant rate of progress when the programs helping these individuals are throwing them back in the streets to fend for themselves. The constant cycle of homelessness is proof of this. In conclusion, in order to improve the issue of homelessness, programs need to change their attitudes and work towards a more long term process while the government focuses on housing first and support later. This kind of approach will give the homeless, the resources and tools that they need in order to end the cycle of homelessness.