As we reach the end of our semester I am glad to say that I have learned a lot in this course. I would like to think of myself as an open and “progressive” person, but I no doubt held, and perhaps still hold, problematic views about homelessness in the United States of America. One such view is the idea that people are homeless through individual action more than structural consequences. Rising housing prices are a substantial factor in contemporary homelessness, but it is also important to acknowledge the structure of social welfare policy. There are not large programs or sources of funding to provided housing to the marginally housed. America’s criminalizes drug use and addiction rather than treating those issues as a public health epidemic. Medicaid is extremely difficult to get into, and, depending on your state, structurally deficient.

Additionally, I considered many to be on the street because of a mental illness. Upon examination, I’ve found reality to be more nuanced. Many on the street are mentally ill, and find it difficult to reenter society because of that disability. However, mental illness is a natural consequence of living on the street; the conditions inspire disability much more than the conditions are inspired by it. Reintegration is an important aspect of homelessness we have not touched on much.

I do have a few spots that I wish we could have covered more of. I wish this class had a more international perspective because I think a cross analysis of homelessness in other developed societies would provide substantial insight into American homelessness. Also, I wish we could have studied more about social services and policy targeted to economically marginalized communities.