Homelessness; The Struggle Is Real

Posted by Janiya Collins in English 1 · Giknis · E Band on Wednesday, April 26, 2017 at 9:51 pm

What is Homelessness? Homelessness is when someone does not have a place, shelter wise, to live. Many also struggle to stay warm, have food and clean water, clean clothes on their bodies and so much more. Chronic Homelessness is when someone has been homeless for at least a year or has been homeless at least 4 times in 3 years. Many homeless women can’t even afford tampons and women’s hygiene products which are a necessity. A lot of youths are homeless and have to be turned away from shelters because they do not have enough beds and services for them. Of course there are also homeless adults. In fact, more men are homeless than women. Why is that?

Anyone can go homeless, and many people do go from homeless to not homeless many times. I want to help the homeless because I hate when I am going somewhere and I see a man or woman looking sad, asking for money. I wish I could help them somehow. I hate that many of us, including myself walk right past these men and women sometimes not even noticing their existence. They probably are going through many difficulties that caused their homelessness such as addiction, not being able to get a job because of their race, sexuality, age, gender, religion or even just the fact that there is a lack of jobs available. Many children are homeless because they’ve run away. Many people also are homeless because there is a lack of affordable houses available. But there are people who aren’t really homeless and are just looking for attention, so if you want to help, know what to look for.

There are many other reasons for homelessness, but it saddens me even more not being able to help. But I can help. We can help, anyone can make a change. You can always donate items that you don’t need anymore, like socks, clothes, blankets, hygiene products, and other things. Many people donate money and food. I want and plan to get friends and family to get together and make, and donate food to homeless people and people in shelters. I know it doesn’t make the biggest change but it does feed them for a day and thats 1 less thing for them to worry about for the day, and that would make me feel happier knowing I could attend to someone’s desperate needs. Image result for homelessness

The topic of homelessness is important to me because I have witnessed people in my family go in and out of homelessness. It has definitely scared me, and the fact that I didn’t know how to help hurt me a lot. This why I want to start something to get more people to support these people in need. Seeing my dad struggle for money, a car, a house and even food at times, put not only him but me through stress, and he had no one in his family to rely on. His parents and siblings live in Virginia, his children (my brother and sister) couldn’t help him and sometimes were mad at him. I’m the only one he feels he has. And i never felt like I could help him.

My father isn’t homeless anymore, and he’s even got a good job and is working to get his own house and move out if the one with his friend. I’ve learned great deal of new things about homelessness and why people might be homeless. I didn’t think that people might be homeless because of mental illness but now I understand more of why that is a cause. Hopefully this project and my plan to help and bring attention to this issue will show him and a lot of other people that i really care.

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Comments (1)

Amal Giknis

I really like the way you wrote this, Jay. You organized it really well and made all of the facts stand out. It's really shocking what people go through, and it's awesome that you're bringing awareness to homelessness. I'm excited to see how this project unfolds for you!