This document is a paper on homelessness written by Colin Henry for his SOCS 185 course. It discusses various aspects of homelessness including definitions, causes, demographics of the homeless population, personal experiences, economics, social attitudes, and potential solutions. The paper examines trends over the last 20-30 years that have contributed to rising homelessness such as a shortage of affordable housing, stagnating wages, cuts to welfare programs, and a growing impersonality in how government agencies address the issue.

1. Name: Colin Henry
Course: SOCS 185
Topic: Homelessness
Date: May 23, 2002
Homelessness
What is homelessness? Contrary to what many people believe quite a number of
people some time in their lives have been homeless. My concern however is not who are
temporarily homeless its with those who are permanently homeless. According to the
American Heritage dictionary a homeless person is one who has no home or haven. The
next issue to consider is why do people become homeless in the first place, what
economic, personal, social and domestic reasons make people find themselves without a
home. Economic Trends for the last twenty years point to a growing impersonality
towards the homeless and needy where government departments have adopted a
bureaucratic way of dealing with the homeless. Since there’s millions of people in
America who are homeless at any one time over 2 million, do they have a culture of their
own? Do the homeless have a particular way of life? There has been a significant
difference in homelessness in the 1980’s compared to the 1990’s, what legislative
changes have occurred and with this change has society adopted a different attitude
towards homeless people? The homeless must face great difficulty; just staying alive and
healthy is a great task. Many might say what can I do as an individual? I’m only one
person, how can I possibly make a difference. It turns out that an individual can help
with the immediate needs of the homeless, long-term needs are much harder to satisfy
and I think will require a joint effort by many.
WHY?
According to the Stewart B. McKinney Act, a person is considered homeless
who “lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence”(NCH Fact Sheet #3).
There are many reasons why people become homeless. The major reason is domestic
violence in homes, which has been on the increase for many years. However two major
trends have occurred in the last twenty years that is responsible for the hike in homeless
people. Firstly the increasing shortage of low-income housing, and secondly the
simultaneous increase in poverty. But how can this be true? America has for the last
twenty years enjoyed fruitful and wonderful economic growth within this time period.
This is the main reason however why rent for apartments has increased so dramatically.
If the average middle class American and the upper class is earning much more,
according to the Christian Science Monitor the lower half of the pool has experienced
minimal increase in wages. This has put many housing units out of the reach of millions
of individuals. The frightening fact is that twenty years ago the minimum wage had more
value, in 1997 was 18.1% less than in 1979(NCH Fact sheet #1). It continues with
pointing out the reason for the decline in wages.
A steep drop in the bargaining power of un unionized workers;
erosion in the value of the minimum wage; a decline in manufacturing jobs
and the corresponding expansion of lower-paying service sector
employment; globalization; and increased nonstandard work, such as

2. temporary and part-time employment (Mishel, Bernstein, and Schmitt,
1999).
WHO?
If the lower half of the poor is at risk to homelessness, then who makes up this
group. According to the U.S Conference of Mayor’s survey of the homeless concluded
in 30 cities that children under the age of 18 accounted for 25%, a 1987 study showed
that people between the ages 31-50 accounted for 51% and persons ranging 55-60
accounted for 2.5%. The U.S Conference of Mayor’s survey 1998 concluded that single
homeless adults are more likely to be men. Recently a major concern is the increase in
the number of families that are without shelter. This group is the fastest growing group
and in 1996(Shinn and Weitzman) comprised of approximately 40%. It is now 2002 and
since the September 11,2002 terrorist attacks there has been a flood of families going to
shelters across the nation, especially in New York. According to the Christian Science
Monitor.” Families of the working poor appear to be hit the hardest by the combination
of high housing prices-- a legacy of the 90’s—and shrinking job opportunities. In New
York, for instance, of 80,000 people who lost their jobs in October, almost half were
low-wage service workers.
On an Ethnic point of view according to the U.S. Conference of Mayor 1998
survey, African Americans comprise of 49%, Caucasians 32%, Hispanic 12%, Native
Americans 4% and Asians 3% of the people who are homeless. This has some major
implications. As you can see African Americans as a minority group far out number the
other ethnic groups’ ratio in America. The social stratification of the society has many
repercussions on different ethnic groups. Caucasians or more precisely WASPS (White
Anglo Saxon Protestants) have made all other groups subordinate to them. However the
hardest hit group is African Americans especially the women. This is rather disturbing
since in recent times African American women comprise of in majority the head of
families and households.
Another major reason for homelessness is domestic violence. According to 46%
of cities surveyed by the U.S. Conference of Mayors identified violence as the primary
cause of homelessness. Other groups make up the homeless such as army veterans, the
mentally ill, drug addicts and the unemployed.
PERSONAL
How does one actually get homeless? Most people who are homeless never
thought it could happen to them. So what is behind homelessness? Here are some
personal experiences taken from The National Homelessness Organization. Melanie
explains, “During the first ten years of my life, I could never imagine myself being
homeless. Within four years her family lost most of their possessions and found
themselves in a shelter with hundreds of strangers. Living in the shelter was a big change
for the family; many things they took for granted was now a great privilege. Melanie
learnt that all homeless people were not drug addicts or alcoholics. Many were families
just like hers in the same situation she was. School proved to be very difficult to stay in
since she no longer had a permanent address and she had to keep her situation a secret.
The Charlie’s Bill fixed the permanent address problem, but keeping her homelessness a

3. secret was in Melanie’s hands. Joann’s story is not a unique one its one that represents
many of the homeless today. She had a dream like most people and did very well in high
school, getting accepted to Howard University. Her family however was unable to send
her to College, which soon left her cleaning government offices. After years doing the
same job earning the same amount of money luck struck her way and was able to start a
small business of her own with a partner. Joann worked feverishly and soon found
herself with more money than ever before in her life. On a weekend back at home she
realized that she was better off than most people in her community and thought she
could buy her friends, she spent all her money and was introduced to alcohol. Soon she
was a functional alcoholic and later was introduced to crack cocaine. She soon sold her
share of the business and went on a partying and spending spree with her friends,
hopping from one apartment complex to the next. She continued to deny that she had a
problem with alcohol and drugs, saying” At least I am not like the winos on the corner, I
thought- at least I have a roof over my head”. Eventually her money dried up and Joann
found herself without a home. It wasn’t long before she found herself at a homeless
shelter where she was raped. This brought back memories from her childhood. It turns
out that her uncle, as a child for eight years, molested Joann. This caused great
emotional scarring and emptiness, which was probably what led her to alcoholism and
drug addiction. Joann found help from the New Endeavors by Women (NEW) and is
now seeing better days.
Homeless people aren’t lazy rejects of society. Homeless people have a particular
way of life, a code of conduct for survival, their own sub culture. Despite popular belief
many good, law- abiding citizens end up without shelter and on the streets. The
Sjobloms share their unbelievable tale. The Sjobloms a family of four in the upper poor
class with Russell the head of the family earning $1,375/mth and free rent and
electricity. His lower income job required him to be the jack-of-all-trades focusing on
labor. Russell injured his back and had to temporarily take a leave of absence. His
workers compensation quickly went into effect and the family received $225.75 per
week. Despite the accumulating medical bills Dian mother of two looked forward for
better times with her part-time job to fill the gap until her husband could return to work.
Soon after his return Russell re-injured his back, this time critically, with serious
permanent damage. This would spiral them into a desperate situation seeking help from
their community and government departments. They contacted the Freehold, New Jersey
Welfare Department and got no assistance, Monmouth County welfare to apply for
Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), were denied because they exceeded the
monthly income amount. The family finally received some assistance from Food
Stamps. This was not nearly enough with the back rent and the current month rent due
the family contacted the HUD’s Department of Community Affairs Homelessness
Prevention Program, she was put on wait. With the clock ticking against her Diane tried
calling the Homeless Prevention Dept. to get some status on her application, she was
told they were processing the application and would get back to her; and most
importantly not to call again. With Russell’s workers compensation depleted the family
was now eligible for AFDC assistance, which was a drop in the bucket. With time
running out to pay the families rent,” Diane again called the Homeless Prevention Dept.
and was reassured she would receive a phone call that same afternoon. No call came. At
4:00pm, Diane called the Homeless Prevention office and was told the worker with

4. whom she had previously spoken and who was supposed to call her back that day had
gone on vacation and would not be back until July 4th ”. This was the straw that broke
the camels’s back, the family soon found themselves in a shelter. In June Diane
contacted the Homeless Prevention office and was informed that her application was
denied because the family no longer received workers compensation and their AFDC
assistance would not cover their future rent payments. These events are similar to many
other people and families experience in the same situation. Government department and
assistance programs for the needy tend to be impersonal and rigid, much like a properly
functioning bureaucracy. With financial cuts, shrinking low-income housing and the
recent downturn in the economy, homelessness will continue to rise at an exponential
rate.
ECONOMICS AND SOCIAL ATTITUDE
The government in the 80’s was very sympathetic towards the homeless, because
it was a delicate issue at the time and could be used as a political tool. Many volunteer
and government programs were introduced to combat the problem and millions of
dollars was poured in for the cause. Eventually as time passed people became less
emotional about the issue like any other issue. It seems that America over reacts to its
problems when they surface and within five to ten years it seems most people forget they
exist like AIDS, and homelessness. In the 90’s America saw great economic gain, the
best she has ever had yet according to the National Coalition for the Homeless, two
trends over the last 15-20 years are responsible for the rise in homelessness; the growing
shortage of affordable rent. Although the median earning for families has increased 2.7%
from 1988-1999 to $40-800 (Christian Science Monitor) the lower half of the poor have
gotten poorer, therefore a growing number of people are at risk of loosing their homes.
In the same period government spending on the homeless has been cut. Between 1970
and 1994, the typical state’s Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) benefits
for a family of three fell by 47%, after adjusting inflation (Greenberg and Bauhmohl,
1996). A more shocking fact is that the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families
(TANF) benefits combined with food stamps is below the poverty level in every state.
During and since the Clinton administration welfare reform has taken place having at
first positive results but recently have put many on the verge of homelessness.” A survey
of homeless shelters around the US 1999 by the Institute for Children in Poverty found
that 37% of families on welfare had their benefits reduced or terminated. Of those, 20%
said that the cut contributed directly to their homelessness.” We’re seeing a very direct
connection, ”says Mary Bronahan, executive director of New York’s Coalition for the
Homeless. ” Certainly, between 30-40% (welfare recipients) are graduating into
employment, but the bottom 25% are falling deeper into poverty and many into literal
homelessness.” Since the September 11th attacks New York has seen a hike in families
needing shelter due to the shrinking job opportunities and simultaneously the squeeze in
financial support from the government (Christian Science Monitor). The city is currently
facing great social and economic unrest.
CONCLUSION
The country currently faces great obstacles and pressing issues, such as national
security and the hike in homelessness, especially in families. Despite the evidence that
more money and capitol is needed to bring reform, in the last decade the government has

5. cut funding almost in half. Twenty years ago people without shelter were given aid
readily and experienced sympathy from their fellow Americans. Today homeless people
experience abuse and a general insensitivity to their situation. So how can the homeless
be helped? Many ways, according to the National Coalition for Homeless (NCH Fact
Sheet #16) one can volunteer at a shelter serving food, doing clerical work, help to build
and fix houses. Another way is sharing technical and professional skills to better prepare
homeless people for the job market. Shelters always are in need of computers and other
technological equipment, books, food clothes, stationary and many other things. A
person could fight homelessness from a political stand - point lobbying for new efforts
and more funding towards the cause to eventually eliminate the problem. In my opinion
all these factors must be working together on a large scale simultaneously for the nation
to see a significant decrease in the number of homeless people. The need for Single
Occupancy Housing (NOH) is a pressing one and millions of units are currently needed.
But most importantly the social attitude towards homelessness needs to be changed.
America once more needs to be sensitive to these human beings who are just like anyone
else, but are just without a home. On the money we spend is written “In God we trust”.
This country was found on the basis of freedom and righteousness. Let us do the right
thing, be righteous and help the homeless.