1
Written Assignment 5
Hunter Payne
Introduction
● My topic for this paper is about homelessness and its effect it has on society, this
paper will discuss some of the primary issues that I’ve found in homelessness in
the past as well as ways that we can help battle homelessness in the future.
● My thesis statement for this paper is as follows; The issue of homelessness is a
challenging social problem rooted in economic inequality, housing
unaffordability, mental health challenges, and systemic barriers, requiring
coordinated efforts from governments, communities, and organizations to
implement effective solutions that prioritize housing stability, access to supportive
services, and empowerment of individuals experiencing homelessness.
Body Paragraph 1
● The escalating rates of homelessness are a manifestation of the intersecting
challenges beggining with housing unaffordability and economic inequality,
requiring immediate attention and innovative solutions to create housing security
for the homeless.
● “One of the major issues contributing to homelessness is the rising cost of
housing. Housing accounted for a fifth of inflation in 2022 in the United States.”
(Heston, 2023)
● This quote is directly from a scholarly journal about the rising costs of housing
and the impact that it’s having on people being able to buy houses or even
attempting to rent one. The journal mentions the rise of the cost of living in areas
in the United States also being a reason for individuals becoming homeless simply
because its too expensive for people to live.
Body Paragraph 2
● With the persistence of homelessness raises concern of mental health challenges
and highlights the profound impact of systemic barriers, requiring an approach
that addresses both the root causes of homelessness and the interwining of mental
health issues within societal structures.
● “Those with a mental illness frequently have little more than a disability check
and limited employment options. Tragically, some landlords are reluctant to rent
to a mentally ill person, so finding a decent home is even more difficult.”
(Cochran, 2015)
● This quote was from a newspaper article describing the impacts that mental health
really has and can cause with people attaining and keeping a steady place to live
due to mental health challenges.
Body Paragraph 3
● The enduring prevalence of homelessness underscores the profound impact of
systemic barriers and entrenched social stigma, highlighting the urgent imperative
for societal shifts and policy reforms that not only address structural inequalities
but also challenge prejudicial attitudes to foster inclusive communities and
support networks for those experiencing homelessness.
● “While the rise in homelessness and the conditions driving it are being felt across
the United States, some areas have been hit harder than others. Volunteers counted
2,390 homeless people in Spokane County this January, a 36% increase from
2022 - a rate three times higher than the country or state.”(Dinman, 2023)
● This newspaper article talks about the rising population of homeless in the city of
Spokane Washington and how areas are feeling more and more crowded and
putting an unsightly image in their mouths due to the overwhelming population of
homeless. This is also causing others to avoid coming to Spokane to visit or look
for work because of its homeless problem.
Conclusion
● Again homelessness is an ongoing problem stemming from economic inequality,
housing unaffordability, mental health challenges, and systemic barriers, this is
needed to be challenged by efforts from governments and communities alike to
help decrease the population of homeless and get more people off the streets and
into stable jobs to better society.
● Organizations and government agencies can help these probelms such as housing
affordability, social stigmas, mental health issues, and economic inequalities to
better the society and the homeless problem.
● What can you do in your area to help start a movement or help implicate a policy
to change the homeless population, where should you start?
Bibliography
Cochran, K. (2015, April 15). People with mental illness also face housing shortage:
people with mental illness. News Leader.
Dinman, E. (2023, December 20). HOMELESSNESS increased across the nation and
state this year - but not as quickly as in spokane washington came in third in per capita
homelessness. Spokesman Review.
Heston, T. F. (2023). The cost of living index as a primary driver of homelessness in the
United States: A cross-state analysis. Cureus. [Link]
