Poverty and HomelessnessPoverty and Homelessness

Why is homeless an important Why is homeless an important issue? issue?

Nationally, there are 750,000 people Nationally, there are 750,000 people homeless on any given night and only homeless on any given night and only 250,000 spaces available in shelters. 250,000 spaces available in shelters.

Between 25 and 40% of the homeless are Between 25 and 40% of the homeless are employed. employed.

Is homelessness increasing? A 1997 survey Is homelessness increasing? A 1997 survey of research conducted from 1987-1997 of research conducted from 1987-1997 showed that shelter capacity had doubled in showed that shelter capacity had doubled in 9 communities and three states. Shelter 9 communities and three states. Shelter beds between 1981-1991 were measured in beds between 1981-1991 were measured in 100 cities and were shown to have tripled. 100 cities and were shown to have tripled.

In the national debate over poverty, In the national debate over poverty, trends tend to focus on two extremes. trends tend to focus on two extremes. One side emphasizes personal responsibilityOne side emphasizes personal responsibility The other side emphasizes systemic The other side emphasizes systemic

obstacles.obstacles. Solutions, though, must address both Solutions, though, must address both

personal issues and systemic structural personal issues and systemic structural obstacles. obstacles.

**Information taken from Dr. Rick Axtell lecture, Centre College, 2002**Information taken from Dr. Rick Axtell lecture, Centre College, 2002

Systemic Factors:Systemic Factors: Gap between the rich and the poorGap between the rich and the poor: : Wealthiest 1% of Wealthiest 1% of

Americans hold 40% of the nation’s total wealth. Americans hold 40% of the nation’s total wealth. UnemploymentUnemployment: : 4.7 % in 2007 so far. Does not count 4.7 % in 2007 so far. Does not count

discouraged workers who are no longer seeking discouraged workers who are no longer seeking employment or part-time workers (BLS). employment or part-time workers (BLS).

UnderemploymentUnderemployment: : in 12/2001, 7.3 million people had in 12/2001, 7.3 million people had more than one job. more than one job.

Healthcare:Healthcare: 41 million people without health insurance; 23 41 million people without health insurance; 23 million children lack healthcaremillion children lack healthcare

Lack of affordable housingLack of affordable housing: : Housing units increased by Housing units increased by 40% in the 80’s while wages were declining and federal 40% in the 80’s while wages were declining and federal funds for subsidized housing for the poor were slashed by funds for subsidized housing for the poor were slashed by 77% during the Reagan77% during the Reagan administration. administration.

Gentrification: Gentrification: Deinstitutionalization: Deinstitutionalization: In 1950, there were 550,000 In 1950, there were 550,000

patients in mental hospitals. In 1990, there were 150,000. patients in mental hospitals. In 1990, there were 150,000. About ¼ of the homeless are mentally ill. About ¼ of the homeless are mentally ill.

Personal Factors and Life Personal Factors and Life Skills: Skills:

Breakdown of the family: Breakdown of the family: 26% of all births are to unwed 26% of all births are to unwed mothers. mothers.

Substance abuseSubstance abuse Dropping out of school: Dropping out of school: 14% of Kentucky students dropped out of 14% of Kentucky students dropped out of

school in 2001.school in 2001.

Abusive relationshipsAbusive relationships CrimeCrime Money managementMoney management Lack of self-efficacyLack of self-efficacy

Children who are raised in families with the above Children who are raised in families with the above mentioned personal problems may repeat this behavior. mentioned personal problems may repeat this behavior.

Potential solutions for personal Potential solutions for personal and systemic problemsand systemic problems

EmploymentEmployment: : Personal responses: Life skills classes, Personal responses: Life skills classes,

get assistance at One-Stop Career get assistance at One-Stop Career Centers, clothes closets like Dress for Centers, clothes closets like Dress for Success, help with transportationSuccess, help with transportation

Public changes: raise minimum wage, Public changes: raise minimum wage, require health benefits and retirement require health benefits and retirement benefits, fund day care. benefits, fund day care.

More solution ideasMore solution ideas

Mental illnessMental illness:: Personal: counseling, reconnect patients Personal: counseling, reconnect patients

with families, educate against with families, educate against stereotypes, and provide support stereotypes, and provide support networks.networks.

Public: Increase funding for transitional Public: Increase funding for transitional shelters with counseling staff; decrease shelters with counseling staff; decrease counselor case load; require insurance counselor case load; require insurance coverage and affordable medication. coverage and affordable medication.

Continued…Continued…

Family issues:Family issues: Personal: Mentoring programs with teens, Personal: Mentoring programs with teens,

family counseling, adoption information, family counseling, adoption information, job training for youth, (like YOU program) job training for youth, (like YOU program) provide counseling for pregnant teens. provide counseling for pregnant teens.

Public: Fund better sex education Public: Fund better sex education programs, promote birth control, programs, promote birth control, streamline adoption process, enforce streamline adoption process, enforce child support, and more day care in child support, and more day care in school for teenage momsschool for teenage moms

Continued Continued

Lack of affordable housingLack of affordable housing:: Personal:Personal: Build homes through Habitat, keep Build homes through Habitat, keep

lists to distribute of affordable or Section 8 lists to distribute of affordable or Section 8 housing training, and provide neighborhood housing training, and provide neighborhood classes on money management and budgeting.classes on money management and budgeting.

Public ChangesPublic Changes: Increase funding for mixed : Increase funding for mixed socio-economic housing developments, socio-economic housing developments, education programs on eviction laws, rehab education programs on eviction laws, rehab existing public units to trim waiting lists. existing public units to trim waiting lists.

EducationEducation:: Personal: Provide tutoring, GED classes, Personal: Provide tutoring, GED classes,

literacy training, life skill classes, literacy training, life skill classes, computer classes, and after-school computer classes, and after-school programs.programs.

Public: Tax breaks for businesses that Public: Tax breaks for businesses that provide education and training; support provide education and training; support smaller classes; develop stronger smaller classes; develop stronger national performance standards.national performance standards.

Addiction:Addiction: Personal: Provide transportation to Personal: Provide transportation to

NA/AA meetings; provide more NA/AA meetings; provide more detox/halfway houses like “The Healing detox/halfway houses like “The Healing Place”Place”

Public: Fund treatment programs like Public: Fund treatment programs like Drug Courts; restore more in-prison Drug Courts; restore more in-prison treatment and drug education programstreatment and drug education programs

**Information on previous and current slide taken from Dr. Rick **Information on previous and current slide taken from Dr. Rick Axtell lecture, Centre CollegeAxtell lecture, Centre College

““Our Tired, Our Poor, Our Kids”Our Tired, Our Poor, Our Kids”Anna QuindlenAnna Quindlen

A prevailing stereotype of the homeless is that they are lazy A prevailing stereotype of the homeless is that they are lazy substance abusers who have consistently made poor life substance abusers who have consistently made poor life choices.choices.

Quindlen shatters that notion in this essay.Quindlen shatters that notion in this essay. She sheds light on homeless women and their children. She sheds light on homeless women and their children.

In February 2001, she notes that 10,000 children in NYC In February 2001, she notes that 10,000 children in NYC slept in emergency shelters. (twenty years ago emergency slept in emergency shelters. (twenty years ago emergency shelter was provided for 1,000 families a night)shelter was provided for 1,000 families a night)

Many families end up homeless because they can not Many families end up homeless because they can not afford an apartment. The hourly income necessary to afford an apartment. The hourly income necessary to afford a two-bedroom apt. was $12 per hour (almost twice afford a two-bedroom apt. was $12 per hour (almost twice the minimum wage)the minimum wage)

1/3 of homeless families in San Diego had recently had 1/3 of homeless families in San Diego had recently had their welfare benefits terminated or reduced. (1998 study)their welfare benefits terminated or reduced. (1998 study)

Being homeless, highly increases children repeating Being homeless, highly increases children repeating grades or being hospitalized. grades or being hospitalized.

““Still Hungry, Still Homeless”Still Hungry, Still Homeless”AmericaAmerica Magazine Editorial Magazine Editorial

In 2001, requests for emergency food assistance In 2001, requests for emergency food assistance jumped by 17%. (second highest since 1992).jumped by 17%. (second highest since 1992).

Families leaving TANF (Temporary Assistance for Families leaving TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) may have full-time jobs, but not Needy Families) may have full-time jobs, but not enough to lift them out of poverty. A lot of times enough to lift them out of poverty. A lot of times they are not aware of additional assistance they are not aware of additional assistance available to them (like Food Stamps).available to them (like Food Stamps).

An increase in the demand for emergency food is An increase in the demand for emergency food is noted and a lack of affordable housing exists. noted and a lack of affordable housing exists.

““The Singer Solution to World The Singer Solution to World Poverty” (Peter Singer) Poverty” (Peter Singer)

Begins article with the Brazilian film, Begins article with the Brazilian film, Central StationCentral Station, in which , in which a retired schoolteacher, Dora, resolves to get a homeless boy a retired schoolteacher, Dora, resolves to get a homeless boy back she had sold to get $1000.back she had sold to get $1000.

Allusion to Peter Unger’s Allusion to Peter Unger’s Living High and Letting DieLiving High and Letting Die, which , which contains Bob’s storycontains Bob’s story He has invested his savings into a valuable old car.He has invested his savings into a valuable old car. Selling the car will allow him to have a comfortable Selling the car will allow him to have a comfortable

retirement.retirement. Bob sees a runaway train and a small child. Instead of Bob sees a runaway train and a small child. Instead of

throwing a switch to divert the train to hit his car, he allows throwing a switch to divert the train to hit his car, he allows the child to be hit and killed. the child to be hit and killed.

We agree that Bob is wrong, but aren’t our decisions very We agree that Bob is wrong, but aren’t our decisions very similar to Bob’s choice. An American household with an similar to Bob’s choice. An American household with an income of $50,00 spends $30,000 on necessities. income of $50,00 spends $30,000 on necessities. Therefore, Singer believes that donations to world’s poor Therefore, Singer believes that donations to world’s poor should be close to $20,000. Singer writes that “whatever should be close to $20,000. Singer writes that “whatever you’re spending on luxuries, not necessities, should be you’re spending on luxuries, not necessities, should be given away” (362). given away” (362).

If we don’t, then we are failing to live a morally decent life. If we don’t, then we are failing to live a morally decent life.

Class ActivityClass Activity

You will be placed into groups. In your groups, you will create a You will be placed into groups. In your groups, you will create a scenario or abbreviated life style of an individual and how this scenario or abbreviated life style of an individual and how this individual has become homeless. individual has become homeless.

Each scenario will be written in the first person. You must name Each scenario will be written in the first person. You must name your scenario.your scenario.

The scenario must be must be The scenario must be must be 250 250 words in length.words in length. We will some time tonight, Monday, and next Wednesday on the We will some time tonight, Monday, and next Wednesday on the

scenarios. Your group will present your scenario to the class next scenarios. Your group will present your scenario to the class next Wed.Wed.

This activity will be worth 10 points. You will turn in your scenario This activity will be worth 10 points. You will turn in your scenario and write down what each member contributed. and write down what each member contributed.

The class will vote on the most compelling, well written, and well The class will vote on the most compelling, well written, and well presented scenario.presented scenario.

The group whose scenario wins the most votes will receive 3 The group whose scenario wins the most votes will receive 3 bonus points on the critique paper. bonus points on the critique paper.