What is a good solution to solving the homelessness in the United States of America?

Question

I'm writing a paper and I need good ideas

Answer 1

A volunteer program that will exchange a place to live for community service, legalize marajuana and use the taxes gathered for alcohol rehab.

Most importantly, when someone gets out of rehab that they have a place to go.

More subsidized and state-sponsored mental health facilities with on-site jobs people can do and allowing free entry and exit for the functional patients.

Answer 2

Well you make a couple of assumptions that I think you should investigate.

The first is that homelessness is a problem. Is it really. Sure there are homeless people but how many really. If I stayed in my home town I'd never see one. I don't know that its a significant problem worthy of taking any action. Certainly not by the government.

The second assumption is that there is something which can be done to move these people into homes. I'm not sure that is true. I do see a few homeless people everyday. Most of them have some mental disorder and refuse to move into shelters even during bad weather. With a homeless shelter not near full, less than two blocks away I see the same man asleep in front of the bus station every morning. Note, he is still asleep after I've made a 40 minute commute to work in the morning. Obviously he has no plans of working that day.

At one time these people were rounded up and put in institutions. It was decided that was not the right way to handle them. Now they wonder around on the street pushing shopping carts full of junk and talking to themselves. Would it be better to lock them up in institutions? Or let them live free and wild as they do.

Answer 3

Good topic for a paper, bro. Unfortunately though, in my opinion, there is no one single solution to solving the huge homeless problem in this country. But, I think I can safely say that these three measure would help drastically:
1) More community-based Detox and substance-abuse programs. Since about two-thirds of homeless people had alcohol or drug problems, this idea would give a good number of them a chance to get sober, thus being more able to find employment and get back on their feet.
2) The Veterans Administration needs to funnel more money and put greater emphasis on helping homeless vets. Again, alot of male homeless are war veterans suffering from PTSD. The VA does a good job already of helping their vets, but they are under-staffed. The federal government needs to allocate more money to them so they can ramp up their homeless vet outreach programs.
3) Rehabilitation instead of incarceration. The jail and prison system in this country long ago gave up the idea of trying to rehab prisoners with substance abuse problems. Most of this is because that is more expensive than merely locking them up and letting them do their time. And taxpayers are hesitant to fund rehab programs. But if they would just realize that, in the long run, it would be less of a burden on society to try and rehab drug offenders, such a program might help. I would advocate this program on a one-time shot basis: the offender gets to go through the program once, and if he is re-arrested on drug or alcohol charges again, too bad, it's back to jail.
I realize that two of my three ideas were substance abuse based, but I trulyt think that is the biggest obstruction preventing most homeless persons from rejoining society.

Answer 4

Take a large unpopulated but already built urban area (theres one in NY I dont know where in the city it is though).

Rennovate the abandoned buldings and structures into livable housing.

Create a few jobs in the process, and fund some local small businesses and clinics.

Create a small community where people can live, get medical attention, get a job if they are able to hold one, get an education if they are able to function and help the community to prosper.

At the same time, the creation of jobs and businesses that operate there can help pay back the debt.

Problem solved. (Or at least its a good start).

Answer 5

Have all major corporations give a percentage of the profits towards fixing up the older,& abandoned homes in thier towns and pay for the first six months of rent & up keep. Then those homeless that ARE working and are unable to save due to the current cost of living can move in . Those who are drug addicts should be put in prison until clean and then put into a work house (hard labor) to pay off the bills for thier confinement. The handicapped & elderly should be housed in state or charity run homes and allowed to work in whatever manner they can to pay a percent of thier way. Prostitution should be leagalized & unionized to stop them from being on the streets at nights and in danger of preditators.
Just my two cents.

Answer 6

the population of homeless are a mix of mentally ill and poor, some just poor enough to not afford a home so they live in a car or a tent. Some of them wouldn't have it any other way, surprisingly, preferring free shelters and free food. Understanding the causes will help you decide what to do.

Answer 7

do your own research --- go talk to people who are actually homeless....find out how they got that way ...not every homeless person is mentally ill. Usually the cause is alcohol or drug abuse. A small portion is due to being a single parent who's lost their job, or they went through a bad divorce, major or long length of illnesses (lack or loss of insurance)... disabled.
For the ones who want help - find jobs/job training , health care, financial aide(usually long term if the person is disabled or has major health issues.)

Answer 8

A good idea is people get together and help one other out and cook, clean, or what ever they need done and do it it don't take a lot only a few hands to get the job done. Maybe the neiborhood or friends and family and it will make a difference.

Answer 9

Most homeless people in the US are mentally ill. Set up counseling programs in churches.

There will always be homeless though. YOu can't save everyone.

Answer 10

Have jobs that pay enough to cover affordable housing. On minimum wage there is no way you can afford to survive. Provide housing for the unfortunate. They usually will help out families with reduced housing, but if your single your out of luck. Sometimes, these people have addictions which they spend their pay on causing them to lose their housing. Could be gambling, alcohol, drugs. Need free healthcare for individuals that need it. Have companies set aside positions for an unfortunate individual to better themselves.