Is there any solution to the poor/insufficient housing and homelessness crisis?

Answer 1

I have often thought about that. I can not seem to come up with a sure fire way to end this problem. It's tough to solve every problem that would cause one to be homeless. Drugs, drinking, domestic issues, they're so many and an unfortunate common factor in the contribution of the homeless population. Some are having babies while living on the streets and "squatting" in lots and abandoned buildings. I wish I could take care of everyone, but some people just don't want to live this life anymore. The haze and stupor that the substances provide are enough to sustain them and dull their suffering. I am saddened by it, I feel so bad, but we can't force anyone to do anything. That would be like the world in the book Anthem, by Ayn Rand. It wasn't a very nice place to live, and reiterates the importance of liberty and one's right to live as they please.

Answer 2

More affordable housing is really the key, I think. I live in Northern Virginia, near DC. I make $10.50 an hour doing data-entry work, and work a 40 hour week. And I can barely afford rent in this area. I've been looking for a new apartment recently, and all of the ones I can afford are rooms in "shared houses" where I would be living with 2 to 4 strangers, and getting those depends a lot on whether or not you hit it off with the current tenents. I may end up getting a room with some friends that is about to be vacated, but if not there's a very real chance that I may end up living out of my car for a while since my previous lease is ending and I haven't yet been able to find a new apartment that I can afford. Moving to another area might be an option, except then I would need to both find a new job AND a new apartment. Which would tend to compound my problems. I suspect the same is true of many others who are homeless or are facing homelessness. If I can't afford housing in this area on my wages, I shudder to think of the number of people working minimum wage jobs in this area, and I really have to wonder how they get by.

Answer 3

The only solution I can see is way out on the horizon, the faint image of a house price fall or crash.

There has been talk of this happening, but no time scale as yet. If/when house prices do fall, the first victims will be those who are over stretched with massive mortgages to pay. The value of their property will fall dramatically but they will still be left with the bill for a property valued higher.

Eventually, when/if house prices fall sufficiently, it may mean more people being able to get on the housing ladder. It may mean properties lower down the scale being vacated and/or sold so these then become available to the folks who now cannot afford to buy, but will be able to do once prices fall to a given level.

The way forward is to encourage more homes to be built at affordable prices.

How?

Answer 4

No. There is no solution to this problem. It has become to world wide. Our own US cannot even provide decent housing for those in Louisiana. People must want to work. Be willing to do any kind of work to bring in money. But in some places there isn't any work or they don't want to do menial jobs. I think if a group of people came together and worked as a unit they would be able to get ahead. We don't seem to be able to get along well enough for that.

Where there are people there will always be poverty. Is a vicious circle. People from underprivileged nations come here and take jobs. They become the majority rather than the minority such as in New York. They are given opportunities to go into business. They are not used to having much so whatever they get here in US is more then they had. Also they pool together for the benefit of all.

Answer 5

Perhaps if we had a choice on our tax returns that allowed us to choose where our own tax dollars go, some of these social problems would have a better chance of being resolved. If I have to pay taxes, I'd like to choose where the money goes.
We live in the richest country in the world, yet the basic needs of life, food and shelter, are still an issue.
Housing is the worst crisis facing this country because it is so expensive. Most people will give to feed the hungry because they can easily see how their small contribution benefits many. An affordable contribution by the average person doesn't put much of a dent relative to what it costs to build affordable, adequate housing. Most people give to feel good about themselves by thinking they have a real effect.
If allowed to choose where their tax dollars go, I believe many people would choose to solve social issues like this instead of choosing to give fat politicians the right to make insane choices for them.
We really don't live in a democracy, do we?

Answer 6

You have got to address the problem first. Why is there a shortage are the houses in the wrong place, for people to get to work. The immigration system overloading. Break up of families. Politicians must address these issues, and find workable solutions. I was disgusted to find out about the conditions EU immigrants where living in. in the UK. But the Turks did the same in Germany for many years, to boost there economy.

Answer 7

First off, Americans need to stop thinking of the homeless as aliens from a different planet. They are our fellow Americans.
Secondly, Americans need to realize that not all people can be sucessful. Some people are homeless because of mental health issues, some because they have lost their jobs, some simply because they made bad decisions like running up creditcard debt, getting into bad mortgage loans, were hit by major illness. There are many different reasons why there are homeless. It is up to Americans to live up to the Compassionate American image that they want the rest of the world to know them by. The reality is that Americans are rude, self absorbed, arrogant and lazy. Me too!!!!

Answer 8

I was homeless for a long time through no fault of my own- I'm not a "doper," "scrounger," or "immigrant"...
nor am I mentally ill.

I believe all those who generalise about those who are suffering the misery of having nowhere to live, are ignorant.

You obviously care about the homeless (that's why you've asked this question, yes?)

Thank you for raising this question. To answer it, may I please refer you to my blog where you will find what you are looking for.
(The information, which is totally relevant, should be released next week).

Answer 9

After my wife and the judge were finished with me, I found living in a storage unit relatively comfortable. I used the dumpster as a toilet and the public restroom at the local strip mall to take "bird Bathes". Most who are homeless, are so because of mental illness or because of repeated bad decision making.

Answer 10

Yes, our taxes have built "low cost housing" in every town over 3,000 all across the nation.
A lot Nicer homes than many of us working people started out with.
The Homeless can draw welfare and live in these nices houses, if they choose.
I suppose you want us to copy off North Korea, eh?
Are you donating any money to them?
Liberals talk, but they don't walk.