The general public needs to change the way that it looks at the poor and homeless community. While it may seem obvious to some that those near homelessness or those experiencing it are humans and should be treated as such, others may not view that as the case.
For those who have a disdainful view of the homeless, I find it important to first recognize that the causes of poverty and homelessness do not fall into the hands of the individual but rather the system.
Over the past many years, the demand for affordable housing has increased yet housing assistance and programs designed to help the poor have decreased. While the minimum wage has been raised, it has not kept up with the rising cost of housing.
After the Great Depression arose the declaration of the War on Poverty, which resulted in the welfare system’s creation. When a family went under the poverty line, which is known to be inaccurate anyway, they were offered assistance until they returned to the line and not above it. They then lost their benefits thus resulting in a high possibility that they would slip back into poverty and the cycle would start over again.
This happens today in terms of governmental assistance. Let’s say that a single mom with a newborn qualifies for Title 20 child care. Having the government pay for the daycare saves that mother roughly $200 a week, if not more. If she were to get a raise of just 50 cents an hour, it is likely that she may lose her assistance.
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Her raise would likely not give her an extra $100 a week but due to her loss in assistance, she is now forced to pay more than she was before and her raise has now caused her to bring home even less money. This is not at the fault of the mother but rather the system.
When people hear “homeless” they often imagine someone living on the street begging for money. While that is the reality for many homeless people, the majority of the homeless population goes unseen.
There are homeless families working full time and sending their children to school that do not make enough to buy or rent a house or apartment but are able to momentarily reside in shelters or motels. They are homeless and this is a problem with the system.
Often times those who are fortunate enough to not need government assistance get frustrated with those using food stamps. Every so often I hear people getting upset about people selling their food stamps for money because they could be buying something bad when they should be using it for food. The reality of this is that there are many necessary items that are not covered by food stamps.
As Doctor Rowell states in our Social Problems class’ online lesson, “if you are receiving government assistance in the United States, you are not allowed to use your food stamp money for the following items: deodorant, shampoo, soap, toothpaste, diapers (if you do not have money, you probably do not have a washer and dryer), kotex, over-the counter prescription medication and hot deli items (if you are poor you may not have a stove).”
In our society, it is viewed as essential by most employers to be hygienic in regards to the use of deodorant, shampoo, soap and toothpaste. If someone sells their food stamps to get these items or perhaps diapers for their child they can then be accused of welfare fraud. This is an issue with the system.
There is so much about poverty and homelessness in America as well as our own communities that often go unknown or unseen. It is important to be educated and open to learning about the struggles of our fellow humans in order to be more understanding and thus more decent to one another.
Before blaming the victim it is important to look at the perpetrator and see what is really being done to create the problem.
Hannah Shafer
Reporter