Carolinian

Issue date: 3/20/07 Section: Letters to the Editor

Homelessness is on the rise in the United States and the average homeless person is male between the ages of six and nine. When I read this statistic I was heartbroken because everyone should have a place to call home. There are not enough shelters available for the outstanding amount of homeless people in the world. The government provides some types of public housing assistance only for families that are eligible. Traditionally the homeless population consisted of single men, but in this age and time homelessness is affecting more families and couples in the United States. Majority of the individuals whom are homeless now consists of an unmarried mother and her children. Why are there not more shelters for homeless families? They should not have to live on the streets struggling day to day to survive, not knowing where their next meal will come from. Homelessness often becomes a vicious cycle; you have no permanent address, no phone number and no place to bathe. Some homeless people have jobs, but usually seek other ways to make money. Many of the homeless shelters operated by churches and the government provide temporary housing to the homeless. The big question is where does one go when they are thrown out of the shelter? We have millions of families who do not have a permanent home and spend their nights sleeping on the streets. Society often blames that person for being homeless when we really do not know why they are in this predicament. We need to stop being so judgmental and be more supportive.

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