Positions of Student Participants
Richard Andrade
University of Tennessee-Martin
richardportugal@hotmail.com
Les SDF du Venezuela
Il y a beaucoup de personnes sans-abri et sans domicile fixe dans tout le monde, et
spécifiquement dans les pays sous-développés.
Je vais me concentrer sur les jeunes qui vivent dans les rues du Venezuela. Le gouvernement calcule
qu'il y a 2000 jeunes qui sont sans-abri sur les trottoirs de Caracas et 7500 dans le territoire
national. Nous appelons ces jeunes 'les jeunes de la rue', et ils sont tous ceux qui ont rompu totalement
leurs liens familiaux, et qui n'ont pas de foyer.
Cependant, il y a 1100000 qui déambulent sur les rues en travaillant dans l'économie
informelle, mais ils ont un foyer. En plus, il y a 200000 jeunes qui développent
activités marginales pour avoir de l'argent. Ceux-ci pratiquent la mendicité, le larcin,
et la prostitution.
On voit clairement que les nombres des 'jeunes de la rue' peuvent augmenter si ceux qui ont un foyer
instable et un travail informel le perdent. Je considère que le gouvernement doit mettre en
action nouvelle programmes économiques et sociaux pour aider les jeunes qui sont dans
l'économie informelle. Par exemple, études techniques gratuites adressées
particulierment à ces jeunes sans aucune possibilité de réussir
professionnellement peuvent faire qu'ils sortent de l'économie informelle. Il est aussi
nécessaire que le gouvernement garantisse à ces jeunes des emplois dans les compagnies
publiques ou privées.
A mon avis, l'objectif des fondations privés doit être d'aider les 'jeunes de la rue' parce
qu'ils ont de l'expérience d'avoir travaille depuis longtemps avec eux. Au contraire, le
gouvernement, comme j'ai dit antérieurement, doit se préoccuper des jeunes qui
travaillent dans l'économie informelle.
______________________
Existen muchas personas sin hogar y sin un domicilio fijo por todo el mundo, y específicamente
en los países subdesarrollados.
Yo me voy a concentrar en los jóvenes que viven en las calles de Venezuela. El gobierno calcula
que hay dos mil jóvenes que se encuentran sin hogar en las aceras de Caracas y siete mil
quinientos en el territorio nacional. Nosotros llamamos estos jóvenes "los niños de la
calle" y son todos aquellos que han roto totalmente sus lazos familiares y que no tienen un
hogar.
Sin embargo, existen un millón cien mil que deambulan sobre las calles trabajando en la
economía informal, pero tienen un hogar. Además, existen doscientos mil
jóvenes que desarrollan actividades margínales para obtener algo de dinero. Estos
practican la mendicidad, el hurto, y la prostitución.
Se puede ver claramente que el número de "niños de la calle" puede aumentar si
éstos que tienen un hogar inestable y un trabajo informal lo pierden. Yo considero que el
gobierno debe poner en acción nuevos programas económicos y sociales para ayudar a
los jóvenes que están en la economía informal. Por ejemplo, estudios
técnicos gratuitos dirigidos particularmente a estos jóvenes, sin ninguna posibilidad de
salir adelante profesionalmente, pueden hacer que ellos salgan de la economía informal. Es
necesario también que el gobierno garantice a éstos jóvenes empleos en
compañías públicas y privadas.
En mi punto de vista, el objetivo de las fundaciones privadas debe ser el de ayudar a los "niños de
la calle" porque ellos tienen la experiencia de haber trabajado con ellos por largo tiempo. Al contrario,
el gobierno, como he dicho anteriormente, debe preocuparse de los jóvenes que trabajan en la
economía informal.
Georgina Argaez
University of Tennessee-Martin
geoyarga@mars.utm.edu
I have different positions towards homelessness depending on the case. I strongly believe that there
should be very strong support from the government when it comes to homeless kids; and not just
support from the government but from different organizations. I think that homeless kids is the case I
find the most interest since it is a very big issue in my country. There are plenty of reasons why there
are homeless kids, and we have to realize that their homelessness will affect us sooner or later. Living
in the streets shows individuals the easy ways of getting what wanted and needed, and that is through
crimes and robbing. The lack of a home and the feeling of belonging eventually would affect the kid and
society. Not to mention the easy access in the streets for drugs and violence. Homelessness in adults I do
not really know what I stand. I think that not so fortunate people that do not have a home should be
helped either by the government or non-profit organizations but it is sad to see that some people take
advantages of this help and abuse it. In the other hand, what about people that like homelessness? We
talked in class about different cases like mental patients that rather be homeless than living in a
hospital.
Lindsey Boise
Austin Peay State University
UGP80@aol.com
Homelessness: Why Americans don't care
Homelessness is an obvious problem in the United States, stemming from the economic inequalities and
class stratification caused by America's worst friend, Capitalism. It is around every corner and
always lurking over our shoulders or more often, right in front of our eyes.
One would think that the American people as a whole would worry about homelessness and fight, out of
the love and concern for fellow humanity, for the rescue of so many without shelter. Well, sorry,
wrong, that just isn't the case. I would say, that for the most part, the average American could care
less, and does care less. Even the people who sigh despairingly when they pass by a body under a
newspaper rarely become motivated to actually attempt to lend aid to that person. To help justify
their apathy towards the problem, the American citizen has come up with many excuses and
stereotypes about the homeless. One excuse for not paying attention to the problem is embedded in the
American work philosophy that says that one has to work diligently for what they earn and that if they
don't have a home it's because they just don't work hard enough.
Therefore, the question arises, "why should we hard working Americans be bothered with these lazy
bums? If they can't support themselves, why should the rest of us be forced to work for their
benefit?". That sounds a little selfish and individualistic doesn't it? But, that's a true opinion. They
somehow assume, that there is something wrong with these people, something that keeps them from
functioning in this free-market rat race of overworked consumers, be it laziness, alcoholism,
chemical dependency, mental illness, etc. A lot of Americans don't help because they view the homeless
as a bunch of alcoholics who will only take their donations and buy some sort of liquor to dowse
themselves with. This is another excuse for the apathy of the average citizen here.
I have a remedy for that stereotypical problem; instead of sitting on your moral anti-alcohol pedestal
and not offering them anything as aid, how about helping prepare food at a soup kitchen or even just
bringing some snacks or sandwiches down to the mission? Another stereotype about the homeless is that
most of them are loony Vietnam veterans, who couldn't handle living in a peaceful society and turned to
the streets, where they could continue murmuring field commands to themselves while looking for
their next civilian to harass. This is yet another attempt to explain why they can't find a good job and
source of income to get them off the street. They're too crazy to function in a "normal society". Give
me a break, how stereotyping can you be. In addition, many people view the homeless as dirty, disease
infested vermin, who are to be avoided, in preservation of personal health. People attribute horrible
diseases to the homeless, diseases that are present on every class of society.
Therefore people can use the excuse that they don't want to become ill, so they don't want to get close
enough to the problem to help. If Nostradamus could heal victims of the Black Death without catching
the disease, if doctors can deliver babies from an HIV+ mother without passing the infection to
themselves or the baby, than you can lend a hand to someone on the street. And if you're that
concerned, there are organizations that will gladly take a contribution from you and deal with it
appropriately.
The saddest side of homelessness is that it is seen as an abstract concept, rather than a concrete reality.
Even discussion it makes it into an abstract reality. It is real, and something needs to be done, more
than just words, discussion, and prayers.
Lina Collins
Austin Peay State University
Coolfunfirst@aol.com
Unfortunately, I have not been directly involved at all with homeless people . The only experience I
have had with the homeless is through reading newspaper articles or watching television broadcasts.
Personally, I think everyone should be able to find a job and support himself or herself. Reality,
however, doesn't work as well as theory. Many of the homeless are educated professionals who at one
time had a great job and a great life and for one reason or another have lost everything.
One problem in today's society is that technology is taking away the small jobs that supported
previous generations of unskilled laborers. The educated homeless need only a push or temporary
support to get them back on their feet. But the unskilled, uneducated, or mentally ill homeless often
have no hope of getting ahead in life. Should the government support them forever? Well, maybe to a
certain extent. People who are capable of doing any sort of labor should be able to support themselves
eventually. As for the other group, maybe the government can create jobs and also pay to help and
support them. Making these people feel that they are working for their wages creates a sense of
responsibility and can enhance their self-esteem.
Welfare is another option, but seems that homeless people sometimes cannot qualify since they need a
permanent address to collect welfare checks. Again this program is great in theory but in practice we
always hear about fraud and people staying unemployed in order to collect money from the government.
This system should be better regulated and should be made easier for the truly poor and homeless. They
are the ones that need it the most. I believe that healthy adults should be expected to work in order to
collect a check. The welfare office should make it mandatory for them to have some sort of job so that
they can grow accustomed to a routine 40-hours/week schedule. This may turn off some of the welfare
recipients and they may decide to seek a regular job instead of coming in to the welfare office . That
way, the only ones who actually came in would be the serious ones.
"Welfare to work" programs create problems for families with children. But even those people should
have to do something in return for their checks. For example, the welfare department can create day-
care programs and employ the recipients of welfare in those daycare services.
These are difficult issues that face America today. I wish it were easy to solve these problems and
make America the beautiful country it should be.
Marilena Corbo Cochell
Austin Peay State University
mcorbo70@juno.com
Homelessness in the United States
Even if the United States is considered one of the most powerful and wealthy countries in the world with
several opportunities of employment and education, homelessness is still a significant problem in
constant search of solutions.
Since the problem concerns different categories of homeless people, I would like to focus my attention
on the causes of family homelessness only.
The principal causes of homeless families are poverty and the lack of affordable housing. Stagnating
wages and changes in welfare programs account for increasing poverty among families. The Personal
Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (the federal welfare reform law)
established a block grant program called Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). TANF
benefits and Food Stamps combined are below the poverty level in every state; in fact, the average TANF
benefit for a family of three is approximately one-third of the poverty level. Thus, contrary to popular
opinion, welfare does not provide relief from poverty.
Although more families are moving from welfare to work, many of them are surviving poorly due to
low wages and inadequate work supports. Only a small fraction of welfare recipients' new jobs pay
above-poverty wages; most of the new jobs pay far below the poverty line (Children's Defense Fund and
the National Coalition for the Homeless, 1998).
As a result of loss of benefits, low wages, and unstable employment, many families leaving welfare
struggle to get medical care, food, and housing. In addition, housing is rarely affordable for families
leaving welfare for low wages, yet subsidized housing is so limited that fewer than one in four TANF
families nationwide lives in public housing or receives a housing voucher to help them rent a private
unit. The American strong economy causes rents to rise, putting housing out of reach for the poorest
Americans. As a result, more families are in need of housing assistance.
Domestic violence also contributes to homelessness among families. When a woman leaves an abusive
relationship, she often has nowhere to go. This is particularly true of women with few resources. Lack
of affordable housing and long waiting lists for assisted housing mean that many women are forced to
choose between abuse and the streets.
Without affordable, decent housing, people cannot keep their jobs and they cannot remain healthy. Only
combined efforts to meet all of these needs could end the tragedy of homelessness for America's families
and children.
Brad E. Conatser
Austin Peay State University
GoodbyColumbus@aol.com
In current history, the human subject is becoming "a blip: ephemeral electronically processed,
unreal." Over the last quarter-century, the world market has undergone a drastic metamorphosis from
production-based economy t o information and service-oriented industry. Telecommunications and
globalization doesn't help much either. The human is reduced from a tangible substance (labor and
capital included as well) to a blip on a radar screen something that is becoming less and less real to
those who hold power over the means of production (in today's world the ones who have the information
and knowledge). The market landscape in increasingly dominated b y ever-larger, supranational
trading blocs with the power to relocate capital and production to any given point on the globe at any
given time. They have the power to displace as well. Where there are jobs, people will uproot and
migrate, creating further problems in identity. American neo-colonialism has a larger ugly side than
many of us (in the United States) would like to believe. First, it invades, overwhelms, assimilates, and
eventually annihilates indigenous culture. At the northern end of Canada, where civilization stops, I
found a Wal-Mart. second; it works against its own people. Here in the United States, homelessness is
becoming more and more of an ugly issue to be swept under the rug so we can hide our shame, so we
can fail to take responsibility for it. There is a trend in American management to move production
from domestic locations to abroad, particularly in developing nations with far lower standards of
living than our own. Why pay a member of organized labor $15.00 per hour when we can pay a
Mexican farmer $2.00 per hour, which amount to riches beyond his wildest dreams when we calculate
exchange rate?
Tangibility in regards to everything is becoming less and less valuable as technology jumps ahead,
leaving society behind in its wake. Labor and the human subject in particular. Lives are forever
changed at the click of a button because a person in the higher echelons of management wants to earn
his/her extra $10,000 bonus at Christmas despite plummeting sales, as well a s the tag of "they're
ingenious when it comes to personnel management and cutting corner." And the waiting lists and lines
at the housing offices grow.. Society cannot catch up. Education falls behind as more and more families
uproot and relocate in attempt to find work, crowding their children in the inner cities while the
children of the white bourgeois huddle in safety in the suburbs. Crime rates multiply in areas where
jobs suddenly disappear overnight. Homelessness increases as unemployment rates increase. Does this
say something? And as all of these things add up, we produce a newer generation of blips to occupy our
spaces when we retire. With a second-class education, the means of production and the power still lies
in the hands of the privileged few that were sheltered from such occurrences. In such a state, society
will never catch up. Homelessness has always been, will always be a problem.
We no longer place faith in the great meta-narratives of the past. A liberation of the proletariat is
unrealistic, as is faith in the Enlightenment, and any other broad-based scheme for a better world.
Only individual issues exist anymore. To solve the problem of homelessness, society-at-large must do
some catching up. Human identity must mean something more than electronically processed data and
statistical information for this grave problem to come to a solution. Government must not turn its
head in favor of those who would subjugate and conquer, but must serve its duty to its own people first
and foremost. Implementing programs to create domestic jobs would be a start; creating limits on the
amount of jobs that can go overseas would be an even more effective measure. American owned and
operate d corporations have an obligation to their own people before that of the almighty dollar. And
fighting this issue out on the streets seems a more viable option. Educating those who are homeless,
enabling them to take part in the (rather limited) social welfare programs those are suggestion s not
for remedying the problem entirely, but at least working at it.
Garmen Gaylord
University of Tennessee-Martin
caregayl@mars.utm.edu
Homelessness, I feel, can not be linked to only one cause. I believe there are a multiplicity of causes for
the problem. Although I do not believe there is one cause nor one answer to "fix" the problem of
homelessness; I do believe there are ways to help relieve the prevalence of this condition. Also I believe
that everyone, government included, should unite to help ease the pangs of homelessness. The
government has a duty to lead and protect its citizens and because of this duties the government should
be concerned and contribute to the relief effort. Ways of which the government might get involved is
through helping to fund different organizations or creating committees to help coordinate efforts or
perhaps direct aide. The members of society also have a duty to help contribute to the relief. Humans
are the only creatures on earth who have the capacity to reason and feel compassion and because of these
innate characteristics, I feel we have a duty to care for one another. Neighbors, communities, towns,
cities all should unite to try and ease this disease.
Michael Gouge
Austion Peay State University
cgouge@budweiser.com
Homelessness, like most social issues of the day, is a complex subject. Now as Americans we are
intrinsically lazy (do not argue this point, this is a scientific fact) we would like to blame the problem
one simple to define scapegoat. Some point their fingers at the government, some at the educational
system, others blame alcohol, or mental illness, and even the individual. Well, it's all these things and
a few others which no one has really thought of yet. I have come to terms with the issue of
homelessness like most other injustices, by realizing that the world we live in is a dark one, where
tragedy after tragedy befalls mankind from the moment of his conception in the universe, till time is
stood upon its side. We try to help, we really do. We create government programs and private
institutions intending to solve the homeless issue, but like my version of the old saying goes "The good
intentions of the past create the hell we live in today." Through complex corruption, simple ineptness,
and some other unknown reason, we help only a fraction of those without shelter. So it shall go until
the nature of man is altered to be more empathetic, or a cost-benefit ratio is found in helping our
fellow humans out.
Now that my initial tirade is complete, I wish to now point my finger in another direction. This planet.
Or really the mind-boggling number of people who believe they can coexist (not peacefully of course)
on the face of it. Six-billion souls cannot be supported well by this one planet, which should be
obvious considering the problem with lack of employment, food, and of course shelter to go around. In
centuries past, our population was regulated well like all species with which we share this chunk of
granite and grass. The four horsemen kept the population tidy enough for the space that was available.
This is now no longer the case due to modern agriculture and medicine. So we are able exceed the
population limit of the planet, or so we think. For each life we save, more food is needed, more work,
more houses, more air. Until war, famine, pestilence, some new specter of death, or profound social
change occurs to push the population down to a more reasonable level, we will have more and more
starving, homeless, and dying people in every corner of our dear home, earth.
From: Melissa Holt
Austin Peay State University
Melina319@excite.com
Homelessness
Homelessness is a very important problem that plagues the United States today. Having volunteered my
time in the past at the Union Mission in Downtown Nashville, I have witnessed first hand the number of
people affected by homelessness.
I know how easy it can be to pass a homeless person while walking down the sidewalk or driving down
the street, but my time volunteering made me realize how human this problem is. It has a face, the
faces of men, women, and children who have been as well off as you and I, but struck by bad
luck.
We've all seen the man sitting on a box or crate on the street asking for a handout. The first thing that I
used to think was "Wow, how lazy is that guy. It's easy to just ask for money." But, I was wrong. For a
person to be desperate enough to ask a stranger for spare change, it shows that somehow their will has
been broken, and their need has exceeded their pride. We all need to take a more sensitive approach to
handling this situation.
The growing problem of homelessness in the United States calls for immediate action on the part of all
of its citizens. More government money and attention should be focused on providing food, shelter, and
support for our homeless because they're not just an issue, they're people just like you and
me.
Amanda Jowers
University of Tennessee-Martin
adnamachio@hotmail.com
Homelessness and Education
I believe that homelessness is caused by a lack of proper education. Education is the key to success in
our nation. When people are poorly educated, they have no place in the economic society. In large
cities, a quality public education is hard to find. Private schools provide the only quality education
and they are too expensive for most to afford. Even in small cities, most education is so outdated that it
helps the students little in the real world. Our education systems fail our society because if people do
not get a good education, they do not strive to go to college and learn more. They are satisfied with
mediocrity. When people do not go to college, they have a hard time finding jobs thus leaving them with
little money to pay bills, rent, etc leaving them in the long run homeless because they do not fit into
the economic society.
I believe our society has a very negative view of homeless people for the most part. We see homeless
people and assume that it was something that they did to cause them to live the way they do. When one
asks for money, we always assume that they are going to buy liquor or drugs. We never even consider
that they really may need food. In my experience, I offer to buy them a meal (from the establishment
that they are standing in front of) and some food for later. If they accept, fine. If they don't, it's their
loss.
As far as I know the government does little for the homeless. Mainly individuals and groups do the
work for them with soup kitchens and shelters. Churches are highly involved also doing whatever they
can to aid people. Work for the homeless is a volunteer job in the U.S.
Zeineb Lebbadi
Austin Peay State Univeresity
zl7390@apsu.edu
Homelessness in Atlanta
It is not because somebody does not have a home or a job that they are homeless. It is because they do
not have an address, do not have enough money to pay rent or own a house. That is why people end up
homeless.
Atlanta, Georgia, is one of the biggest cities in the United States, and also is the city that has the highest
percentage of homelessness. It is said that the percentage of homeless women is higher than that of men.
Unfortunately, there are more shelters for men than there are for women. So where do these women
go? Well, they go live with strangers in exchange for sex, and when the man has enough she goes to
another, and another. Life in a shelter is tough, though: the homeless have to be there by 7 p.m. and
leave by 4a.m. That way, say the people in charge of theshelter, the homeless will not get comfortable,
and will try to get their own place, and their own jobs.
There are many organizations that try to help the homeless. One of them is The SafeHouse, it's
sponsored by Christians. They provide warm meals, clothing, worship services, employment
assistance, and medical attention. They help in every way they can.
There is much to do for these people and I am willing to help where ever they are: here in America or
in Europe, in Africa, Asia, or any other continent.
Maleye Leye
University of Tennessee-Martin
malleye@hotmail.com
Le Droit au Logement
Le droit au logement est un problème majeur en France. Bien que ce droit est constitutionnel,
on assiste à des situations derisoires à ce qui concerne le logement en France. Certes la
france a plus que jamais la possibilité de bātir de décents logements, mais certains
facteurs comme la crise de l'emploi, le désengagement de l'Etat et la renovation urbaine
constituent des blocus à la réalisation de ce project.
La sévère privatisation du logement a exclu les défavorisés qui se
retrouvent dans une situation de sans abris. Face à ce fléaut, des associations comme
"Droit Au Logement" qui luttent pour l'amélioration du logement ont vu le jour en France au fil
des années précédentes.
A propos de cette lutte il est important de noter l'action de l'Abbé Pierre à travers les
mouvements familiaux. En effet il s'est opposé à la réquisition et a
mené une politique de logements des moins favorisés.
Stephanie Gray Lincoln
University of Tennessee-Martin
dmbabe@hotmail.com
Mental Illness and Homelessness
I think that mental illness is a problem with the homeless because there are no rules on keeping them
in the hospitals and also there are no rules to force them to take medicine. So, if you are crazy and you
are in a hospital and feel like it's time for you to leave, then you just sign yourself out and go. Now, if
you are not competent to sign yourself in, and you have no idea about what is going on around you, then
you are not allowed to leave, but for borderline cases, there really are no guidelines and you can leave
any time you want to.
Even if you leave the hospitals, you can still decide to take medicine. There is a follow up of sorts to
make sure the medicine is available to mentally ill people, and to monitor the patients to see if they
take the medecine, but there are no laws saying they have to take medicine. The mentally ill believe
that hospitals and institutions steal their freedom and they had rather live on the street than be in the
hospitals. Also, some people feel that medication turns them into zombies and they cannot think or feel
emotions, and they had rather live real lives without mind altering drugs. They just don't understand
why they have to be different from others, and they do not want to be isolated because of their
disabilities. But in these times people with mental illness can be helped, but choose the alternative,
and live on the streets, barely making it, for the price of freedom.
Diana Lugo
Austin Peay State University
Karyme9916@cs.com
Karyme9916@hotmail.com
Homeless in America
Poverty and hunger have always played a role in this world, whether it be in a fast growing city, or a
slowed pace rural town. Even countries with untouchable economies have people that are living on the
streets, eating out of garbage cans, and losing hope. Each day, homeless people awake to the cruel
reality of life: they have no food, no water, and no home, but most importantly, they lack a helping
hand.
It appears to be that as the economy flourishes, so does the homeless rate. The Unites States has, for
the most part, a very stable economy; however, not even a powerful titan like the US is immune to
poverty. Each year there are numerous cases of homeless individuals dying in the streets.
While they freeze and starve to death, those who can help look the other away. People think that by
ignoring the problem it will go away, but they are wrong. The problem will never go away unless
something is done!
People often ignore the problem because they are ignorant about the circumstances that put these
individuals in such a position. They often think that people are homeless because they choose to be, but
really, who on this earth would choose to be homeless? It is very unjust that people often label
homeless individuals as "lazy bums who are looking for an easy way out of working by draining the
government's money." People who think like that are only trying to make themselves feel better by
looking down on someone else.
Perhaps one will never find the answer to homelessness, but it never hurts to try. One has to do
everything one can to help out our fellow beings. Keeping an ignorant attitude will not solve anything;
in fact, it will make the situation worse. Homelessness does not have to be an issue if people care to
help.
Martha Montano
University of Tennessee-Martin
marbmont@mars.utm.edu
Yo pienso que la gente que vive en la calle deberia al menos de tratar de hacer algo mas, buscar trabajo ,
ver la manera de poder salir adelante con su vida y no nada mas vivir en la calle de lo que los demas te
dan por lastima o por compasion . Creo todos tenemos facultades necesarias como para poder salir
adelante y no dejarnos ir al camino facil y vivir en la calle .
Yo creo mucha gente se aprovecha de vivir en la calle , y por lo mismo que asi pueden vivir , no hacen
nada mas por salir adelante . Los centros de atencion son una buena idea para ayudarlos , sin embargo
los unicos que pueden tomar la decision de dajar la calle son ellos y ahi esta el problema , por que no
quieren vivir en una institucion y tampaco trabajar como la demas gente .
Cynthia Shrader
Austin Peay State University
CAS7144@apsu01.apsu.edu
Homelessness in the United States is a major problem that many people choose to deny or ignore
altogether. Although we have the stereotypical image of a dirty, unkempt old man dressed shabbily in
rags, swigging on a bottle of cheap wine, begging for pocket change, that is a hackneyed image that is not
completely true today. To many people's surprise, today's homeless people range from mentally ill
persons turned out from institutions from lack of space to entire families with little children.
Homelessness does not discriminate according to social class ranking. Homelessness captures poor,
rich and middle class alike. Even though we Americans like to think of ourselves as safe and secure in
our apartments and houses, it could take just one or two missed paychecks or mortgage payments to join
the ranks of the homeless. It time for the Americans with their collective heads in the sand to wake up
to the reality of homelessness.
There are as many paths to homelessness (alcoholism, mismanagement of income) as there are
potential solutions (more government aid, private shelters and counseling). But is there one ultimate
solution to the problem of homelessness? I do not know. Until there is recognition of a problem,
however, there can be no solution.
Sally F. Utech
University of Tennessee-Martin
salfutec@mars.utm.edu
I do have a lot of empathy for the homeless. There are various different reasons for homelessness, one
being mental illness. Mentally ill patients who are hospitalized are not forced to take medications to
stifle their diseases. Also, any patient can check himself out of a hospital at any time. Society knows
full well that anyone who is serious enough to be hospitalized probably cannot live successfully alone
out in the real world. But, there are no out-patient type programs in place to help integrate mentally
ill patients who do not want to live in the hospital into society. Therefore, the only choices for a mental
patient are to live in a hospital or live in the street due to the inability to hold a job, keep a house, and
take care of himself.
Another sympathetic case is that of US war veterans. After coming back from something as
traumatizing as a war, soldiers are expected to just go back home and live a regular life. Many people
are unable to do this. War trauma brings about another kind of mental illness, which makes a veteran
just as unable as any other mentally ill person to live in society. The government offers no
psychological counseling for veterans, and many feel so disgusted with themselves and society that they
do not want anything to do with society--this includes a job, a home, and going back to their families.
Although i have not personally experienced homelessness to such a powerful extent, i grew up in a
military family where, every time we moved, we had no house to go to. Finding a house was never
assured, and we lived in military billeting hotels for a while because we could not find a house to live
in. My family was not poor or in danger of being so, but we were still without a home and it did give us
a feeling of insecurity for a long time because we had nowhere to go home to.
bobp@utm.edu
TennesseeBob Peckham
Director, The Globe-Gate Project
University of Tennessee-Martin
9139