Homelessness

The homelessness crisis is a global issue that affects everyone of any

ethnicity and age. Homelessness can refer to people that are living in
unstable living conditions or on the streets. The current number of homeless
people globally is estimated to be around in the millions. Many people are
homeless due to drug abuse, mental illness, and other personal problems.
The lack of affordable housing as well as unemployment contribute to the
issue. Nobody is truly responsible for this global issue.

Views
Many people have different views on this issue as people think that
homelessness is a result of your own problems such as drug abuse.
Homeless people also have a bad reputation for being bad people like
criminals. This view on the homeless leads many people to not help them,
which will further worsen the issue. Some politicians may also have different
views on this crisis leading them to not prioritize finding ways to help and fix
the problem.
 Inequality
Low-income families are unfairly affected by this issue and
discrimination which will make people harder to get employed. The
homelessness statistics in Vancouver show that Indigenous people make up
30% of the homeless population. People with lack of access to good
healthcare services are also more likely to end up homeless as they might
not get the help they need if they suffer from mental illness or drug
addiction.

Causes
The homelessness crisis will continue to worsen over time as the
prices of houses keep increasing. The Covid-19 pandemic has also negatively
affected the crisis as many people became unemployed. The main root
causes for homelessness include drug abuse, unaffordable housing, mental
illness, unemployment, discrimination, and poverty. In other places people
could end up homeless due to natural disasters such as hurricanes or floods.
 Solutions
Current ways that people have tried to fix the issue have been funding
money to organizations that help the homeless, such as giving them
necessities. Homeless shelters have also been built, these shelters can
provide clean water and food for the homeless. To solve the issue, we will
have to solve the root causes of the homelessness crisis. This could mean
making more affordable housing, providing more job opportunities, and
providing mental health services as many people become homeless due to
drug addiction/abuse. We could also provide education for the youth that
are homeless so that they can acquire skills to get employed better.

Organizations
There are many organizations that aim to help those experiencing
homelessness. Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit housing
organization that focuses on building affordable housing for those in need.
The Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness is an organization that works
with other groups, individuals, and communities to end homelessness in
Canada. There is also an annual homeless count in Metro Vancouver, these
counts can provide critical information about homelessness statistics and
population. Over 400 volunteers participate in this count each year in
March.
 Responsibilities
For citizens to help fix the issue we should vote for politicians that
have good views on the issue and plan to help and fix the homelessness
crisis. We as citizens should also raise awareness about the issue whether it
be through social media or speaking out to the community. Citizens can also
join peaceful protests/rallies for homeless people and better housing.
Joining advocacy groups can help bring even more awareness as you are
working with others that share the same views on the homelessness crisis.
Many homeless people are vulnerable and do not get enough help they
need, which means that citizens must work together for this global issue to
be fixed.

Contacting
Citizens can contact local government officials/representatives as they
have direct influence over local funding, etc., all relating to homelessness.
Finding out how to contact them and reaching out will allow you to speak
your thoughts and solutions to this issue. Citizens should also contact health
departments and advocate for them to provide better funding and services
for the homeless. These services could be mental health, healthcare, and
drug abuse treatment.