Poverty and Homelessness in the United States Essay

Poverty and Homelessness in the United States Poverty in America is a subject that though everybody recognizes is existent, most do not pay attention to very often. In 2010 the poverty line for a family of four was $22,314.00 and 15.1% of Americans were living off of less than that (Tavernise, 2011). While 15.1% is a high number to begin with, the truth is that many more people are living on the verge of homelessness. Countless families are split up every night with children going to a friend’s house or an extended family member’s house to ensure that everyone has somewhere to sleep. These people are called the â€Å"hidden homeless† by the Charlotte Observer (Whitesides, 2011). Even more people are either living in tent cities or in their†¦show more content†¦While reading about homelessness through the media, one must be sure to realize that even the articles written include discourses and also that they omit details in order to keep the attention of t he readers. In Seattle the program that is to allow people living in cars to spend the night in church parking lots seems like a great idea that will help out dozens of people. Something to consider though, is the fact that many people are not willing to open up a safe haven, such as a church, to potentially dangerous. Even though many people try to go through their days without judging people, it is inevitable to have discourses towards people. In America people grow up hearing stories about how if you give a homeless person money that he or she will most likely use it on beer or drugs. These discourses need to be eliminated in order for the country’s problem to be solved. The United States is known as a country full of opportunities, a place where anyone can succeed but behind that visage is a reality that is becoming worse and worse as time goes on. While people go throughout their days pretending that everyone lives a comfortable life in a warm home, the truth is that at any given moment there are thousands of Americans who are homeless. Problems that have been existent since the beginning of the United States have contributed to this ever-growing problem that is prominent now.Show MoreRelatedHomelessness in the United States Essay1461 Words   |  6 PagesCampaign Against Hunger and Homelessness, â€Å"approximately 3.5 million people are homeless each year, while 36.3 million live in households without enough food.† This statistic only reflects the United States, and to many people, it just doesn’t make sense. 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