Vulnerable Populations

Vulnerable Populations

Vickie Christian

University of Phoenix

For many, the American dream is far from a reality. As the gap between the rich and the poor widens, more people are becoming homeless. A variety of circumstances including financial hardships and mental illness contribute to homelessness in America. Learning about this growing trend and its causes can help dispel harmful stereotypes related homelessness.

Ever since the civil war conditions have contributed to homelessness due to slaves who were freed and did not have a permanent shelter. As the American economy grew it allowed people to obtain comfortable homes, but then when the economy endured shortcomings it forced many Americans out of these very same homes. Homelessness used to be centered on just ghettos, but many issues changed this rate in America. Issues such as job loss and trade agreements that became unbalanced. Homelessness has been investigated as early as 1908 when President Theodore Roosevelt appointed a housing commission to do so. In 1932 The Great Depression caused many people to become homeless. (Kusmer.K 2002) After the war many war veterans remained unemployed and others lost their properties to war and natural catastrophes, thus they spent most of their times in the streets. In the nature of things, many people passed homelessness from generation to generation in the form of poverty and crime.

When a person is homeless there are many social problems that they must face. Some of these social problems include but are not limited to reduced access to health care and dental services, limited access to education, increased risk of suffering from violence and abuse, general rejection or discrimination from other people, loss of usual relationships with the mainstream, not being seen as suitable for employment, reduced access to banking services and reduced access to communications technology. Homeless people, like the rest of society,...