Homelessness in America

            Homelessness is not a new problem in today's American culture. Studies have shown that modern methods of tracking homeless people in America have proven that it has become epidemic and better solutions should be reviewed. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, there is about 610,042 people experience homelessness on any given night in the United States. In addition, children of homeless families are at risk of developing health issues and behavior problems due to the stress of homelessness. One of the main reasons some of these people are homeless is because of home foreclosures, being released from prison with nowhere to go, mental illness, and youths who have aged out of foster care. The government has programs to assist families who are homeless but here never seems to be enough to accommodate the huge number of homeless families. One such program is the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act. This program was put into action in 2009 and focuses on homeless families with children, prevention of homelessness and reasons why developing permanent supportive housing. Through advocates such as Beth Davalos, in Seminole County, Florida, there may be hope for them. Other concerns for young children who are homeless are how it affects their learning and development. Since I am an Early Childhood teacher, my concern is for the young children who fall victim to homelessness. .
             Some people believe that if you are living in a house with relatives or friends then you are therefore not homeless. On the contrary, those people are homeless because they do not have a place of their own that they can sustain independently. If they do not have anyone to go to for assistance they can apply at shelters only to be put on a long waiting list which could result in them ending up living in their cars, if they have one. In the video on YouTube, "Hard Times Generation: Families Living in Cars", illustrates how some homeless people live in their cars because the homeless shelters are full and there is a waiting list.