Why The U.S. Can’t Solve Homelessness

I remember one time when i worked construction i was waiting on a ride in downtown. I was covered in mud and dirt and probably looked homeless. As i was waiting my phone died so i tried to approach people merely to ask the time. As soon as most people made eye contact with me or saw me approach they immediately looked away or crossed the street or immediately said i have no money before i could even say excuse me. The only person that came up was a homeless man who asked me if i needed help. I will never forget that moment and it truly opened my eyes to how some people ignore those that seems homeless or in a bad place.

The rising prices of housing are insane! There are also the hidden homeless that are either living in their car or couch surfing simply because the rent went up too much.

It's not that they can't, it's they don't want to solve the issue

The horrible reality is that we all are 1 job, 1 divorce, 1 mental health illness, 1 loved one's death, 1 major health condition away from being homeless. It can happen to anyone at anytime. We need to have more compassion and stop with the mindset that all homeless people are drug addicts, etc. More and more people, families are being outpriced out of their homes.

In the words of my favorite comedian, "But did you ever notice that we have no war on homelessness? You know why? Because there's no money in that problem. No money to be made off of the homeless. If you can find a solution to homelessness where the corporations and politicians can make a few million dollars each, you will see the streets of America begin to clear up pretty quick!" -George Carlin

“They Have Money For War But Can't Feed The Poor” - Tupac

1 of the biggest problems to homelessness is non profits. Instead of giving money directly to the homeless ( those that are mentally sound) the money is given to so-called nonprofits which spend very little of that money on providing services.

I've been homeless and a heroin addict. I've also had a roof over my head. I was raised in a foster home since the age of 4 and called mayonnaise, mustard, and ketchup food because my birth mother would rather be at the bar than spend the money we helped her earn buying food to feed us. I learned very young how to take care of my habits with a roof over my head. What I also learned is not to share my drugs or alcohol with others because it means less for me. I quit using drugs years ago because I found there are things I want like my own clothes, and a safe place to sleep. I quit drinking three years ago and still have the nearly full half gallon I bought the day I quit.

"America can solve homelessness, but deliberately choose not to do it. Likewise, America can improve the US education system, but deliberately choose not to do it. Etc." ... Noam Chomsky.

Outrageous rent prices! People are losing hope. Most of the younger generations will never be able to afford their own home and to raise a family.

I live in California and I'm on the verge of being homeless. I am 69 years old, am disabled and have severe health issues. I don't do drugs, unless you count the medication that I take for blood pressure. I'm a sober person and I have PTSD, Prolonged Grieving Disorder and Depression. I've lived in my apartment for 13 years, paying my bills and rent on time. I'm sick and tired of the false narrative, of people who are homeless being on drugs. I think people are very cruel and oblivious to what many poor are dealing with. I live on Social Security Survivors Benefits and it still doesn't pay for the market rate rent.

The fact that the mentality was that it was expected of homeless people, in horrible, situations stand a moral high ground and live in absolute miserable conditions to deserve shelter is so disgusting.

So the worse homelessness gets, the more you pay the same people to fix the problem and shocked face when it doesn’t get better. Yeah that makes sense. It’s all a business.

The problem is rent. It's just too high for what people are earning. Here in Phoenix the rent in many cases has doubled over the past 2 years. An apartment that was once 800 is now 1600. Ridiculous.

We can solve the homeless problem when we start to recognize all types of homelessness and not just those who have mental illnesses. We need to also simply admit that there is a homeless epidemic and address the root causes which is the insane cost of living, lack of access to mental health services and lack of support systems. We have to also WANT to solve the homeless issue.

💯 I’ve been there. After my daughter was murdered in 2018, I almost lost it all. Mental I illness brought on by depression is something nobody can prepare for. Took 2 years to get back in good standing and pay off debts. Now there’s the school loan about to start knocking again. I’ve paid 25k for and original loan of 19k and today I owe 33k (2 year technical college for a degree I can’t get a job for. I was essentially automated out of work. Not giving up but it’s no joke. Opened a pressure washing company and continually work on personal development, socializing, less time on iPhone, eat well, workout and still it’s rough. Now imagine a mentally challenged person who is alone. That’s just inhumane to be in denial despite all the overwhelming evidence. All the conditions are right and it’s undeniable that we need to solve this quick. There are folks out there who take it as a slight that your brothers and sisters should be given a leg up when really it’s just leveling the playing field. It’s Evil to do nothing less!

I sleep in my car because I can't afford rent but I work full-time as a security guard I know the stigmatism of homelessness and I wouldn't want anyone else to experience it

50% or more of people's salary goes to their rent/mortgage. This is absurd

I'm currently homeless and have been for a year and a half. In this time I have worked at a car wash for a year and gotten fired and still haven't been able to buy a van to live in. If I only had a roof over my head to sleep and leave my things without worrying about them getting stolen life would be so much easier I could make so much more money and I'd be able to accomplish so much more.

Housing first absolutely works. There was a homeless camp in a park near me, i was friendly with 4 people living in the camp and after over a year for each they all finally got housing vouchers. I kept in touch, 2 guys were working full time within a year, one guy is unfortunately on hospice care now so he's not working, and i lost touch with my other friend unfortunately but last I'd heard she had to move to a new apartment because of a massive sewage backup from a broken sewer main. It wasn't all completely smooth sailing but it did way more to help people than anything I've seen before.