History of Homelessness

Many people in the United States have been dealing with homelessness for many years.  The cause of homelessness varies throughout the nation and over time.  The term “hobo” was introduced in the early 1900’s, as reference to those who were homeless or migratory workers.  The hobo’s would ride freight trains and sleep in rail yards across the United States.  In the 1930’s, the number of hobo’s riding freight trains increased because of the great depression.  During the height of the great depression, many of the hobos riding freight trains were teenagers (Uys, 2010).  The great depression left many unemployed and displaced.  Because of the struggles, the hobos would travel nationwide in order to find work.   

Besides the depression, natural disasters have also been a contributor to homelessness.  In 1906, there was a massive earthquake in San Francisco which ignited many fires.  The fires burned for days and left about 400,000 people homeless (San Francisco Earthquake, 1906).  Earthquakes, fires, and hurricanes are some of the disasters which result in an increased number of homeless people.  Private and government organizations help those who have become homeless, although they are not always successful. 

In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, mental hospitals released most of their patients into communities.  Because of the release, thousands were left homeless while suffering with a mental illness.  The release of mentally ill patients, was a result of failed polices made by government officials.  Approximately ten years later, homeless shelters and services began to develop across the United States from government and private organizations. 

In early 2000’s there was an increase of homeless families.  The families were displaced from their communities and homes as a result of Hurricane Katrina.  Across the country, shelters and agencies helped those who were left homeless.  Due to the devastation of disasters such as Katrina, President Obama signed the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing program into law.  The new program would consolidate the previous three homeless assistance programs into one, in order to help the homeless community (Homelessness Resource Exchange, 2012). 

Since the program was signed into law, there has been an increase of homelessness because of financial reasons.  Unemployment rates have increased statewide which have left many homeless and in need of homeless assistance.  The history of homelessness has shown the variety of reasons why people become homeless.  Even though the reasons vary, those who are homeless share the commonality of needing assistance by private or government organizations.  

References:

Homelessness Resource Exchange, 2012. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Retrieved from: http://www.hudhre.info/hearth/

Mental Illness and Homelessness, 2006. National Coalition for the Homeless. Retrieved from:
http://www.nationalhomeless.org/publications/facts/Mental_Illness.pdf

Riding the Rails, 2010. PBS. Retrieved from:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/timeline/rails-timeline/

San Francisco Earthquake, 1906. National Archives. Retrieved from:
http://www.archives.gov/legislative/features/sf/

The History of Homelessness in America 1640's to Present, 2011. Downtown Congressions to End Homelessness. Retrieved from: http://www.dceh.org/?p=1253