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