Homelessness

By: Adrian Swain, Garrett Hamilton, Dale Smith, and

Rahme Mourad

Alternative Arguments

• Homeless people are too “lazy” to find a job• People are homeless because they’re on drugs

and do not want to get off of them

STATISTICS• The average homeless person is

40 - women tend to be younger.• 33% to 50% are female.  Men

make up about 75% of the single population.

• About 46% to 79% do not receive public benefits to which they are entitled.

• 22% to 45% are in families, typically headed by a single mother.

• An estimated 15% are physically disabled.

• Less than 22% are mentally ill.

• 41% of adults were employed within last year but lost their jobs.

• 16% to 20% of adults are employed.

• As children, 27% lived in foster care or group homes; 25% were physically or sexually abused

• 32%-61% of single individuals have substance abuse issues.

• / 48% graduated from high school; 32% had a bachelor degree or higher

Compromise

• Donate to local shelters• Donate to websites– www.homeaid.org– www.invisiblepeople.tv

• Volunteer to local homeless shelters– LOOKS GOOD ON YOUR RESUME!

“We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless.

The poverty of being unwanted , unloved and uncared for is the greatest

poverty.”

A quote from mother Teresa

Homelessness

• Garett: – Events and organizations to raise awareness– Mutual understanding

• Dale:– Our groups position– The reality of homelessness

• Rahme:– Benefits to our opposition– Conclusion

Housing$5,274 $18,810 - 5,274 $13,536

Utilities $2,350

$13,536 - 2,350 $11,186

Transportation$4,852

$11,186 - 4,852 $6,334

Food$4,815

$6,334 - 4,815 $1,519

Health Care$793

$1,519 - 793 $726

Child Care$2,030

$726 - 2,030 $-1,304

The federal government says that a family of four making $18,810 a year is living in poverty

Poverty Rates

National Coalition for the Homeless

“Homelessness results from a complex set of circumstances that require people to choose between food, shelter, and other basic needs. Only a concerted effort to ensure jobs that pay a living wage, adequate support for those who cannot work, affordable housing, and access to health care will bring an end to homelessness.”

5 Ways To Help Homeless People Living On America's Streets

1. Bring Comfort To Homeless Kids2. Help Homeless Vets3. Give Homeless People A Voice4. Get The Government Involved5. Take Action

Chronic Homelessness

• Homeless for a year or more or• Homeless 4 or more time in the previous 3

years with some form of disability• Accounts for 16% of the entire homeless

population• Consumes half the aid available for the

homeless

Homeless Veterans

Nkechi Feaster, 39, stayed at the D.C. General homeless shelter earlier this year with her son. (Michael S.

Williamson/TWP)

It IS an issue

Is this right?

“devastating tsunami that sent walls of water

washing over coastal cities in the north”(Fackler)

Earthquake… Tsunami… Homelessness…

Give

References• Fackler, Martin. “Powerful Quake and Tsunami Devastate Northern Japan.”

The New York Times 11 Mar 2011 late ed. Print. • Goldberg, Eleanor. “5 Ways To Help Homeless People Living On America’s

Streets.”• The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 10 Dec. 2012. Web. 14 Apr.• 2013.• H.A.L.O. “Activities – Homelessness Awareness Lock Out.” Activities –

Homelessness• Awareness Lock Out. Google Sites, n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2013.• StatJump. Percent of Families in Poverty by County. Digital image. Percent

of• Families in Poverty by County. StatJump, 2010. Web. 14 Apr. 2013• “Why Are People Homeless?” National Coalition for the Homeless.

National Coalition• for the Homeless, 15 Dec. 2011. Web. 14 Apr. 2013.

Donationswww.homeaid.orgwww.invisiblepoeple.tvhttp://www.nationalhomeless.org/

Interview with Joe"Interview with a Homeless Man." Newsflavor RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2013.

http://newsflavor.com/alternative/interview-with-a-homeless-man/.Statistics"ProjectHi." ProjectHi. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2013.

http://www.homelessinterviews.com/ProjectHi.html.Interview with RJRJ. "Invisible People." Interview. Weblog post. Http://invisiblepeople.tv/blog/. N.p., n.d. Web. Homeless man in front of a coffee shop "30 Best Pictures of the Week Showing Human Emotion – April 30th to May 07th, 2012 Homeless Man Outside Restaurant – The Fab Web." The Fab Web. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2013. <http://thefabweb.com/41664/30-best-pictures-of-the-week-showing-human-emotion-april-30th-to-may-07th-2012/attachment/41691/>.

Questions?