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Homelessness
Homelessness is a statement that may bring many negative images. Homelessness was once considered a life style for rebellious individuals who were slothful, idle, drunk, or who didn't want to work, but today it brings many labels that classify people into specific categories. These catergories of need if for use in a treatment plan for individuals in order to obtain a normal status within communities. Across America, our communities are changing, and in some cities being homeless is now a crime. Homeless people are said to be dangerous and are assoicated with mental, drug, or alcohol abuse problems. Although this may be true, this is a small percentage of the total population of homeless people. Today, we have many homeless families on the street who have no permanant residence. The causes for homelessness are still the same today, which is loss of jobs, lack of affordable housing, poverty, domestic violence, mental illness, alchohol and substance abuse, criminal background and youth who are aging out of foster care. I did not list those with criminal backgrounds and youth who have reached the age of eighteen and released into the public. These two reasons have been added within the last two years and are now becoming problamatic within cities. My research paper titled, "Homeless Identity and the Issue of Housing" done in 2006, still remains vital today as one tries to ascertain the issues for homelessness within cities. Here is the link to the PDF file of the research paper "Homeless Identity and the Issue of Housing."
Homelessness has become a national and local problem in the United States that affects everyone. In January 2008, the count for homeless individuals for our region was 8,439. For South King County this was a 4% increase from 2007. The estimates show that 36% of homeless were adult single men, and 50% of the homeless were families with children. The working poor was at 76% that reported income at less than 30% of area median income of $24,400 for a family of four. Currently, the National Center on Family Homelessness showed the fair market cost out of reach for those in Washington State. The minimum wage at $8.07/ hour, one would need to work 79 hours per week for 52 weeks per year to afford a two-bedroom apartment at $829.00. This means a person must make at least $16.81/hour in wages to be able to afford a two bedroom apartment. Back in 2006 the National Low Income Housing Coalition had the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Washington state at $757, while in King County it was at $840. The minimum wage in 2006 was at $7.35/hour, so one still had to work double the amount of hours to meet the requirements of a two-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent. The National Center on Family Homelessness states, "Washington ranks 25th in the nation in child homelessness." Here is the PDF file of their report Washington Report on Child Homelessness
According to Washington State RCW 43.185C.010, the definition of a homeless person is "an individual living outside or in a building not meant for human habitation or which they have no legal right to occupy, in an emergency shelter, or in a temporary housing program which may include a transitional and supportive housing program if habitation time limits exist. This definition includes substance abusers, people with mental illness, and sex offenders who are homeless." Today, the issue is still that of affordable housing, which falls under the classification of economic along with loss of income, lack of living wage, and poverty. We also have many homeless veterans and the last count in 2005 for Washington State was at 7,283. Here is a PDF file for statistic Homeless Veteran Count Homelessness is not just a personal life style of social issues, but an economic problem that we all face within our communities.