AN ANALYSIS OF HOMELESSNESS IN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: POLICY IMPLICATIONS

Abstract

This study analyzed the perceived causes of homelessness in United States of America, characteristics of homelessness in United States of America by family types, percentage of people experiencing homelessness by community setting to assist policymakers to develop programs and policy frameworks to address homeless issues across the country (USA). Homelessness affects the entire country. Homelessness is not someone else’s issue but national in scope. The issue of homelessness has a ripple effect throughout the community. It impacts the availability of healthcare resources, crime and safety, the workforce, and the use of tax dollars. Further, homelessness impacts the present as well as the future growth of the nation. Above all, the knowledge of homelessness benefits all of us to break the cycle of homelessness, one person, one family at a time. Therefore, in order to assist policymakers to effectively tackle the issue of homelessness, the study adopted a descriptive research design to analyze the policy issue of homelessness in United States of America. The data source for the study analysis came from the 2021 Census data, the 2022 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the National Alliance to END HOMELESSNESS. The study revealed that most of the homeless peoples were individuals without families and children (i.e. 70 percent), and the rest were people living in families with children. Also, the study further revealed in the homelessness dataset that males are far more likely to experience homelessness than their female counterparts. That is, out of every 10,000 males, 22 are homeless (representing a total male homeless population of 352,211), while for women and girls, that number is 13 homeless (representing a total female homeless population of 223,578). In addition, the homelessness historical data revealed that marginalized groups are more likely to be disadvantaged within housing and homelessness spheres. It also revealed that higher unemployment rates, lower incomes, less access to healthcare, and higher incarceration rates are some of the likely factors that contribute to higher rates of homelessness among people of color, and marginalized groups. Also, historically marginalized racial groups are far more likely to experience homelessness as a result of segregation and discrimination in employment and housing, among other things. The study strongly recommends that the federal government should create more programs and employment opportunities that will give equal opportunities to all. The study further recommends that by taking into consideration programs that will create more affordable houses, and to also take care of both natural shocks (i.e. hurricanes, fire outbreaks, etc.), and human shocks (i.e. domestic abuse) will go a long way to help the country minimize the homelessness rate. Keywords : Homelessness, Marginalized, Housing, Sheltered, Policymakers, Discrimination, Unsheltered, Poverty, Unemployment, Programs DOI: 10.7176/IAGS/98-05 Publication date: March 31 st 2023