Homelessness in Alabama, Essay Example

Homelessness can be described as someone or people who do not have a regular place to stay. Homelessness has been a major problem affecting the residents of Birmingham, Alabama. Alabama is the state, the city of Birmingham has many people who are homeless which is increasing every year. The most affected are the kids/students and that number is increasing rapidly. For example, in the year 2012 – 2013 the highest percentage was recorded when 29749 homeless students enrolled in K-12 schools and pre-schools. The number was equivalent to 68% increase as compared to the previous years. Homelessness in Birmingham, Alabama is the worst in the United States. Homelessness can be controlled by determining the causes after which they will be addressed by giving alternatives or solutions.

Homelessness in Alabama is caused by various factors affecting the residents. High poverty rate contributes to homelessness because people are poor to the extent that they cannot afford to own or even hire a residential home. The residents remain poor and live below the poverty line, as they do not have any source to earn a living. Another factor is the lack of affordable housing in the nation (Smith 2011, p. 183). Most of the available houses are expensive to the extent that the residents cannot afford one. Economic recession is another factor that is causing homelessness in the state. The economic activities have slowed down to the extent that the residents do not depend on the earnings from economic activities to own or rent a home. The residents will end up being homeless because the earnings are not enough to secure their needs, single parenting also contributes to homeless as the parent might be overwhelmed by the responsibilities to the extent that he/she remains homeless due to poor living standards. Effects of traumatic experiences may lead to homelessness especially the domestic violence. When there is violence in the family, one of the parents may decide to divorce and live elsewhere. Due to difficulties in life and traumatic experiences, the couple might end up being homeless. Racial disparities may lead to homelessness in the judicial systems but the person or people might not be in a position to the address the problem of the ethnic or racial group in the community.

Homelessness in Birmingham, Alabama can be solved by addressing the causes of homelessness. There is an organization that can help address the homelessness problem, and they are non-profit organizations with assistance from the government. It is because non-profit organizations are working, they are mostly based in the community where many people are affected by the homelessness problem. The proposal will offer strategic solutions to the directors of non-profit organizations on how to deal with the problem of homelessness, the organization should reduce the increasing poverty rates in the community. It can be done in the community where the organization will create opportunities for the residents so they can have access infinite resources to sustain their lives (Alexander-Eitzman & North 2013, p. 681). The organization with the help of the government can establish firms or industries in the rural areas where the residents can be employed, an example of this is the Lighthouse Mission. This organization has dozens of agencies nationwide, the United States Lighthouse Society is another such organization. They are not so much about educational opportunities but they will give people a place to let their heads should they become homeless. The residents will draw monthly salaries and other benefits, which will enable them to eventually move out of the homeless shelter and into their own home, and regain the other necessities in their lives. Establishment of the firms or industries in the community will not only create employment for the residents, but will also improve the standards of living. For the firms and industries to operate without any problem, infrastructure should be improved in the community. The residents will benefit from the infrastructure in the community. For example, the road network in the community will be improved, and the residents will enjoy the convenience as they can move to different places easily. The residents will access this resource that is brought to the community as a result of establishing industries and firms.

Non-profit making organizations should consider nurturing the young children and youths as they grow. It is because they will be parents and members of the community in the future, they deserve the chance to own a home so they can maintain their lives. The students that are already in school that have nowhere to go will have somewhere to go, so they will be able to acquire the necessary knowledge and experience that will enable them to secure job opportunities in the future not to mention give students a safe place to do their homework. The youth will be able to sustain their lives in the future leading to a reduction in the increasing poverty rate and eliminate homelessness in the community. The schools should not only be established, but should be affordable to the community residents. Since the people in the community are poor and homeless, free public education is readily available to everyone should they want to take advantage of it which makes it affordable for not just poor families but everyone. Education will help to save the upcoming generation from being poor and homeless in the community. The organization should establish healthcare facilities in the community to address healthcare problems of the people (Kertesz 2014, p. 93). Since many people are homeless in the state, a few who have homes are facing healthcare challenges. In addition, the youths and young children will continue their education without the accessibility of healthcare facilities when they are ill or in need of any medication.

Housing should be made affordable and accessible to all people in the community or even in the urban areas. A body or authorities should be formed such that they can control the prices of the houses set by the entrepreneurs and business people in the community, Terre Haute, Indiana and Traverse City, Michigan are, Kokomo, Indiana as well as Springfield, Ohio. These areas have affordable housing for people regardless of their positions or living standards. Control of the prices or rental fees should be implemented because few people own the premises, and they offer as rentals to other people.  Non-profit organizations, with the help of the government, should establish housing facilities which will be offered at affordable prices to the community residents. An example of this is the HCA or Housing Court Answers in New York City. Since the prices will be low, and it will influence the other entrepreneurs to reduce their prices. The people will benefit as they pay less, thereby being able to afford their own home. Non-profit organizations will neutralize the housing prices, and many people will be able to afford to pay. Another alternative for the non-profit organizations is to finance the prices by paying a certain amount to the landlords who own, and rent the premises to the people. The landlords will reduce the rental or selling prices of the premises, and many people who are poor will be able to afford to pay for the houses.

Many people are depending on the economic activities to earn a living and sustain their lives in the community. When there is an economic recession, the people will remain poor to the extent that they will be homeless (Smith 2011, p. 72). Since there is no controlling economic recession, non-profit organizations, and other government departments should work together in establishing wide markets for the economic activities practiced by the people in the community. When there is a poor market or reduced prices for the outputs of economic activities, the people in the community will remain poor and even homeless as they rely on economic activities. Non-profit organizations should advise the people not to rely on the economic activities, but to have other alternatives. When there are poor principles of low output on economic activities, people should opt for other alternatives to earn a living in the community. In addition, non-profit organizations should hold seminars and workshops where the residents are educated on various businesses that they can venture into for them to earn a living. It is risky for the people in the community to rely on one source as when it fails, it will be the end of everything and the person will remain poor and homeless. After being trained on various business opportunities and skills, people should be offered starting capital, which will enable them to establish a business. It does not help when people are only educated without any starting capital. Starting capital should be offered, and monitored closely on how they are spending as they progress. When the capital is offered, it needs to be closely monitored because it will be a testament to the residents’ ability to manage the business and sustain their lives then the residents will be not be monitored after some time.

Non-profit organizations should establish programs which will help poor single parents in the community, single parents in the community who are poor or not employed face many problems especially when they are homeless. The programs will help them to secure a home and educate them on how they can earn a living (Miller 2014, p. 1054). It will help control, and reduce homelessness in the community. Domestic violence should be dealt with accordingly in the community as it is the main cause of homelessness. Strict rules, and regulations should be established to help in prosecuting those who are mistreating partners in the family. For example, when a woman or a man is assaulted in any manner, he/she should seek legal assistance instead of moving out and dividing the family. It is because when he/she moves out, there are high chances of being homeless when he/she is overwhelmed by the circumstances in living.

In conclusion, homelessness in Birmingham, Alabama is a major problem, which can be addressed by establishing the root causes. After establishing the causes, solutions to the causes are rolled out, and the problem will be reduced. The problem should be addressed starting from the young children and youth in the community so their lives will improve not to mention live comfortably in the future completely unaffected by homelessness.