Homelessness among Hispanic Americans

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The solution below should get you started. This focuses on Hispanic Americans. Other sources have also been listed. If you have any questions, just let me know via the feedback section. Good luck with your studies.

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OTA 105878/Xenia Jones
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Homelessness: Hispanic American Families & Youths

Homelessness is the state of being without adequate, safe, fixed & regular dwelling. A house/home is that place of abode that offers shelter, sanctuary, for both the mind and body. Access to this is decided by economic and social circumstances. But shelter and accommodation is one of the most basic needs that human beings need to fulfil as in so doing, they will allow a place of safety wherein they can continue the task of living sheltered from the risk posed by the elements and other dangers. There are some who spend their nights in shelters as their primary night-time residence. For whatever reason - domestic violence, poverty - the fact that they have no access to regular housing renders them homeless. Being homeless is an emotionally, physically and mentally difficult position. Lucky formerly homeless individuals talk about the beatings, while women talk about rape, about being subjected to elements of criminality, of going for days without food, sleeping under bridges and street corners without any hope for survival and the future. For many, suicide becomes a far more palatable option and survival is a tough proposition as will slips them by. The conditions that require one to get out of the state of homelessness are both political and social - they need to have access to a phone, an address, clean clothes, food and the right papers to get them to qualify for assistance and possible employment. This is a tough enough proposition for the adult who are homeless; this kind of condition then would be much tougher on children and young adults. Add to these elements of cultural and racial difference and the position of homeless Hispanic Americans appear terribly hopeless and daunting. The US Census bureau reports that in 2008, there were over 10,987,000 Hispanic American youths and children living below the poverty line. Without assisted housing, government and private sector assistance, a number of these children will fall through the cracks and become homeless. A report by CNN (2009) shares that 1 out of 50 kids in the US become homeless every year and with the hope pinned on economic recovery, some of these homeless children, either with their parents or abandoned by them will stay in that condition for awhile until help comes their way.

The US Census Bureau reports that since 2007, about 3.5 million people in the US are subjected to varying degrees of homelessness. Of this, 40% are families with kids and the most alarming thing is that this is the fastest growing homeless segment. About 150,000 of these are chronically homeless since 2007 - having never found the opportunity to get back to a state of being 'homed', to find jobs and opportunities that can lead them out of being homeless. 13% of these are Hispanic Americans and of these 13%, a huge proportion are families with children.34% of ...