Guidelines for Essay on Homelessness

Your assignment is to write an essay on homelessness. Over the past couple months, we have been reading about and taking part in activities related to our project. Please choose a topic that is relevant to the title of the project entitled "Issues of Homelessness - Teacher and Students Explore Causes and Solutions." If you attended our Conference on Homelessness, please use the information gathered there as well as your reactions. Recently, you have completed a Freewrite on homelessness. Use this as a basis for further exploration as you compare, contrast, and add new insights.

Your essay must be substantial in content and length and will be a significant part of your grade for term 3. Consider it the final for the term.

Take you time when writing and organize your thoughts into a persuasive essay. Please feel free to state your opinions and thoughts on the topic.

The essay belongs in the writing section of your Portfolio. Create it either as a web page using Dreamweaver or a word doc using MS Word.

Excerpted Reflections from: Artists Act Against Homelessness

People all over America are suffering from homelessness. It does not matter who you are, where you are, or how old you are. Anyone can be homeless, and it can happen in the blink of an eye. Most people think that homeless people are alcoholics or drug addicts who don't want to get a job or help themselves. Most people think that they just want to beg for money on the streets so they can buy more drugs and alcohol, but this is not true…. I think if the government gave more money to societies and groups that try to help the homeless, there would be less people having to sleep on the street….Sheena

A home is the first shelter or haven everyone grows up in, learning, trusting, and relying on everyone in it as a family. It is a basic necessity for every living creature - humans, animals, and insects. It provides everything from love, care, protection, and education. Hence, its is a right for everyone to have a home, not a privilege…If we join our hands together as a community, looking out for everyone's needs and problems, we can not only erase homelessness, but also make this society a better place….Harris

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. Many people have left the streets, but have taken complex problems, acute mental health problems and addictions, with them. Without help, they will never escape their downward spiral of despair, and some will even end up back on the streets…. Nhut

Homelessness is a story that really touched my heart this year. In the past, I had this mindset that homeless people were losers who didn't want to do anything to help their situation…Whoa, was I hit with a powerful blow when all the issues were brought to my attention. We had people come in and help us on projects so that we could make the lives of homeless people better. Volunteers came in from everywhere, and I've never seen so much unity… When our art and computer classes took a tip to UMASS to see real people facing the issues of homelessness, my heart melted. These people were just like me. They just had been placed in bad situations that could have happened to any of us. …I'm trying to help solve the issue of homelessness. I'm trying to organize a group in which we go to shelters and help out. Also, I would like to do fundraising to try to build additional accommodations fro the homeless….Shadae

Although homeless can often be prevented, there are some circumstances, in which it cannot be avoided. Natural disasters, such as accidental fires, hurricanes, and earthquakes, can take someone's home from them. Good, innocent people are left with the misfortune of not having a home….Huong

Every day, on the way to school, I always see, at the intersection of streets, or at the bridge ramp, many homeless people who hold a box or bring a sign "I am homeless, please help me… When I first came to the United States, I was very surprised to see that, because I never thought that the U.S., the most prosperous country in the world, still has a lot of homeless people… Indeed, every year, the government gives billions and billions of dollars to poor countries as aid, Why does it let its own people be homeless? To solve this problem, I think the government must have concrete plans.,,,New shelters should become places where people want to live, not leave. Social workers should support them instead of badly treating them. And there should be training programs to help unemployed….Tuong