Homelessness is one of the most critical social issues in today’s world. Every single night, no matter if its extremely hot or cold, thousands of people sleep on the streets, in shelters, or even in dangerous places because they do not have a bed to sleep in every night. The government should take responsibility and give these helpless people a place to call home. The government should provide affordable housing, accessible jobs, and low-cost mental health support. By providing these things, the government can help better the lives of millions of people and also get them off the streets. Homelessness needs real help, not blame.

Mental Health support 

One of the ways that the government can help is by offering low-cost mental health and insurance. Most of the homeless people are in poverty due to mental health issues and not having enough money for their insurance/medications. Without the mental health support that they need, they often fall into addiction with substances, which makes them spend their housing or other needs’ money on those substances. With the mental health support they need, it would be less likely for them to be in poverty. Mental health support is also crucial for anybody, whether it’s addicts, recovering addicts, etc.

Need for Safe and Affordable Housing

Another solution would be to have more accessible housing. Accessible housing would decrease the homelessness rate plenty. Most people become homeless because their rent suddenly increases more than what they make. The government should provide more low-income housing that actually makes people live in humane conditions. We do have some low-income housing available. However, there are many imperfections in those houses. Whether it’s mold on the walls, improper ventilation, etc. These low income housing also give people a second chance to rebuild their lives.

Employment Opportunities 

Finally, the government should provide easier job opportunities specifically for people who are struggling with money that has a pay cover their bills and needs. If people have jobs, they are less likely to become homeless. Unemployment is, unfortunately, one of the biggest factors in homelessness. The government should also have low priced or even free transportation to these types of employment. Many people are unable to work because they do not have the transportation systems they need. The surrounding citizens should also fund these types of services so we can help those in need. About 23 million people lost their jobs due to the corona virus in the United States. About 40% of these people are now either struggling with money or are entirely homeless.  

Community Help

Even though the government attempts to help these people, the attempts aren’t enough. There are still some people on the streets with little to no benefits. Simrat Kaur, an 11th-grader at Colonia High School, states, “I think that they should get job opportunities from the government.” Kaur also says, “They should also get training from the government for those jobs.”

A Call for Government Action

In conclusion, being homeless is not just a personal issue; it’s a government and social issue that needs to be addressed. By funding programs for homeless people, we as a society can help reduce homelessness. Homelessness needs real help, not blame.