Educating the homeless

“Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school.”
- Albert Einstein (1879-1955)
Homeless children are protected by the National Center for Homeless Education. Programs offered by this institution allow children with homeless status the ability to get an education with monetary assistance. The programs give monies to families, so that children may purchase school supplies and other necessities needed for school. The National Association for the Education for Homeless Children and Youth is another organization that assists youth in obtaining an education. Youth are able to receive help when filing applications for college to further their educations.

Vices

A vice is defined by dictionary.com as an immoral or evil habit or practice. Alcohol and drugs are among the leading addictions facing the homeless. If a homeless addict receives money, they do not spend money on proper furnishings. Money is spent on fuel to further addictions. Even local homeless agencies will not accept participants that do not pass a drug test. Without insurance, homeless are not able to participate in addictive disorder treatments and recovery programs. Officials in San Francisco have sponsored a program which helps house and counsel homeless addicts. Information on this program can be found on the Drug-Rehabs website.

Problems extend beyond physical

A 2003 survey conducted by the US Department of Health and Human Services that the majority of mentally ill people need not be institutionalized. Many of these people live in communities that do not have proper support. Many are unable to obtain the proper support and do not use their medications. Without aid from The National Health Care for the Homeless Council or local charities many homeless are unable to receive proper medications. In 2005, a US Council of Surveys of Mayors showed that about 16 percent of the homeless population was diagnosed with a mentally severe problem.

Stop the abuse

domesticviolence.org defines domestic violence as behavior used by one person in a relationship to control the other. Partners may be married or not married; heterosexual, gay, or lesbian; living together, separated or dating. Abused women, in poverty have little chance of escape without facing homelessness. 50 percent of the cities included in the US Conference of Mayors cited that domestic violence was the number one cause of homelessness. According to the Network to End Domestic Violence, 63 percent of homeless women have been victims of violence from their partner as an adult. If you know of a case of abuse, please call 911 or the U.S. National Domestic Violence Hot line at (800)799-7233.

The high cost of insurance

Many Americans do not have sufficient health care. In a 2009 survey Families USA, concluded that one in three Americans are uninsured. This study also showed that one in five, were working families. Insurance that was once guaranteed in the workplace is now not as much of an available commodity. Rising medical costs keep the sick away from the treatment they need from a qualified physician. Without proper medication and care homeless are unable to work or even apply for jobs. Thanks to the help of the people at The National Health Care for the Homeless Council (NHCHC), basic medical services can be available. The nearest facility maintained by the NHCHC is Aunt Martha's Health Care Network, located in Aurora. For more information, please contact the facility at (630) 264-0916.

Welcome

Welcome to this series of posts regarding America’s large homeless population. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, between 2.5 and 3.5 million people will live in a homeless shelter or on the streets in the coming year. Experts say that the slumping real estate market and bleak employment outlook are forcing these people out of their homes. Many reasons contribute, including lack of affordable health care, domestic violence and mental illness according to the National Coalition for the Homeless.