Spring Break
Homelessness misunderstood by students
Justin Gero
Issue date: 10/26/07 Section: Ed-Op
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In recent weeks I've seen ignorance about homelessness surfacing among students of this University. It seems that many Drexel students believe the homeless to be drug addicts or lazy opportunists looking for some easy money. Although this probably defines some people on the streets, it does not accurately characterize the majority of the homeless. I also want to respond more directly to Brandon Ngai, and his Triangle article: "Drexel 'homeless' must move."
The problem, asserted by Ngai, is not the fact that thousands of people around Philadelphia (not to mention hundreds of thousands nationwide) live day to day with no home, no job, and no family; he sees the real problem as "a smaller piece of the bigger picture: Drexel's unsightliness."
I found it absolutely astonishing that he could so thoughtlessly dismiss the daily suffering of people on the streets. His article completely dismissed the humanity of the homeless and transformed them into objects of the street to be resented, scorned, and physically removed from around the University. In doing so he completely missed the heart of the problem.
The National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) estimated that in 2005 over 744,000 people experienced homelessness; an enormous jump from 228,000 homeless in 1990. Almost 44 percent of these people were unable to find shelter. If we really want to address the problem of homelessness it starts with recognizing that these people need help. We need to stop the problem at its source.
The number of people living in poverty in the United States has increased to over 38,231,521 people, or 13.3 percent of the population, in 2005.
The National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) argues that the number of people living in poverty has increased because of "eroding employment opportunities" and "declining availability of public assistance." We are also seeing the cost of living rise for Americans, and even though wages have also increased it hasn't been enough to counteract the increasing burden on low income families. Even the minimum wage increase, heralded as a victory by the newly elected Democratic Congress, isn't enough to solve the increasing poverty rates.
The problem, asserted by Ngai, is not the fact that thousands of people around Philadelphia (not to mention hundreds of thousands nationwide) live day to day with no home, no job, and no family; he sees the real problem as "a smaller piece of the bigger picture: Drexel's unsightliness."
I found it absolutely astonishing that he could so thoughtlessly dismiss the daily suffering of people on the streets. His article completely dismissed the humanity of the homeless and transformed them into objects of the street to be resented, scorned, and physically removed from around the University. In doing so he completely missed the heart of the problem.
The National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) estimated that in 2005 over 744,000 people experienced homelessness; an enormous jump from 228,000 homeless in 1990. Almost 44 percent of these people were unable to find shelter. If we really want to address the problem of homelessness it starts with recognizing that these people need help. We need to stop the problem at its source.
The number of people living in poverty in the United States has increased to over 38,231,521 people, or 13.3 percent of the population, in 2005.
The National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) argues that the number of people living in poverty has increased because of "eroding employment opportunities" and "declining availability of public assistance." We are also seeing the cost of living rise for Americans, and even though wages have also increased it hasn't been enough to counteract the increasing burden on low income families. Even the minimum wage increase, heralded as a victory by the newly elected Democratic Congress, isn't enough to solve the increasing poverty rates.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Michael
posted 10/29/07 @ 6:34 PM EST
I already posted this under the aforementioned article, but its maybe even more relevant here.
I find it funny that you all miss the real point of Mr. (Continued…)
Lauren
posted 10/31/07 @ 10:39 AM EST
Simply put, giving people change as you leave a 7-11 will not get them a home. They're homeless; yes, they're people, and yes they're life is sad, but they don't belong on our campus. (Continued…)
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