United Nations special rapporteur Raquel Rolnik reports that the wealthy United States citizens are ignoring the ever growing homeless crisis while pumping billions in bank rescues. Rolick claims that instead of spending money on other expenses the United States should be putting more money into lifting its people out of homelessness and substandard, overcrowded housing. There are a wide range of citizens affected by homelessness all including families with children, United States military Veterans, children under the age of 18, and persons who have experienced domestic violence.
Economic, political, social and medical factors all contribute to the rise in homelessness. The main contributing factor is the lack of affordable housing for low-income citizens plus the ever growing gap between wage earnings and cost of housing. Homelessness is an “invisible” issue to most wealthy or middle-class citizens in the United States but it is an ever growing issue that needs to be recognized, publicized, and a solution needs to be found.
Title: “UN Investigator accuses US of shameful neglect to homeless”
Publication: Guardian, 11/12/09
URL http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/nov/12/un-investigator-us-neglect-homeless
Author: Chris McGrealFaculty
Evaluator: Shelia Katz Student
Researcher: Danielle Caruso Sonoma State University
