College Writing Assignments

Cruel Circumstances: Homelessness Surges in the DC Area

Enacting Change Proposal Paper

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) informs the public that there are different types of homelessness and not just the one portrayed in the media on their website. SAMHSA defines homelessness as an individual or family who "lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, such as those living in emergency shelters, transitional housing, or places not meant for habitation" (Definitions). They also consider people homeless who lack support networks or resources needed to obtain housing, those likely to continue being unstably housed because of disability or multiple barriers to employment, and individuals or families who are attempting to flee domestic violence with no other residence. Homelessness has increased across the country in recent years. According to an analysis of data provided by jurisdictions, a Bloomberg article stated, "the number of people in families experiencing homelessness jumped nearly 38% this year (2023) in 20 major US cities"(The Spike). DC made the list of places with a high homeless rate. The Washington Post revealed that it "has increased by 11.6% over the last year," with many people experiencing homelessness for the very first time (Swenson). Regardless of whether someone is living in, visiting, or passing through the DC area, encountering homeless people while there is inevitable. Some are seen at intersections, parks, bus stations, or in front of buildings holding up a sign and asking for change. Blankets, tents, and carts full of their belongings are usually left nearby. A Washington's Top News (WTOP) article, reported that a homeless encampment was cleared only a block from the White House, forcing "more than 70 unhoused people" to relocate again after the deputy mayor for health and human services made public health hazard claims back in early February of this year (Homeless). Unfortunately, some people pass by the homeless glancing at them with utter disgust. They mistreat the homeless, prejudging them as inferior, incompetent, or a threat. While others continue to just pity them or turn a blind eye. Instead of doing either, why not focus on finding the deep-rooted problems to then discover solutions for ending and preventing homelessness all together?

First, let's examine possible causes of the noticeable increase in homelessness within recent years. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, non-essential workers were forced to quarantine for several months causing a financial domino effect. Most businesses shut down and some provided remote services. Many people relied on their savings, retirement, stimulus, and unemployment checks to continue paying their bills. Some even discovered new ways to make money online. However, with so many people out of work, the pandemic led to a global recession, which Britannica defines as "a downward trend in the business cycle characterized by a decline in production and employment that causes the incomes and spending of households to decline" (Recession). Things did not go back to normal for quite some time and even once it did, the economy still struggles to fully recover. U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that "the jobless rate continued to trend downward, and by the fourth quarter of 2021, it was 4.2 percent, 2.6 percentage points below the rate from the prior year" (Edwards et al). Although the jobless rates had decreased within a year and a half into the pandemic, there were still millions of people in a prolonged unemployed period whose funds were running dry, leading to an increase in evictions. The Washington Post mentioned in an article that "the number of successful evictions in the city increased 250 percent between January 2022 and January 2023" (Lang). Some people were fortunate enough to stay with relatives, friends, or find affordable housing in a short period of time after being evicted while others had more trouble, which led to them experiencing homelessness. The extreme measures to get the economy back on track post pandemic has caused many people to be negatively impacted by inflation surges. According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, "the U.S Consumer Price Index rose 6.8% between November 2020 and November 2021", spurred by price increases for gasoline, food, and housing. Higher energy costs caused the inflation to rise further in 2022, reaching 9.1%, a high not seen since 1981 (Consumer). Researchers acknowledged in a National Library of Medicine article that attempts at the economic recovery and the removal of pandemic monetary accommodations were "aggressive once implemented" (Òscar Jordà and Nechio). Members of the middle and lower classes have been affected the most by this due to the struggle to make ends meet and the debt crisis. More people are forced to choose between using their paycheck to pay rent, additional bills, or buy groceries. Especially those with a minimum wage salary that barely increases each year revealing the economic inequality. An Economic Policy Institute article mentions that "in the last two years alone, the minimum wage's purchasing power has dropped by 12.2%, a massive hit to the living standards" (Bivens). The high cost of living is now seen as a barrier to financial stability and success for the working class. The recession, unemployment rate, goods inflation surges, rising housing costs, evictions, and the little to no change in minimum wage have all led to an increased homeless rate within the DC area in recent years.