newsgatherer wrote: ↑Sat Dec 16, 2023 11:52 am It's interesting to see how things are going in Los Angeles, under the Hollywood sign and all. If I faced homelessness, I would consider finding work in places like North Dakota, Utah, Wyoming, etc. Just grow a beard, get a new cap, and bag some groceries if you can't find anything better to do.

newsgatherer wrote: ↑Sat Dec 16, 2023 11:52 am It's interesting to see how things are going in Los Angeles, under the Hollywood sign and all. If I faced homelessness, I would consider finding work in places like North Dakota, Utah, Wyoming, etc. Just grow a beard, get a new cap, and bag some groceries if you can't find anything better to do.

Fridaywithmateo wrote: ↑Sat Dec 16, 2023 11:56 am

newsgatherer wrote: ↑Sat Dec 16, 2023 11:52 am It's interesting to see how things are going in Los Angeles, under the Hollywood sign and all. If I faced homelessness, I would consider finding work in places like North Dakota, Utah, Wyoming, etc. Just grow a beard, get a new cap, and bag some groceries if you can't find anything better to do.

If you are single, able-bodied, and can read ... you can work up north in the Alaska oil field and make some pretty sweet coin fast. I hear the food is amazing ... super buffets 24/7.

Homelessness in the United States

The major causes of homelessness include:

Lack of affordable housing throughout much of the country is considered the "root cause" of the contemporary homelessness crisis. Writing for The Atlantic in 2023, Jerusalem Demsas says that "homelessness is primarily a function of the broader housing-unaffordability crisis, which in turn is primarily a function of how difficult local governments have made building new housing in the places that need it the most.".

Lack of sufficient urban housing projects to provide safe, secure, and affordable housing to the financially underprivileged.

Additionally for low wage workers rents can be unaffordable in areas where their workplace is located.

The deinstitutionalization movement from the 1950s onwards in state mental health systems, to shift towards 'community-based' treatment of the mentally ill, as opposed to long-term commitment in institutions.
There is disproportionally higher prevalence of mental disorders relative to other disease groups within homeless patient populations at both inpatient hospitals and hospital-based emergency departments.

Redevelopment and gentrification activities instituted by cities across the country through which low-income neighborhoods are declared blighted and demolished to make way for projects that generate higher property taxes and other revenue, creating a shortage of housing affordable to low-income working families, the elderly poor, and the disabled.

Nearly half of foster children in the United States become homeless when they are released from foster care at age 18.

Natural disasters that destroy homes: hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, etc. Places of employment are often destroyed too, causing unemployment and transience.

People who have served time in prison, have used addictive substances, or have a history of mental illness find it difficult to find employment for years at a time because of the use of computer background checks by potential employers. Also inclusive of registered sex offenders who are considered unwelcome in some metropolitan areas.

According to the Institution of Housing in 2005, the U.S. Government has focused 42% more on foreign countries rather than homeless Americans, including homeless veterans.

People with criminal charges at large that are in hiding seeking to evade law enforcement.

Adults and children who flee domestic violence.

Teenagers who flee or are thrown out by parents who disapprove of their child's sexual orientation or gender identity. A 2010 study by the Center for American Progress shows that a disproportionately high number of homeless youth (between 20 and 40%) are gay and transgender.

Complex building codes which can make it difficult to build and construct. Traditional huts, cars, and tents can be illegal, classified as substandard and may require removal by the owner or be subject to removal by the government.

Foreclosures of homes, including foreclosure of apartment complexes which displaces tenants renting there.
Evictions from rented property.

Lack of support from friends or family.

Individuals who prefer homelessness and wish to remain off the grid for political and ideological purposes. Often self-identified as gutter punks or urban survivalists. The Department of Housing and Urban Development rarely reports on this counter-cultural movement, since its adherents often refuse to participate in governmental studies and do not seek governmental assistance for ideological or political purposes.

Lack of resources in place in the communities to help aid in prevention of homelessness before it becomes a crisis.

Neoliberal policies, reforms to the welfare state and the retrenchment of the social safety net.

High rents, in particular areas where individuals could pay over a third of their income on rent and related costs increase the potential of homelessness. In poor communities, landlords increase the rent burden on tenants in what they perceive to be risky investments, extracting more profits from them than their counterparts in more affluent communities, which according to sociologist Matthew Desmond and his colleague, "directly contributes to their economic scarcity and hardship and is a source of residential insecurity, eviction, and homelessness."

Low-income workers are at increased risk of homelessness as wages for the typical American worker have stagnated over the last three decades while housing costs have climbed, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness.

Captain Bonez wrote: ↑Sat Dec 16, 2023 11:58 am

The United States spent $766 billion on national defense during fiscal year (FY) 2022

John Bingham wrote: ↑Sat Dec 16, 2023 1:56 pm

Captain Bonez wrote: ↑Sat Dec 16, 2023 11:58 am

The United States spent $766 billion on national defense during fiscal year (FY) 2022

As far as I know a large proportion of that, if not most, is used to pay veterans' pensions and medical care.