Social Sustainability: Homelessness in America

Izzie Bair
Mr. Roddy
GPHC
20 September 2018
Social Sustainability: Homelessness in America
Homelessness in America is a huge problem that is caused by multiple factors. When looking at the groups of people who make up this population you will find that a large percent of homeless people are young adults who were released from jail and had no prior job experience. Having no prior job experience along with having jail on their record, these young adults seem unemployable. This often results in them ending up on the streets. When being released from jail with no resources to fall back on they are unable to attain even the basic work clothes. I propose that every able bodied person being released from jail is provided with a pair of steel toe work boots. There was a company that donated steel toe boots to the Vancouver Homeless Fair. They went back to check on three of these people who received boots and all three of them are still working and two of them are off the streets. It is more economical to spend the money on a pair of boots up front than to spend the money on food and shelter once they have already ended up on the streets. 

Source:
https://thetyee.ca/Views/2007/01/08/HomelessSolutions/

Comments

Mr. Roddy said…
Izzie,
Interesting solution! How should such boots be paid for? Should there be any accompanying programs to lead people to employment?
September 26, 2018 at 2:26 PM
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