High Rent Prices in SF Bay Area: The Cause of Unaffordable Housing - Research Paper

Itnroduction

The San Francisco Bay Area is made up of nine counties, four of which are the most costly in the United States. The economy of this area has actively been growing, which has resulted in the creation of thousands of jobs. Despite many jobs being created, the construction of more housing units has been severely restricted. The restriction has led to a high shortage of housing, and this is the cause of the extreme rent levels. For a minimum pay worker to be able to pay rent for a two-bedroom apartment in San Francisco, he has to work 4.7 full -time jobs approximately. Vanishing of affordable housing is the primary cause of homelessness in San Francisco and has increased the overall rate by 15% in California.

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The city of Oakland is the third-largest in the Bay Area, whose rate of homelessness keeps on increasing every day. The increase in the number of homeless people has been a result of economic changes that led to a shift from jobs in the production industry to the service industry. The shift led to a decrease in wages because the factory jobs were more profitable. The housing prices started rising due to the low payments which resulted in homelessness in the city. In Sacramento, the homelessness crisis is also as a result of economic changes where around 52% of the population is homeless. Individuals in the town are unable to afford houses due to high rent levels despite the growth in the economy.

Definition of Homelessness by the Government and General Population

The size of the homeless population in the United States has increased with fluctuations in demographic and economic forces. This increase has captured the attention of the general public as well as the government. The characteristic of the homeless people has been examined to come up with a definition of homelessness. According to the general population, an individual is considered homeless if where they are living is not meant for personal accommodation. The general public categorizes homelessness as primary, secondary, and tertiary. The fundamental level of homelessness is where individuals are living in the streets, and they do not have basic needs. Secondary homelessness is where individuals are moving from one temporary shelter to another. The temporary shelters might include houses of family members and friends as well as emergency accommodation.

Tertiary level of homelessness is where individuals are living in private boarding homes without security and private bathroom. According to the government of the United States, a home should provide security, sense of belonging, emotional wellbeing as well as identity. Individuals who lack these features are considered homeless by the government. Individuals sleeping in public places such as streets or private areas not meant for human accommodation are also regarded as homeless. The government also defines people who are unable to acquire secure, safe, and adequate housing as a result of unsteady income as homeless. In general, the government defines homelessness as the state of lacking a regular, fixed and appropriate nighttime habitation.

Current Homelessness Issues

Despite the efforts of Sacramento County to reduce the number of individuals with temporary housing, the rate of homelessness has continued to increase. According to a survey conducted this year, 1905, more individuals are living in shelter beds, on the streets, and in cars. The rate of homelessness has increased by 52% as compared to a survey conducted two years ago. The majority of homeless individuals in the county of Sacramento are from this region, and some of them are struggling with addiction, while others are mentally ill. In San Francisco, the rate of homelessness is continuously increasing due to costly housing markets, and current homeowners are struggling to pay for their homes. The city is expensive which has resulted in a separation between the Americans who have and those who do not have. In the city of Oakland, the issue of homelessness is worse with 68% of them being black. Most homeless individuals are suffering from chronic health disorders, and others are employed, but they are unable to afford homes.

Effects of Homelessness; Politically, Economically and Environmentally

Homelessness in the Counties of California is an issue that has developed over a long period. Individuals move to the streets each year as a result of poverty, family breakdown, addiction as well as mental health problems, among others. Though the economy at times recorded growth, the number of homeless individuals has not reduced; instead, more people are moving to the streets where most of them are young people and children. Homelessness is an issue that has negative impacts on the economy of a city as well the environment. Homelessness is very expensive in the sense that it negatively affects human life, productivity, and health. Homeless individuals need the most costly institutions and publicly-funded services. The increase in the levels of housing in the counties is the fundamental cause of homelessness. The gap between the rich and the poor is growing at a high rate, which is caused by deteriorating incomes on one side and more revenues on the other side. As the revenues of the poor people worsen, those of the wealthy continue to rise forcing the poor to shift from the better quality house to the low-quality homes.

The result of this struggle forces the poor people to move to the streets causing economic instability, inflation as well as income inequality. The situation of homelessness has also placed the financial future of the whole region at risk. The housing crisis is the primary cause of slow economic growth in the past year. Homelessness is a problem that risks the life of the general public. This is evidenced in the streets of San Francisco, where they are so filthy, increasing the risk of health problems. The quality of water in the Petaluma River is reduced as a result of fecal bacteria, which are caused by homeless individuals in the streets. Despite the efforts by the environmental group to increase the quality of the Petaluma River, the plans have failed due to the increased number of homeless individuals in the streets of San Francisco and Oakland. As a result of homelessness, counties such as San Francisco have become targets of political retribution. Because they are made up of vulnerable populations, the Counties are blamed for water pollution by the politically motivated individuals in the United States.

Effects of Homelessness to the Residents

The majorities of homeless individuals in California are those with disabling conditions and have been living in the streets for more than one year. In San Francisco, the issue is exceptionally problematic, and visitors wonder whether what they see on the roads is a regular thing. It is estimated that in San Francisco, there are around 492 individuals who are homeless for every 100,000 residents. Homelessness poses various difficulties both to the homeless and the communities around them. Due to the high number of homeless individuals in the counties of Oakland, Sacramento, and San Francisco, California, has experienced the largest hepatitis A outbreak which was not related to food contamination. This means that homelessness exposes individuals to the risk of infectious diseases as well as other acute and chronic conditions. The primary reason for this is the lack of treatment and care from family members and health professionals.

Racial inequity among the residents is resulted by the homelessness issue where the Latino and the Black, among other people of color, are concentrated in the sector with minimum payments. Despite individuals having similar levels of education, women from ethnic groups and black workers, as well as those of color, are paid minimal salaries as compared to the white workers. The low wages have reduced the economic security of the Latino, Black, and other Native Americans, considering that they are paying high prices for rent. Due to high rent levels, they are left with very little to spend in the households leaving them with nothing to invest in the future. The rate of homelessness in California has forced the residents to live with their friends and family members, resulting in house crowding.

The crowded housing hinders educational achievements and affects the well- being of individuals. People living in overcrowded housing have health and behavioral problems as compared to those living in houses that are not crowded. According to research, crowded housing increases aggression and stress among adults, this in turn, results in social isolation and weak relationships between children and their parents. Individuals living in overcrowded houses are likely to have mood changes and behavioral problems due to sleep interruptions. The residents are also not safe when walking on the streets as well as the city shelters due to insecurities of being stolen from and even sexually assaulted, especially women.

Places the Homeless are Moving in the City

The issue of homelessness in San Francisco, Oakland, and Sacramento is out of control and has now become part of life. The housing crisis and low wages have pushed several individuals out of their homes, and most of them have ended up moving to the streets. The streets are full of homeless individuals of all ages and gender. City shelters and trains are where most of these people sleep, and others find the subway the safest place to spend their nights. According to research, the majority of homeless individuals have chronic mental disorders and other severe health diseases. In San Francisco, homeless individuals have behavioral problems and are addicted to drugs such as alcohol and heroin. These individuals sleep in the streets and the sidewalks of the city.

Governments Programs to Mitigate Homelessness

The issue of homelessness requires immediate policies to address it. There is a great need for a plan in San Francisco, Sacramento, and Oakland to move as many homeless individuals from the streets. In the efforts to reduce homelessness, the government has established various shelters and institutions whose primary focus is to treat mental illness and addiction. The law enforcement officers have been tasked with the role of reuniting the individuals in the streets with their families or their service providers. The transportation costs are funded by a non-profit organization that follows up the transition process. According to research, reuniting the homeless individuals with their families prevents them from going back to the streets. In San Francisco, the administration has laid out strategies to add 1000 more shelter beds, which will help to reduce the number of people stuck in the waiting list.

Private organizations are better placed in reducing the crisis of homelessness and making real differences in the general lives of homeless individuals. The government has acknowledged that community organizations, as well as non-profit institutions, are responsible for coming up with methods that will help reduce homelessness. The partnership between the government and private organizations is the central remedy for homelessness. The government has comprehensive strategies for addressing the problem of housing unaffordability. The plan mainly focuses on providing the homeless with services and shelters that will enable them to get out of the streets. In San Francisco and Sacramento, the government has already implemented a program that assists families with rent and sends them outside the city where there are affordable houses. The government has limited the amount to be charged to tenants by property owners in San Francisco and Oakland. Owners of property constructed before June 1979 are not al...