South Sound Seattle Homeless Crisis: A Deeply Rooted Problem - Essay Sample

Introduction

The homeless crisis in the south sound region of Seattle is a deeply rooted problem that affects many persons in the area. The homeless crisis has emerged from an array of the issues rooted deep within the society where inequality and drug abuse is paramount. These causes are interconnected, and in some situation, a reason amplifies the other increasing profoundly the number of homeless people in the streets of south sound. A walk in the streets at night can reveal the severity of the matter as many people sleep on pavement and parks. The root causes of the problem will provide an insight into the measure that can reduce or eradicate the south sound homeless crisis. The homeless crisis in the south sound is rooted deep on disparities in society. The crisis requires attention from all stakeholders to eradicate hindrances to accessing housing for homeless people in the south sound.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

The South Sound Homeless Crisis

The clear understanding of the south sound homeless crisis is looking at causes of homelessness in the south sound. Mental health and drug addiction is the leading cause of homelessness in Seattle, especially the south sound (Weisz et al.,2018). Drug addicts go through hook and nook to ensure they get money to buy drugs. Some of the people see renting or having a house as a setback to getting drugs due to rent payment obligations. The pills also cause dysfunctions in families leaving a spouse and in some dire circumstances, children without a roof over their heads.

Poverty has been and still is a leading cause of homelessness in the south sound. Considering the expansion and booming of the economy in Seattle, high paying jobs are available but not shared equitably in the population. The rising economy see prices of housing units soar pushing some residents further into poverty. The inequitable sharing of the state cake and economic disparity urges more residents to the streets having no roof over their heads. Unaccompanied people also contribute to the dire homeless crisis in the south sound. These people do not have places shelter. Many end up in the streets sleeping on pavement and cardboards.

The south sound has a problem of housing affordability as property prices soar pushing house acquisition prices and rent higher. It leaves the poor with little choice but to live on the streets without shelter. The census bureau recognized Seattle as one of the fastest-growing cities in the united states (Bae, 2017). These statistics bring investors who invest in high-end properties unaffordable to a common south sounder. The past six years have seen the prices of housing units' skyrocket many households rent-burdened. The racial disparity also creates a housing crisis in the south sound. Many of the homeless people in the streets are blacks, and research shows most of the homeless are people of colour. Some policies amplify racial disparity that sees people of colour face difficulties in accessing affordable housing. It is a challenge for the authorities to eliminate these racial disparities to reduce the homeless crisis in the south sound.

A decentralized response to the crisis by stakeholders contribute to the ballooning of homelessness. The lack of proper coordination and organization makes it difficult to address the issues adequately. Divisiveness in decision making and the lack of priorities continues to hamper formulation of clear cut policies on the homeless situation in the south sound. Leaders in the position, however, have limited power regarding the alignment of measures and it hampers efforts to gather necessary information necessary for reforms. Many of the youths who are homeless in the south sound are as a result of lacking exit strategies when leaving foster care. There is no clear cut pathway for teenagers to follow to access housing and employment. The foster care system is not strengthening in a way the teenagers can receive support and encouragement when exiting the system.

The responses of authorities been positive, especially the Governor of Seattle, mapping out areas that need housing assistance by providing diversion and rapid rehousing (Padgett et al., 2016). These services offer people without shelter by providing one-time monetary aid to homeless people who through such initiatives, move directly to housing. Authorities have also tried to find smart solutions to the problems by examining each case and deducing solutions that can be beneficial to homeless south sounders. The intervention measures have none the less not solved the housing crisis in the south sound with many people still homeless and unable to access cheap housing promised by the state and local authorities.

Conclusion

The housing crisis in the south sound requires attention from all stakeholders, including the private sector, to provide smart solutions. Factors that accelerate the housing crisis should reduce through innovativeness in policymaking and implementation. It is clear authorities need to focus and desist from divisive decisions which further amplify and derails steps to solving the housing problem. Every decision making organ needs to properly play its part by delivering on their duties and promises to the people of south sound. Eradicating homelessness in the south sound is possible though not soon, the cooperation of all stakeholders is the foundational stone to success.

References

Bae, C. H. C. (2017). Urban sprawl in western Europe and the United States. Routledge.

Padgett, D., Henwood, B. F., & Tsemberis, S. J. (2016). Housing First: Ending homelessness, transforming systems, and changing lives. Oxford University Press, USA.

Weisz, C., & Quinn, D. M. (2018). Stigmatized identities, psychological distress, and physical health: Intersections of homelessness and race. Stigma and Health, 3(3), 229.