Essay on Should Homelessness Be Criminalized - 1007 Words

Did you know that Applied Survey Research counted a total of 4,539 homeless people last year in Sonoma County alone? I can vouch for the authenticity and methods used in this survey because I assisted as a counter. I am passionate about the social issue of homelessness, mainly because I was part of this population a decade ago. Applied Survey Research defines homelessness in part as, â€Å"An individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The sad fact is that there are not enough resources to adequately shelter America’s most vulnerable citizens. Many cities have passed ordinances that have criminalized homelessness. These so called quality of life ordinances are meant to protect the society at large. Homeless people†¦show more content†¦The National Coalition for the Homeless comprised a list of â€Å"The Meanest Cities†. Sarasota, Florida is number one on the list. Florida state courts overturned two previous anti-lodgi ng laws, but the third one passed. The current ordinance directly targets homeless people as grounds for arrest include persons that have no other place to live. In addition to the possibility of being arrested for camping, the seizure of personal property is another issue. My personal property was usually stolen by another homeless person. If it wasn’t stolen, it was seized by police. The National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty provides an example of property seizure by stating the case of Ashcraft vs. City of Covington No. 02-124-JGW. The 2003 case involves a police raid where five homeless people had their possessions seized while camping. The fourteenth amendment says in part that no person should be deprived of their property without due process. When the case was settled, the plaintiffs were each awarded $1,000 as compensation for their destroyed property. Other ordinances that really upset me are the ones that prohibit loitering. Loitering is defined as hanging around an area for no apparent reason. I was harassed several times for loitering while homeless. Being forced to move along adds to the exhaustion homeless people already deal with. The National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty gives another example, this one pertains toShow MoreRelatedShould Homelessness Be Criminalized?1747 Words   |  7 PagesShould Homelessness Be Criminalized One of the most discussed topics around the world is homelessness. Each and everyday more and more people become homeless. People around the world have tried numerous times to resolve this dilemma. This situation is growing and it s starting to spiral out of control. One solution that s getting popular the more we let this situation grow is that criminalizing the homeless is good. People cannot criminalize the homeless. Homeless people should not be criminalizedRead MoreThe Homelessness Of The Homeless1745 Words   |  7 Pagesthe most discussed topics around the world is homelessness. Each and every day more and more people become homeless. People around the world have tried numerous times to resolve this dilemma. This situation is growing and it s starting to spiral out of control. One solution that is getting popular the more we let this situation grow is that criminalizing the homeless is ok. People cannot criminalize the homeless. Homeless people should not be criminalized bec ause they have nowhere to go, they haveRead MoreFunding For The Homeless Shelter861 Words   |  4 Pagespeople were homeless on a given night in the United States† (National Alliance to End Homelessness). People become homeless due to a numerous amount of reasons, but the problem comes down to the low number of affordable housing and â€Å"the limited scale of housing assistance programs† (National Alliance to End Homelessness). Coming from a small town in Northwest Iowa and never encountering a homeless person, the homelessness issue in Iowa City was brought to my attention upon arriving here to attend collegeRead MoreHomelessness : A National Crisis1279 Words   |  6 Pagescrisis Theres No place like home... unfortunately for many people living in the UK do not have a place they can call home. Every person facing homelessness has ended up there for different reasons, however the lack of help, support and sympathy they get from our government is shameful. Despite rough sleeping being the most visible sign of homelessness, figures based on people living in temporary accommodation with no idea of their future is far more shocking. Over the past seven years those livingRead MoreWeakness Of Homelessness1232 Words   |  5 Pagesprograms, give homeless the psychological help. Weaknesses. Unfortunately, homeless must want to not live on the streets and give up the additions to recreational and prescription drugs and alcohol. They tend not to because they feel ostracized, being criminalized and bused from one city to the next. Opportunities. There are many opportunities for assisting the homeless population. Increasing community awareness to there are not as privileged and no roof over their head and what they can do to aid. MakingRead MoreHomelessness And Poverty And Homelessness1699 Words   |  7 PagesCenter on Homelessness and Poverty 7) While a portion of today’s society turns a blind eye to the subject of the criminalization of homelessness, an even larger quantity of people are not aware of the situation that is happening in every major city of America. For those living an affluent lifestyle, it can be difficult to discuss the amount of poverty and homelessness that is constantly occurring. The definition and meaning behind the absence of home is also arduous to discuss. While homelessness is commonlyRead MorePersuasive Essay On Abortion714 Words   |  3 Pagestheir beliefs, which causes unavoidable debates. Roe v. Wade (1973) occurred at a time when women were fighting for their right to control what happens to their bodies. The sexual revolution and feminist movement was well underway. Most states criminalized abortion in some form but the origination of this landmark case took precedence in Texas . Specifically, in the state of Texas, where the state law determines all of the logistics concerning receiving and successfully having the procedure. InRead MoreConstitutional Issue Of Vagrancy Law1485 Words   |  6 Pageselements of a crime: the vagrancy is vaguely defined and can be easily abused to arrest suspicious people merely based their appearance, and it punishes people because of their status instead of their acts. Vagrancy law has been abolished, but whether should we continue it remains debated. In this paper, I would discuss the issue of vagrancy law the from views of vagrancy law supporters, and argue back as an opposer. I would also analysis with the following four aspect s: vagueness, recidivism, utilitarianismRead MoreAlternatively, There Are Those Arguments That Individuals1072 Words   |  5 Pagesone’s opinion, with a very powerful opinion, which is stated as a thesis as Marlys Mayfield writes, â€Å"The most shocking thing I learned from my research on the fate of the working poor in the recession was the extent to which poverty has indeed been criminalized in America.† (Mayfield, 2014, pg. 188). This thesis seems to suggest that she has drawn a conclusion that the individuals who are considered the working poor during the time of the recession have extend beyond that, to a level of poverty, whichRead MoreOur Nation of Homelessness1833 Words   |  8 Pagesof Homelessness Amanda Turley SOC 331 Social Justice Ethics Instructor: Emily Archer April 28,2014 Homelessness is something that is happening to many people all around the world. Now when it comes to the United States, homelessness is not a phenomenon, and contrary to popular belief, the problem did not arise in the past few decades with the closer of mental hospitals, the influx of Vietnam veterans, or even the deep cuts into federal housing assistance. Homelessness in America