Homelessness in Seattle results from three significant effects: lack of income, unaffordable housing, and racial discrimination. Most homeless people in Seattle are people of color. This situation is a result of systemic racism, which locks out equal opportunities and access to income. Most individuals who seek a settlement in the area of Seattle have no source of income. They are individuals who get their income from Government Agencies like the Federal SSI. Homelessness results in mental instability, poor health resulting in illnesses, and domestic violence. The living conditions of the homeless people is quite difficult therefore most of them normally indulge in drug abuse which is the contributing factor to poor health and domestic violence. The following is my argument to support the causes and effects of homelessness in Seattle.
Getting money from SSI is usually a callous and time-consuming process as it usually takes about two years for people to receive the funds after application. Other agencies where homeless people can get income is the AFDC, which generally gets disbursed to families with dependent children. However, the total revenue they get from the government is not enough to afford to house and cater to other necessities, hence rendering most of them homeless. The other cause of homelessness in Seattle is the shortage of housing units that are affordable to these people. The housing units are expensive, each team going for almost $500 per month, which is nearly the total of what they get from the Government Aid Funds. The worst part is that the rent of the housing units in Seattle keeps going up by the day. (US Government Printing Office, 1989). Unfortunately, the income that they get from the government does not increase. The housing units available to the people are also few since many of them got demolished to pave the way for the construction of the Superhighway. According to (Bowman 2020), Seattle now has only about 3,700 permanent units, which does not match its population. Racial discrimination and orientation is also a factor that leads to homelessness in the region. One of the significant effects of the lack of housing in Seattle is mental barriers and illnesses (Jenny 2020). Most people in Seattle find themselves in homelessness, which lowers their self-esteem. Also, poor health stems from drug abuse and poor living conditions hence resulting in loss of income. Domestic violence is also another effect of homelessness. Challenging living conditions and Drug abuse is the primary cause of domestic violence.
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According to Gibson (2004), lack of 'familial support' for struggling individuals due to drug abuse leads to homelessness. However, I argue that it is a weak point because family support is always paramount. Few people would refuse to assist their family members unless they struggle too with finances. (UN Habitat) 2000 states that homelessness can be a result of a persistent way of life. I argue that this is a weak point because it is human nature for most people to crave to live comfortable lives. Unless there is a persistent problem with getting income, very few people would get used and be comfortable as homeless. Lastly, (Beckett )2010 states that government aids to those without income make them very dependable and "lazy" to look for income, worsening the homelessness situation. I will argue that the point is weak because the housing in Seattle is a bit expensive. They are mainly affordable to middle-class earners. With or without government aid, it would still be hard for the population to afford those homes.
In Conclusion, the lack of income translates to poverty, which is the leading cause of homelessness in major cities worldwide. Homelessness has its fair share of adverse effects on society and has been a significant cause of mental instability amongst people, poor health, and domestic violence. It is also important to appreciate to a lesser extent than some people may choose to become homeless because of minor causes like little determination and effort because of Government Aids and choosing homelessness as a way of life.
References
Beckett, K. (2010). Banished: The New Social Control in Urban America . Madison Avenue, New York: Oxford Press.
Bowman, N. (2020, August 1s). Seattle to build 600 apartments to help house the city's homeless.
Gibson, T. A. (2004). Securing The Spectacular City (Issue 4, Vol. 6). Lexington Books.
Jenny, M. (2020). Homelessness Response. Retrieved from https://www.seattle.gov/homelessness/the-roots-of-the-crisis Homelessness in America . (US Government Printing Office, 1989).
UN Habitat. (, 2000). Strategies to Combat Homelessness (Vol. 3).
