In 2018, the estimated population of the world is over seven billion people. According to the United Nations, more than half of the population resides in urban areas, making the problem of homelessness visible: cities cannot keep up with the high demand for housing, resulting in people living on the streets (United Nations, 2015). With the sustained population growth, homelessness has become an alarming issue, which could be solved only by carefully considering countless variables and options to move forward.
Nelson Davidson (2017) provided a review of various ways data analysis is a critical factor in the national decision-making for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and other governmental entities. Understanding the population enabled HUD to target specific groups and help them with the best and most suitable resources available. HUD has been striving to improve its data collection and analytical methods to include more specifications in the characteristics of the homeless population to create effective projects that meet the need of each community.
In the US, housing prices are relatively high and are rising faster than wages. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, to afford a modest one-bedroom rental home in Florida, one must work 84 hours a week on minimum wage (Out of reach 2018, 2018). As mentioned in the discussion, marginalized groups often face additional barriers to securing a place, resulting in their need for extra help and assistance. Local governments urgently need to implement new programs and financing opportunities to solve the lack of housing.
The discussion and further research into the problem of homelessness as well as the increasing world population showed the complexity of the issue. Multiple agencies need to get involved to fully understand the problem and come up with the best solutions for it. With every year, the population continues to grow, so the world needs to act now.
References
United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2015).World urbanization prospects: the 2014 revision. Web.
National Low Income Housing Coalition (2018). Out of reach 2018: Florida.Web.
Davidson, N. M. (2017). Affordable housing law and policy in an era of big data. Fordham Urban Law Journal, 44(2), 277-300. Web.