Introduction
Homelessness is widespread in many countries, including the United States of America. Even though US numbers are far from African countries like Nigeria and Egypt or Asian Syria and Pakistan, its statistics are worse than almost every European country.
Even though homelessness has existed in the United States and New York City since the colonial era, modern homelessness, which started in the late 1970s, is unquestionably a distinct historical phenomenon (Henwood et al. 171). The last time homelessness touched such a large portion of the city’s population and was a regular, persistent, and visible aspect of urban life in New York was during the Great Depression in 1930. California and New York remain progressive states that are far from perfect in the situation of homelessness. Therefore, the essay will argue the root cause of modern homelessness in New York City and the counterarguments that arise on the matter.
Discussion
Why did individuals who were homeless in such large numbers, especially those who had mental illnesses, appear on the streets of New York City in the late 1970s? Significant changes in New York City’s housing stock, notably the availability of affordable housing for the poor and mental health regulations implemented by the State government as early as the 1950s, can be linked to the origins of modern homelessness.
The enormous drop in the number of single-room dwelling units in New York City during the rise of contemporary homelessness was the most crucial single shift in the city’s housing stock. Until regulatory enforcement in the early 1960s forbade occupancy by families, single-room housing, which includes residential hotels and single-room occupancy (SRO) units, had played a crucial role in providing low-cost housing for impoverished childless families, single adults, and even families. These single-room houses provided shelter to those who were mentally ill, ex-inmates, the elderly, and the veterans of war who had no place to shelter.
Single-room housing was an essential resource for people released from hospitals and mental facilities in New York State. For thousands of patients in State-run facilities who were coping with mental illness, the State started to implement a deinstitutionalization strategy in the 1950s. In addition to the scandalous maltreatment of patients in certain facilities, the policy was primarily established owing to the discovery of psychotropic drugs and innovative methods for treatment in the community rather than in institutional settings.
Deinstitutionalization transferred thousands of mentally ill people from upstate institutions to neighborhoods in New York City. The number of resident patients in State mental facilities decreased by 68% between 1965 and 1979, going from 85,000 to 27,000 (Henwood et al. 176). However, the State and local governments did not use the significant savings from hospital closures to provide community-based housing for patients once freed, forcing many deinstitutionalized persons with mental illnesses to relocate into one-room apartments.
Due to the changes in property tax in 1970, single-room housing began to decline as most structures were being demolished to get better structures that could match the property tax charged at that time. Through the 1990s, single-room home prices continued to drop.
One research found that the number of single-room dwelling units in New York City fell by 18% from 1991 to 1993 alone (Henwood et al. 171). The rooming houses and commercial hotels had the most significant drops, as in previous decades, continuing the decline of this source of affordable rental accommodation. Deinstitutionalization and single-room housing are considered the root of homelessness in New York City.
However, there are many critiques regarding the cause of modern homelessness in New York City. Most critics believe that the leading cause of homelessness in New York City is mental illness. According to Haupert, the United States registers the highest number of individuals with mental illness. The streets of the city are flooded with people who suffer mentally. Additionally, the government has provided such individuals with facilities where they can be taken care of, but most perceive the facilities as unsafe.
Consequently, domestic abuse is another cause of modern homelessness in New York City. Homeless shelters frequently become the final refuge for women and children fleeing harsh situations at home. Domestic violence is thus one of the leading causes of homelessness. Studies show that 22% and 57% of homeless women attribute their situation to marital violence (Haupert 13). According to Haupert, 80% of homeless moms with children also experienced domestic abuse.
Contrary to common assumptions, not all homeless individuals are unmotivated slackers. Many of them are employed or actively looking for work. Simply put, their work options are scarce. One such barrier is the societal stigma that inhibits firms from recruiting homeless persons (Haupert 15). Most also have mental diseases, making it difficult for them to maintain employment. Additionally, a lot of the homeless are from low-income families. Thus, they were unable to receive a quality education. Their options for work are, therefore, primarily menial, low-paying jobs.
The poverty guideline for one person in 2022 is twenty-one hundred a month, twenty-nine hundred dollars for two people, and thirty-six hundred dollars for three people in the household. The colossal contrast in population can be seen in the fact that it is the only city in the world with more than a hundred billionaires (Hoffower and Brandt). It only emphasizes the inequality and distinction of this city. The average rent price in New York is thirty-five hundred dollars, twice the national price of fifteen hundred dollars.
The long-term car parking cost is more expensive than the average rent price in some cities. The purchasing power in New York is much lower than in other cities in the US. For example, it is “sixteen percent lower than the purchasing power in San Francisco” (Hoffower and Brandt). According to Hoffower and Brandt, New York residents must work over “seventy-six hours a week to live comfortably with an average hourly wage of twenty-two dollars.” The expense of this city affects the number of the homeless population directly.
Conclusion
To conclude, homelessness remains one of the world’s most severe problems, specifically in the United States. From the arguments above, the source of modern homelessness in New York City varies depending on an individual’s view. However, homelessness is an issue that needs to be eradicated globally. Every human deserves a place of living, a healthy family, and the right to be cared about, educated, and qualified.
For now, the situation is not comforting or improving but vice versa. Even though half a million homeless people are less than one percent of the whole population, they are people that need to be protected and helped. The New York City government needs to pay attention to this issue and develop different solutions. With joint efforts, issues like homelessness can stay in the past and not affect the future.
Works Cited
Culhane, Dennis, et al. “A data-driven re-design of housing supports and services for aging adults who experience homelessness in New York City.” Actionable Intelligence for Social Policy. (2019).
Haupert, Tyler. “Do housing and neighborhood characteristics impact an individual’s risk of homelessness? Evidence from New York City.”Housing Studies 2021: 1–20. Web.
Henwood, Benjamin F., and Deborah K. Padgett. “Homelessness in Los Angeles and New York City: A tale of two cities.”Homelessness prevention and intervention in social work. Springer, Cham, 2019. 171–183. Web.
Hoffower, H. and Brandt, L. “Thirteen mind-blowing facts that show just how expensive New York City really is.” Insider, Web.