Boston Hunger and Homelessness Issues Continues....

The mayor report for 2009 has a new addition of information added. That information is the impact of the new or expanded government programs addressing the issues of homelessness and hunger. The causes of hunger is unemployment, high cost housing and low wages. The three things noted on the mayor report to combat the homelessness and hunger issues is to create affordable housing, increase food stamps payments and employment training programs. I agree with affordable housing but I think the only way a city or entire nation can solve hunger and homelessness is to offer and create jobs that pay well enough to live (not check by check), distribute human rights to all and utilize the model of working hard to earn your position.

According to the chart on the mayor report, it shows that Boston family homelessness has increased by 22 percent. I am assuming that the ten year plan is not resolving the issue and since implemented has not decrease the problem of homelessness among families. Now the individual homelessness in Boston has decrease by 9 percent. My proposed question isn't it ironic that the first plan leading the way combating and made family homelessness a priority and the new proposal of Leading The Way 3 made individuals a priority is a good thing but why cant ones experiencing this issue of homelessness get the assistance needed. If one or a type is left out it is a practice of discrimination no matter how you look at it.

There has been a 15 percent increase for the demand of food assistance. Out of this increase of demand for food assistance 60 percent are working class. The main food pantries in Massachusetts ran out of food at some point last year, 47% percent of them. That is half the food source, After imaging this it is sad. The report stated that the shelters in Boston are full and that the use of hotel and motels for shelters have doubled since last year. The only positive out of Boston when talking briefly about homelessness is the individual homelessness rate has decrease by 11 percent. The lack of available beds has cause shelters to turn homeless people away. Also 18.7 percent are below and experiencing the poverty line and 8.7 percent are unemployed in Boston,MA.

The chart that listed the unmet needs, shelters, transitional housing including Boston and others cities into their report. So the numbers were an average of about 16 cities. Individual homelessness for 2009 9,2625 (sheltered) 22,317 (unsheltered), families sheltered 654 and 18,556 unsheltered. Emergency shelter: 27,849-419 (new), transitional housing: 30,224-1747 (new) and Emergency supportive housing: 43,243-5,414 (new). The chart is basically stating that the needs are not being met and compared to the previous year the availability of services has decreased.

The three causes of Boston hunger issues result from high costs of housing, medical cost and unemployment as far as individuals or families with children. Homelessness with children has been caused by low paying jobs, domestic violence and lack of affordable housing. The individual homelessness issue is caused by mental illness and lack of service provided, lack of affordable housing and substance abuse and lack of service needed according to the mayor report of 2009.

The lack of affordable housing is the biggest reason and issue of homelessness, which is supposedly be a human right to all. The ones that suffer and experience these issues the most correlates with the ones that are socially isolated, likely to be in prison, marginalized and not apart of a just society.

Bibliography: US Confernce Mayor Report of 2009