“A dire shortage of affordable housing”: Jerusalem Demsas on the structural causes of homelessness

Every day, over half a million Americans are homeless. What has led to this crisis? In this essay, writer Jerusalem Demsas critiques the way homelessness is often framed as an individual’s “personal failure,” with little attempt to recognize or rectify its underlying root causes. She argues that the lack of affordable housing is at the center of the homelessness problem in many U.S. cities and communities.

Jerusalem Demsas, "The Obvious Answer to Homelessness," Atlantic, 12 December 2022

 

1. Demsas writes, “Homelessness is best understood as a ‘flow’ problem, not a ‘stock’ problem” (paragraph 12). Explain this statement in your own words. How does this understanding of homelessness differ from common assumptions about who experiences homelessness and why?
   
2. Some push back on Demsas’s claims, arguing that other factors, such as a rise in mental health issues, high rates of drug addiction, or a favorable climate can explain why certain cities have higher rates of homelessness. Find one place in Demsas’s essay where she introduces and answers one of these objections. What evidence does she use to respond to this naysayer? Do you find her response persuasive? Why or why not?
3. Paragraph 9 begins with an arresting example of metacommentary: “I want to be precise here.” What does this statement do for Demsas’s readers? How does it affect the tone of the essay and how you perceive the author? Identify one other place where the author uses metacommentary effectively. Refer to chapter 10, which explains how writers use metacommentary in their arguments.
4. According to the author, what prevents communities who are experiencing high rates of homelessness from implementing policies and programs that could address these root causes? What is the history of this resistance? Who benefits from “enforced scarcity”?
5. Do some research on how policymakers and administrators are addressing homelessness in your community or on your campus. Do these programs criminalize homelessness, merely making it less visible? Or do they address some of the root causes of homelessness, such as Houston’s “rapid rehousing” program that moves people into temporary apartments? What kind of program has the most potential for making a positive impact in your community, especially for those who are most vulnerable?

Comments

[shAMIKA]

I totally agree with this essay because houses and apartments are expensive now a days and alot of people cant afford to pay those type of monthly rents.
1. yes it is definitely a flow problem because there are so many homeless people due to drugs, no jobs, family violence , and etc.
2. when she says personal failure . when she states about the drug addiction and etc. i do find it to be persuasive because these are true statements
3.becuase she is stating that she want to be specific and provide facts. it affects the tone becuae she is trying to get her point across.
4. not having as many affordable communities or programs for the homeless. less places mpre homeless people. the homeless
5. i think the address the root problem to a certain extent. houston rehousing programs helps to a certain extent but if a person is a drug addict it doesnt address the root problem.

[poop]

poop

[Poop]

poop Goes where?????? This article is factually incorrect. Poop comes out of the anus and starts in the mouth with food. Then travels down the esophagus into the stomach which then goes into the intestine ready to spit out the backside. There are many harmful reasons why this article is incorrect.

[maria]

I agree with what has been stated in the essay. Personal failure is one of the major reasons that are known for homelessness but many don't look at the causes for this which is the cost of housing. Due to the high priced housing many are not able to afford and this leads to homelessness. By ‘’flow it is meant that there are a number of causes leading to homelessness. It is caused by something which leads to homelessness. This is different than what is commonly assumed because there are a number of underlying factors and usually people don't start off the same. She answers these objections by mentioning personal failure and experiences affecting these outcomes. She also talks abut drug addiction and find them to be persuasive because these are major reasons that people become homeless.This statement lets the reader know that they are providing detailed facts. It is in a more serious tone and perceives the author in a more serious and professional matter. There are not enough awareness and programs. I think in my community, homelessness is addressed and people are moved into apartments foe needs but not as much as it should be.

[D Hackett]

I appreciate the research and article. I don't recall the elephant in the room being addressed: failure of so many businesses to pay a living wage, preferring instead to force employees onto public assistance (we all subsidize such businesses and their profits) or employees are just stuck in poverty. This legal, systemic corruption. Homelessness and public assistance grow, the poor and unions are blamed by some politicians, businesses and media, successfully blaming the victim instead of the poverty generating wages many businesses pay. Executives get bonuses for "keeping costs down" by not paying many employees a living wage. Yes, paying all a living wage will raise prices and will also reduce crime and public assistance cost for which we all pay. Thus, we are all also paying for exorbitant executive and investor class enrichment. Inflation is not caused by paying Americans a living wage and won't be cured by paying Americans to work in poverty. Look deeper for the root "causes of homelessness".

[Flora Xu]

I agree and believe that homelessness is a serious issue that needs to be addressed by society instead of just the policymakers, but stereotypes about homeless people are not the root cause of this issue. Much of society would stereotype homeless people to be on the streets due to drug addictions or mental health problems, which can be the cause in some cases. However, this generalization is harmful when it comes to the issue of homelessness and the increasing rate of it in the U.S.–especially in overpopulated urban cities like Los Angeles and New York. Because of these generalizations that homeless people are living on the streets due to them being “lazy” and do not want to work, this issue is not taken as seriously, and the older generations like to use this for a very ignorant argument, even when there are studies showing how inflation has affected the cost of living. Inflation and a failed economy that has been ruined by previous generations, paired with a shortage of affordable housing, high rent prices, and low vacancy rates–especially in large “superstar cities” that have a demand for higher-paying jobs–are the key factors to homelessness. According to Demsas’ article, even basic necessities like food have become too expensive for the average person to afford, let alone rent and bills for water, gas, and electricity, “A study led by an economist at Zillow shows that when a growing number of people are forced to spend 30 percent or more of their income on rent, homelessness spikes.” This shows how the economy has set up future generations up for failure as the job market is even at risk as many employees are being laid off, management is implementing AI to replace human workers, and companies are willing to be under-staffed and overworked just so they can “cut costs.” Social media has even depicted many individuals resorting to living in shelters, cars, and RVs/trailers because they are homeless or are on the brink of homelessness. How can someone be expected to afford a house, let alone rent an apartment, when many Americans are making well below minimum wage? It is because of policymakers that these housing programs did not work, as they are in the middle to the wealthy class, so they most likely had never experienced the difficulties of homelessness and unemployment. Surprisingly, the Democrats had programs that tried to target homelessness in the 1970s that failed, so Republicans have stepped up to try to tackle this issue; however, many Republicans also believe in the stance that the main causes of homelessness are drug addictions and mental health disorders. In conclusion, homelessness is an inconclusive problem in the U.S. since there are multiple root causes of homelessness, which is exacerbated as society has a preconceived notion of what a homeless person should look and act like.

[Meeloun]

专业的英文Essay代写 http://www.proessay.cn/our_service1.php 机构写手经验丰厚，如果选择代写，那么我们的通过率也会在一定程度上得到保障。实际上，英文Essay代写的存在确实给留学生带来了很大的帮助。