Student Homelessness Research Paper

Homeless youth are always dealing with poor nutrition, victimization, substance use, and abuse. Unfortunately the services provided are very limited and cannot help a huge chunk of the homeless youth. Homeless youth experience more substance abuse and drug addiction than non-homeless youth, this causes them to be mentally unstable and unable to be a functioning member of society. There are many temporary services provided such as shelters, drop-ins, meal programs, literacy improvements, and counselling programs; although these are available and there to help the youth, they are all flawed in their own ways. What the government does not take into consideration is the long term solutions to put youth in poverty to an end.

The article titled “School Where Homeless Find Haven”, was written by the author Seth Myans. In this article, the author highlights a major problem that was happening at the Coeur d’Alene Elementary school in Los Angeles; the problem being on how to help the numerous transient students attending their school. These homeless children are constantly moving from school to school due to their family needing to travel around to finds jobs and lodging. One teacher comments saying, “We see the children come in, then leave in two or three weeks, then come again and leave again, It's very frustrating”. Because of this constant moving to different schools their education is being damaged.

In “Homeless on Campus” author, Kingsborough Community College English Department Instructor, Eleanor Bader explains the increasing amount of homeless students and ways the public can help get them into various necessary living situations. Bader has two main audiences whom she is addressing. The first audience is homeless students. This report helps homeless students feel as if their voice is being heard and that they are not the only ones going through this. The second audience is teachers and college faculty members.

Homelessness is a term used for those who do not have a place to stay such as housing, it is currently a big problem in the Santa Ana community. I believe that it is a dilemma that needs to be addressed and solved. Multiple people are affected by this year-round, and although they constantly seek help and shelter they are visually ignored. Some ways to help those affected are donating food and money, providing employment, and offering a place with shelter.

Colleges and Universities could “provide affordable housing and full access to health care” (1) to their students. There are many other things that can be done to help the homeless students. Even a tiny effort can make a huge

With the federal law of the Mckinney-Vento homeless Assistance Act established in 1987 in response to the reports that only 57% of homeless children were enrolled in school (White), progress was starting to take effect in finding solutions to the crisis of homeless youth in education. Currently, this act goes to address the needs of homeless youth required by law. Because of this, school districts have decided to focus on the three critical problems influencing these youths. By eliminating barriers of enrollment, attendance, and success in schools many educators have decided that these specific provisions would be the most beneficial to these students (White). This act further went to provide homeless children the right to remain in the same

A place to stay is not always guaranteed to those who apply. America needs to find a better solution to solving homelessness on college campuses and it needs to identify what the causes of homelessness are. Some college students are homeless because the jobs that are offered to them are unstable low income jobs. Rising tuition costs as well cause some college students to become homeless because they can’t afford to pay.

The vulnerable population of homeless children

For instance, a study published in 2009 discusses the importance of understanding the different aspects of this population in order to effectively help end youth homelessness. The study notes that are two typical forms of youth homelessness: children living in homeless families and unaccompanied youth. The first group, children living in homeless families, is essentially children who “live in families without a home” (Aratani, 2009, p. 4). Unaccompanied youth, then include those who are runaways, throwaways, and independent youth who have no contact with their family. Additionally, there is a multitude of factors that have been known to contribute to homelessness.

In her essay “Homeless on Campus” Professor Eleanor J. Bader, writes about students who are attending college while being homeless. She introduces four students whom are homeless and explains their stories. As she described the life of each student it became obvious that stories were similar; students left home due to hardships and abuse from others, and are now moving from one place to another, going to extreme measures to make sure everything is taking care off, and all while focussing on school work. Bader identified three main focus points on the issue of homeless students on campus. She noted that unlike elementary school and high school, universities do not provide any formal help to homeless students.

Homless College Students Reading “Homeless on Campus” by Eleanor J. Bader gives an insight into the struggles college students who do not have a home go through. Throughout the story, some young adults struggle to make it to class due to transportation issues. While others have a hard time finding a place to stay. Many people do not understand what it is like to be homeless and attend school at the same time, however, Bader helps us understand the struggles that they have to live with.

With the increased use of housing-based assistance programs being created, there is a positive outlook for homeless looking for assistance getting back on their feet by acquiring affordable housing. The ability to apply and gain benefits through state and federal programs is helping to provide food and some financial assistance to the homeless population as well as a community outreach programs being deployed in cities all over the country. New opportunities for employment and training are available for those who are homeless and looking to get back into the workforce and get off the street. The road ahead for the homeless population is, of course, paved with struggles and detours, but with the continued efforts of our country, states and communities we can work together to aid in the reduction of homelessness with the continued efforts in creating and maintaining affordable housing programs, assistance programs, and workforce development

You would n    ever know by looking at me or talking to me that my family and I have been homeless before. For the kids that have been homeless before it doesn't make you any less worthy, or intelligent than anyone else. There  are  many things you can do not only to help yourself with the feelings of being embarrassed or ashamed but you can also help others like you, be apart of organizations, and volunteer your time to others that have been in our situation of being homeless so they can feel better and know it ’s okay.

Teachers can also have healthy snacks in the classroom available for children that are hungry. Providing resources to parents about places they can go for help is a great way to show support for families that are homeless and hungry. In some cases, teachers and administrative staff may need to assist families by helping them to get in contact with agencies that can be of help to them. As a teacher, I always have a lost and found box in my classroom. There have been times when at the end of the year no one claims clothes, jackets, and toys.

Nearly 26% of the homeless population are people under the age of 18. Which explains why they have no education and that they cannot provide for themselves. Many kids that are homeless do not have a family which is the reason why they became homeless in the first place. Some homeless people are disqualified to get a job because they not go to school. Which makes it harder for them to read a newspaper, get a driver’s license or even to fill out a job application.