Date: April 1, 2020 From: Amjad Ambusaidi To: Mr. Lambert Subject: Tampa Bay Community Homelessness Problem Background of problem 2019 Homeless Hillsborough Country report indicates that in Tampa, there are at least 1650 women, men, and children. The homeless people include individuals that sleep on transitional housing, emergency shelters, cars, encampment, buildings, and on the streets. Numerous reasons contribute to the significant increase in homelessness in the county. For instance, loss of jobs results in homelessness. Also, an increase in the number of women in the streets is, as a result, an increase in domestic violence (Booth, 2018). Therefore, due to trauma, people find it hard living and coping with others in life. Additionally, some are homeless due to depression, post-traumatic stress, or mental illnesses. Thus, the factors of homelessness can be combined with a lack of affordable housing, low-paying jobs, underemployment, and financial-unemployment. Description of problem In the United States, the metropolitan areas of Tampa St Petersburg record he highest cases of homelessness. Report by National Alliance to End Homelessness indicates that out of 10,000 residents, here are at least 57 homeless cases. The situation is alarming, prompting federal and county governments to come up with ways to cope with this crisis. Causes of problem Individuals that experience homelessness is not any different from any population in the country. Thus, there is a thin line between unhoused and housed population. Families and individuals that experience homelessness do not have the necessary support that would accommodate them to lack adequate housing, and they live in extremely vulnerable situations. Thus, individual circumstances, system failure, and structural factors play a crucial role in the increase of homelessness in Tampa. Structural factors refer to societal and economic issues that influence individuals’ social and environmental opportunities. Critical structural factors include discrimination, lack of access to affordable health and housing support, and inadequate income. Therefore, it becomes a challenge for people that are impoverished to comfortably pay for education, health care, childcare, food, and housing. The only option left is living on the streets, which to them, is affordable. In Florida, there is a shortage of stable, safe, and affordable housing that contributes to homelessness. On the other hand, a significant percentage spends a substantial amount of their salaries on housing, making it hard for them to afford a mortgage plan. Sexual and racial minorities are at a high risk of experiencing homelessness because they experience challenges in accessing helpful services, justice, housing, and employment (Pribish, Khalil & Mhaskar, et al., 2019). An increase in domestic violence also contributes to homelessness whereby victims and their families opt to live on the streets, which they perceive to be peaceful. Additionally, the victims encounter psychological, physical, and sexual abuse that forces them to choose between homelessness and abusive relationships. System failure plays a significant role in the increase in the number of homelessness in the country. Therefore, the majority of the people find it unbearable to afford necessities such as food, clothing, healthcare, and housing. The system is developed in such a way that it makes it hard for young people to live normal lives since the majority are unemployed, thus becoming dependant. Affected population 2019 Tampa homeless report indicates that: ➢ 16 percent of the local population is chronically homeless ➢ 18 percent of the population experience mental illness ➢ 10 percent have served in the United States military (system unable to have proper programs) ➢ 20 percent are Hispanic ➢ 19 percent are under the age of 18 ➢ 38 percent are females (domestic violence) ➢ Children and youth also had a significant percentage of homelessness References Booth, B. C. (2018). An Impossible Dream for Florida: Ending Homelessness. Pribish, A., Khalil, N., Mhaskar, R., Woodard, L., & Mirza, A. S. (2019). Chronic disease burden of the homeless: a descriptive study of student-run free clinics in Tampa, Florida. Journal of community health, 44(2), 249-255.
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