Homelessness Issue Book by byui1

The

Road Home

breaking the cycle of homelessness

The

Road Home

How can we break the cycle of homelessness ?

Table of Contents Writers: Wendy Nitta Courtney Lindner Allison Marin Editor: Kristy Holt

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Solution One . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Solution Two . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Solution Three . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Front and back cover images credited to Fred Hoerr/Exclusivepix Media Image below: Shutterstock

Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Solution One

Helping the most at-risk people before they become homeless keeps them on their feet. It is harder for a person to pull themselves out of being homeless than it is to keep them from becoming homeless in the first place.

Who is responsible for solving the problem of homelessness? How can we take action if the reasons for homelesness are not addressed openly?

Solution Two

Developing communities of tiny homes that are built in a lease-to-own model to provide affordable housing for the homeless.

Homelessness How can we break the cycle ? F

or many average working Americans, the homeless population is a nameless, faceless entity that exists on a different plane; they seem to be operating in an existence that is so far removed from what average people experience that they are uncomfortable thinking about it. A once a year donation to the Salvation Army during the holidays seems to fulfill their obligation to help, and the suspicion that many people begging for money are not legitimately homeless makes it easy to rationalize turning a blind ear and eye to the need they do see. Homelessness may sometimes be thought of as a consequence of being

lazy or un-educated; but the face of homelessness is not that broad or simple. There are many factors that contribute to the rising numbers of homelessness across the United States. Who is going to step up and take responsibility for solving the problem of homelessness? Is it the publicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s or the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s responsibility? How can we take action if the complex reasons for homelessness are not addressed openly? This issue book gives three different options that address these questions, with the intent of opening the discussion and eventually leading to action. The trade-offs for each option are also addressed to more fully educate the public about the issue.

Solution Three

Jon Flobrant

The History of Homelessness The homeless issue began to take shape in America in the 1870s and has steadily risen since that time. Purchasing and settling land required the ability to provide for oneself and to contribute to the community. A person considered unfit to provide for himself (physically disabled, alcoholic, widows, orphans, or the elderly) would never receive residency to settle, and would float from state to state. Homelessness during the American Revolution and Civil War skyrocketed. As early as 1861 local governments encouraged donations for the poor and appropriated modest stipends to help those in need. State legislature authorized local governments to borrow money for poor relief.

Surrounded by Homelessness In an article that addressed the 15 most homeless cities in the world, American cities like Phoenix, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, and San Francisco, held almost

google images

half of those 15 slots (M). Despite the fact that America has an “astronomical $18 trillion” GDP, homelessness continues to run rampant (Neiditch). To put the issue into perspective, “In a single night in California in 2016, 21.48% of the population experienced homelessness. In New York, 15.7%. That’s over 100,000 people in California and 80,000 people in New York” (Neiditch).

The toll of homelessness Homelessness has a severe detrimental effect. People who are homeless are

more likely to suffer from physical and mental health problems including skin and foot problems, dental problems, and chronic infectious diseases. Additionally, about 70% of the homeless population suffers from some form of mental illness- a stark contrast to the estimated 30% of the general population. 91% of homeless women suffered some form of abuse before becoming homeless. Single mothers run the biggest risk of becoming homeless. Homelessness has an incredibly negative effect on their children. 21-42% of homeless youth experience sexual abuse and 40% have been assaulted with

a weapon. Even if they are only homeless for a short while, the stress and rigor of being homeless has an impact on a child’s development. Most homeless children are six or under. Malnutrition, exposure to unsanitary conditions, and lack of readily available healthcare come together to impair a child’s brain development. Only 24% of homeless fifth graders are proficient in math, compared to 61% of all fifth graders.

The cost of homelessness Though it varies by state, a chronically homeless person may cost taxpayers an average of $35,000 per year. This includes arrests, hospital stays, and shelter upkeep. In Ohio, it was calculated that supporting 150 homeless people long-term will cost between 93-350 million dollars.

Factors of homelessness There are many factors that contribute to homelessness, but a primary cause of homelessness is loss of job, which accounts for 35% of homelessness. One of the main similarities to history Davidson Luna

and current homeless conditions is the huge gap between wages and the cost of living. Unaffordable housing options are a key reason for homelessness. After the housing crash of 2008, many people who lost their homes were forced to rent. The increase in the number of renters, as well as decreased new home construction, drove up housing and rental prices, dramatically affecting low-income renters. Natural disasters are another problem that factors into homelessness. The Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the San Francisco earthquake of 1906, and the massive flooding of the Mississippi in the 1920’s are example of natural disasters that displaced millions of people. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina flooded 80% of New Orleans. Of the 200,000 homes lost to Katrina 41,000 were rental units for low-income families. When these rental units were restored the average price of rent raised from $461 to $836. The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that Katrina was responsible for the loss 230,000 jobs, making it difficult for these victims to find housing and healthcare, leaving them even more exposed. Natural Disasters and Homelessness Published by the National Coalition for the Homeless, September 2009 Image www.twitter.com

Solution One

Helping the most at-risk people before they become homeless Recently, some agencies have changed their approach to helping the homeless. This new method involves aiding the most at-risk people in order to prevent homelessness. Conventional programs assist those who are already homeless by providing housing, financial assistance, and counseling services. These new programs instead offer only financial assistance and short-term aid and eliminating risk from households. Government programs such as State Administered General Assistance (SAGA) provide assistance to people

who are struggling financially. Individuals may receive up to $200 per month, and families may receive up to $750.

administrators in the dark as to how successful the program is and how it may be improved.

Homeless programs often serve a particular geographical region or a specific group of people. Organizations such as the National Alliance to End Homelessness encourage agencies to hire people who have experienced poverty or homelessness. Programs that serve a particular district are encouraged to hire people from that area. These new services, as well as conventional assistance services, may experience difficulty tracking success rates of those who use the programs. With this difficulty, it may leave donors, government agencies, and

Unfortunately, these types of programs do not directly assist those that are already homeless. These programs help those who are at risk of being homeless. People who are already homeless will require participation and involvement in different programs. In order to qualify for most government programs, participants must register with the Department of Social Services (DSS). Other government programs homeless or low-income individuals may qualify for includes the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicare or Medicaid. Despite this drawback, these programs have the capacity to help many people. A study has found that organizations that provide only financial assistance are able to assist sixteen times more people than those that provide multiple services (http:// endhomelessness.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/homelessness-prevention-guide-and-companion.pdf). This method provides much in the way of intervention. If people receive the financial help and other resources when they desperately need it, they have a much lower chance of actually becoming homeless.

that involve zoning requirements and building standards that restrict the ability to build tiny homes as permanent residences. Groups such as American Tiny House Association have identified individuals who work as activists to change the legal coding in the US to accommodate for tiny homes and tiny home communities. Changing these laws can take a few years, but is not impossible and the process can be accelerated through more awareness around the tiny home solution. Google images

Solution Two

Developing communities of tiny homes that are built in a lease-to-own model to provide affordable housing for the homeless One of the first widely recognized proponents of tiny home living was Henry David Thoreau. In his book, Walden, Thoreau shares his experiences living in a 150 square foot cabin in Massachusetts in 1854 and heralds the simple life of living small. Thoreau chose the tiny house lifestyle as a way to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life and engage in a life of solitude and tranquility, but what if tiny home living was presented as a viable option for more than a temporary getaway? What if tiny homes were specifically designed as affordable and safe housing options for those transitioning from extreme poverty to the responsibilities of homeownership? Tiny home communities for

Aside from individuals and associations joining to make tiny homes more mainstream, support from the U.S. department of Health and Human Services. This support can be petitioned from city

and state government systems or from individuals communication with state representatives and lobbyists. The primary foundation for implementing the tiny home solution is to recruit local volunteers. Volunteers and local organization and business donations have been the primary source of funding for tiny home communities built specifically to reduce homelessness in recent years. As activist groups and individuals spread the word about tiny home living and the benefits of developing these communities, volunteers can be recruited to help with the manual labor, planning stages, and development of these communities. In this case, the phrase â&#x20AC;&#x153;It takes a villageâ&#x20AC;? applies profoundly.

the homeless would provide just that; an opportunity to transition from living on the streets to owning and caring for a home for around $350 a month. These homes can be constructed in a matter of 3-6 months and average at a cost of $20,000 per unit. If it sounds too good to be true it might be because it will take a lot of work before the dream of the homeless living in tiny homes can become a reality in the US. There are currently around a dozen tiny home communities for the homeless in the US; they are found in Michigan, New York, Tennessee, Washington, California, Texas, and Oregon. Currently there are state laws Google images

tance easier, and less costly, to administer” (End Homelessness). This rapid re-housing concept is designed to minimize the amount of time a family spends homeless.

Solution Three

Warren Wong

Rapid re-housing and employment services give short term financial assistance so families can keep themselves from becoming homeless. Employment assistance aids people in finding and qualifying for jobs that will allow them to support their families. A homeless situation is often caused by a financial situation. Not every homeless person chooses to be homeless, but rather falls into homelessness due to financial troubles (Humility of Mary Housing). Financial issues can occur for multiple reasons: job loss, reduction of work hours, inability to pay rental or medical costs, eviction, and single-parent or single income households are just some instances that can occur. In these situations, families are often smart and capable but find themselves homeless due to difficult times. They are not in need of long-term solutions, but instead require temporary help that could include rental assistance, employment resources, as well as further education advisement.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is one such program that is already in place (End Homelessness). Communities that embrace the TANF-funded assistance programs, such as “short-term rent assistance [that helps] families avoid or quickly escape homelessness”, have shown “dramatic impacts on reducing family homelessness” (End Homelessness). The program is intended to assist for temporary, short-term time limits to give families the opportunity to overcome their financial hardships through their own means. In many cases, the few months of rental assistance is all that a family needs to get back on their feet. Not only does this benefit the families struggling, but it makes “short-term assis-

Beyond TANF-funded rental-assistance and rapid re-housing, the program offers employment services that can give homeless families a greater chance in finding employment as soon as possible. TANF can “improve employment outcomes by coordinating employment services with programs that offer rapid re-housing” (Ending Homelessness). It has been found that once an at-risk family is stably housed the parents are much more eager to use the intensive suport services available to them through TANF (Ending Homelessness). The program, and those similar to it encourages self sufficiency and helps to educate and guide its users to independence in the future (Humility of Mary House).

demand” (Office of Family Assistance). HPOG participants can enroll in “training programs for nurse aides, home health aides, licensed and vocational nurses, registered nurses, medical assistants, pharmacy technicians, and phlebotomists” which can often act as career pathways to greater levels of education and even more employment or training opportunities (Office of Family Assistance). Programs such as TANF and HPOG are designed to prevent families on the edge of homelessness from falling into it. Rather than allow families to struggle through the often times traumatic experience of being homeless, it can alleviate that day-to-day struggle and allow families to focus on providing the financial stability needed to ensure future self-sufficiency.

The program is intended to assist for temporary, shortterm time limits to give families the opportunity to overcome their financial hardships through their own means.

TANF has also partnered with other programs, such as Health Profession Opportunity Grants (HPOG). HPOG recognizes that families struggle to find jobs that pay enough to support their families as well as the lack of qualified, trained staff with technical expertise that healthcare employers need. HPOG then helps to “provide education and training to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients and other low-income individuals for healthcare occupations that pay well and are in high

Solution Three Pros Rapid re-housing is much more affordable for organizations to administer and less paperwork. Its 4 month rental-assistance time limit ensures that no single family can become reliant on the programs (End Homelessness). “It can also dramatically reduce the amount of time families spend homeless and, in doing so, alleviate the strain on overcrowded family homelessness programs” (End Homelessness). In other words, it would prevent homeless families from being denied shelter when shelters are full. 12

Through the employment and networking services available, needy families have the opportunity and resources they need to better themselves and their family situation by furthering their training and education. Not only would this help eliminate the issues a family may be currently facing, but it could prevent future threats to homelessness as well. Teaching useful life-skills to the capable, working adults of a family facing homelessness could make all the difference. Both the rapid re-housing and employment services encourage responsibility, self-sufficiency, and independence and promote families to encourage those types of values in their children. Solution Three Cons While it has been proven that rapid re-housing is effective in ending family homelessness, the National Alliance to End Homelessness says that communities lack the resources to implement it to the scale needed. They go on to say that the programs promote self-sufficiency and stability for people with disabilities and severe barriers,

but in those cases, these programs are not always ideal. In these instances, programs that are equipped to assist long-term are usually necessary. Rapid re-housing and the employment services that are available are intended to be quick, efficient, and useful for those who are on the verge of homelessness, not for those “who have been homeless multiple times and face an array of other challenges, including mental health and substance abuse issues, and children placed in foster care.” Much more intensive programs, such as those offering transitional housing and permanent supportive housing, would be more ideal. In some cases, the help may not be accepted as readily as one would imagine. Small town Code Enforcement Supervisor, Jonathan Wood, said it simply: “... it’s hard because they don’t want help. You can have all the resources in the world, but if they don’t want it, they don’t want it.”

Summary Homelessness is a complicated issue that doesn’t have one right answer. Once a person becomes homeless, it is more difficult for them to recover and return to a normal life. Even if every resource is available to a person, they may or may not choose to take the action needed to change their circumstances. Conversely, other homeless people just need a small stepping stone of help in order to transform their lives. Perhaps there is wisdom in addressing homelessness with preventative assistance that lets people take charge of their own lives and retain their options.

Often, the main issue that is keeping people from supporting themselves is in finding better employment, so offering aid in this area solves the cascade of problems that follow. It may make sense to develop affordable housing options like tiny house communities for those who are already homeless, providing a way for them to become self-sustaining. Perhaps a combination of solutions can address more needs. One thing is clear; empowering people with the skills and circumstances to help themselves is essential in breaking the cycle of homelessness that is so difficult to escape.

Pros

Cons

Solution 1: Short term financial assistance for at-risk individuals

Able to help 16 times the amount of people that organizations offering multiple services can offer.

Can’t help people who are already homeless, and may be difficult for organizations to track

Solution 2: Lease-toown tiny houses

Affordable, easily duplicated housing

Government and Zoning regulations, finding funding & volunteers, too small for family living

Solution 3:Temporary assistance for needy families (TANF), education advisement, employment resources

Reduces the amount of time families are homeless, alleviating strain on homeless shelters

Communities lack the resources to implement it to the needed scale, self-sufficiency not always the answer for people with disabilities or severe problems

Strategic Research Bibliography Solution 1/Wendy Nitta

Caton, Carol L. M. “Risk Factors for Long-Term Homelessness: Findings From a Longitudinal Study of First-Time Homeless Single Adults.” American Journal of Public Health, 10 Oct. 2011, ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/full/10.2105/AJPH.2005.063321. Culhane, Dennis P, et al. “A Prevention Centered Approach to Homelessness Assistance: A Paradigm Shift?” Usich.gov , United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, June 2010, www.usich.gov/resources/uploads/asset_library/DennisCulhane_PrevCentApproHomelessnessAssist.pdf. Dickrell, Stephanie. “Child Homelessness Can Have Long-Term Consequences.” St. Cloud Times, SCTimes, 4 June 2016, www.sctimes.com/story/news/local/homelesskids/2016/06/04/ child-homelessness-can-have-long-term-consequences/84902750/. “Effects of Homelessness in Families and Children.” Institute for Children, Poverty, and Homeless, Institute for Children, Poverty, and Homeless, www.icphusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Effects-of-Homelessness.pdf. “Effects of Poverty, Hunger and Homelessness on Children and Youth.” American Psychological Association, American Psychological Association, www.apa.org/pi/families/poverty.aspx. Galea, Sandra. “Homelessness, Its Consequences, and Its Causes.” School of Public Health, Boston University, 28 Feb. 2016, www.bu.edu/sph/2016/02/28/homelessness-its-consequences-and-its-causes/. “Home.” National Alliance to End Homelessness, endhomelessness.org/.

Force, Web Task. “Edmund G. Brown Jr.” Division of Rehabilitative Programs - CDCR, www. cdcr.ca.gov/rehabilitation/. “CrimeSolutions.gov.” Topic: Inmate Programs & Treatment - CrimeSolutions.Gov, www. crimesolutions.gov/TopicDetails.aspx?ID=31. American Psychological Association, American Psychological Association, www.apa.org/pi/ ses/resources/publications/education.aspx. Secretary, HHS Office of the, and Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE). “Grants.” HHS.gov, US Department of Health and Human Services, 19 May 2016, www.hhs. gov/programs/social-services/homelessness/grants/index.html. “Local zoning ordinance. What are my alternatives to change?” FreeAdvice, real-estate-law. freeadvice.com/real-estate-law/zoning/local_zoning_change.htm. Saez, Isabel. “Tiny Houses for the Homeless: An Affordable Solution Catches On.” Charter for Compassion, charterforcompassion.org/problem-solving/tiny-houses-for-the-homeless-anaffordable-solution-catches-on.

Solution 3 / Allie Marin

End Homelessness. National Alliance to End Homelessness, 2016, https://endhomelessness. org/homelessness-in-america/homelessness-statistics/state-of-homelessness-report/ . Accessed 27, Nov. 2017. “Humility of Mary Housing.” YouTube, uploaded by Humility of Mary Housing, 7 Oct. 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=7&v=szVTJyi6aAQ.

“Impact of Homelessness.” Homeless.org, Homeless Link, www.homeless.org.uk/facts/understanding-homelessness/impact-of-homelessness.

M., Reagan. “The 15 Most Homeless Cities in the World”. The Richest, 3 March, 2015, https:// www.therichest.com/rich-list/poorest-list/the-15-most-homeless-cities-in-the-world/ . Accessed 27 Nov. 2017.

Montgomery, Ann Elizabeth, et al. “Homelessness, Unsheltered Status, and Risk Factors for Mortality: Findings From the 100 000 Homes Campaign.” Public Health Reports, SAGE Publications, 19 Oct. 2016, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5230839/

Neiditch, Daniel. “How Bad is Homelessness in America?” Huffington Post, updated 3 Nov. 2017,https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/how-bad-is-homelessness-in-america-really_ us_58f6916de4b0c892a4fb736f . Accessed 27 Nov. 2017.

Solution 2 / Courtney Lindner

Office of Family Assistance. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 21, June 2017, https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ofa/programs/tanf . Accessed 27 Nov. 2017.

Mok, Kimberley. “Rent-to-Own tiny housing development aims to lift low-Income folks out of poverty (Video).” TreeHugger, Treehugger, 12 Sept. 2017, www.treehugger.com/tiny-houses/ cass-community-social-services-tiny-houses-low-income-homeless.html. Xie, Jenny. “10 tiny house villages for the homeless across the U.S.” Curbed, 18 July 2017, www. curbed.com/maps/tiny-houses-for-the-homeless-villages.

HPOG & TANF Partnerships Infographic. Office of Family Assistance, 2 Nov. 2017, https://

www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ofa/hpog_tanf_partnerships_infographic.pdf . Accessed 27 Nov. 2017. Wood, Jonathan. Personal interview. 21 Nov. 2017.

Appendix Bio: Wendy was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. She is 21 years old and a senior at Brigham Young Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;Idaho. Currently, she works at the local YMCA and has a side job taking dogs on hikes. After graduation, she plans to open an animal rescue for pit-bull type dogs. Selection of Issue: Wendy chose this topic because it had an impact across the nation and world. In Hawaii, the homeless population has been increasing due to an extremely high cost of living. Wendy is concerned with the homeless population due to issues surrounding safety where large numbers of homeless people live as well as the difficulty people have implementing successful programs. Finding a long-term solution to homelessness is important to her due to it being such a big part of her community. Tasks: Wendy wrote the section on the ramifications of homelessness, and focused on a preventative solution. Initially, she had been working a rehabilitation solution, but through research realized a preventative solution was more effective. Personal reflection: I learned a lot while doing this project. Here in Hawaii, assistance programs are incredibly focused on affordable housing, due to high rent costs. While doing this project, I was shocked to find out that the most effective way to help at-risk and homeless people is to help them financially. Speaking with people who used to be homeless really put a face and gave identities to a group that is often presented as ambiguous, faceless masses. I think it is important to tell peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stories in order to help others understand. I feel like this is one of the reasons research has suggested hiring people who were formerly homeless experienced severe poverty. These people will be able to better understand the experiences of people who are struggling with homelessness and poverty.

Appendix cont. Bio: Courtney Lindner is a 24 year old Senior studying at Brigham Young University â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Idaho, studying Communication and Business. She is married to her husband, Blake, and they live in Atlanta Georgia where she grew up. She served a mission to Fresno California and has worked in the health industry for 4 years. Her hobbies include playing the piano, reading classic literature, and musical theater. Selection of Issue: The team chose this issue because homelessness is a widespread problem that affects thousands of individuals and families. Homelessness is not just about individuals who lack a place of residence; homelessness impacts many other areas of life and development including connection to the community, educational pursuit, and employment opportunities. Each of these issues derived from homelessness impact the community as a whole. We brainstormed a few options, but our decision really focused around an interest in how tiny homes could positively impact a community. Tasks: I contributed the history and background of homelessness, as well as the solution of tiny homes. Personal reflection: I began my research with an interest in tiny home living. I have watched YouTube tutorials as well as read many articles on the positive economic impact of living with a smaller footprint. From this initial interest, I narrowed down my research to the feasibility of building tiny home communities for the homeless as a solution to how the homeless can enter the housing market and get back on their feet. I contacted a homeless shelter early in my research and spoke with a manager regarding her perspective on homelessness in the United States and brainstormed with her about tiny homes and her perspective on their potential success as a solution to homelessness. After speaking with an authority on the subject, I turned to the internet where I spent time researching current US trends and statistics on homelessness to better understand the problem. I looked at government websites, non-profit organizations, and read news articles containing opinions, facts, and potential solutions to the issue of homelessness. After gathering this information I compiled my thoughts which confirmed tiny homes as a very viable solution to homelessness in the US.

Appendix Bio: Allison Marin is 25, born and raised in Southern California in the middle of the Mojave Desert, and is a self-proclaimed desert rat. She is married to her junior high sweetheart and is the mother of two toddlers with baby number three on the way. Allison graduates this December with her Bachelor’s in University Studies, with an emphasis in Communications and English, from Brigham Young University - Idaho. She plans to begin a Master’s of Education Program in May 2018 with the University of Redlands, California. She wishes to one day become a teacher and to check off “publish a book” from her bucket list. Selection of Issue: The homelessness topic was not a stretch of the imagination. Having lived in areas like Salt Lake City, Utah and in Southern California near Orange County and Los Angeles where homelessness abounds, it was easy for team members to understand the seriousness of the issue as well as see the affects the homeless populations have on communities. Tasks: Contributed writing about the scope of homelessness and the solution of Rapid Re-Housing and Employment Services, associated bibliography and images, and appendix. Personal reflection: I’ve seen my fair share of homeless having grown up in Southern California and only being roughly an hour away from Los Angeles. I think mainly due to my upbringing (my father was once a sheriff for San Bernardino County and now works as a Code Enforcement Officer), I’ve had a generally negative outlook on the homeless. I’ve always had the impression that they’ve chosen it - it’s a lifestyle, not a misfortune for them. While I still believe that’s partially true, I had a change of heart when I recognized the true definition of homelessness: “an individual may be considered homeless when they lack permanent housing and have to stay in shelters, abandoned buildings or vehicles, on the streets, or in other forms of unstable situations. They may also be considered homeless if they have to “double up” with friends or extended family members because they are unable to maintain their own housing situation” (Neiditch). I realized that some of my close friends and family have, at one point or another, technically been homeless. In searching for solutions to this problem, however, I could not condone giving free handouts, money or otherwise, to those who simply choose homelessness as an ongoing lifestyle because of addictions, criminal pasts or the like. That said, I loved the idea of helping struggling families avoid homelessness when they hit a rough patch, which is why I was drawn to the rapid re-housing and employment services (or the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) solution. I think it falls in line with my religious beliefs as well as the idea that we can all become self-reliant. Sometimes, we just need a little help when a storm blows through.

Appendix cont. Bio: Kristy is a mother of five and student at BYU-Idaho, with minors in Communication and English. She enjoys nature, music, art, and loves l earning. Selection of issue: One of our team members had an interest in researching tiny houses, and as I started looking into it, I was amazed at how practical that option seemed, and wondered why this option was not more mainstream. Tasks: Served as editor for the issue book; designed the book and organized the writing from our talented writers into a cohesive unit. I found images that brought homelessness to life. I also reminded writers of due dates and gave them feedback. Personal reflection: I realized that I have not given much thought at all to homelessness before this project. I viewed homeless people as a problem that I would try to avoid because of how uncomfortable they made me feel. One of the main things I took away from this project is that homeless people are a lot like me. They never planned on being homeless; it just happened when a series of events led them to that destination. Although some homeless people choose that lifestyle, many others didn’t choose to be there, and often times it’s through no fault of their own. I feel like homeless people are often judged by others, believing that they got themselves into this problem and they will need to get themselves out of it. For many people who are living paycheck to paycheck, all it takes is one catastrophic thing, like huge medical bills, to tip the balance and make everything fall. When you combine that disaster with something like not having a family to fall back on, they have no other options. This project has made me aware of how blessed I am, although I count myself as one of the families living paycheck to paycheck, to still be able to live comfortably and have the safety net of a large family that would help us if needed. I searched many sites to find pictures to use for the issue book, and several of them made me emotional because of the exposure and neglect that these people face every day and night. It is so easy to take things like a bed, a bathroom, and food for granted, and this project has made me want to view these people with more compassion and less judgement. I would like to be involved in some way in projects that serve the homeless.