Homelessness is a universal problem, one which cannot, should not, and hopefully will not continue to be ignored to the extent that it is.  Contrary to popular opinion, homelessness is a not a problem unique to the mentally ill, addicts, or minorities, rather it can and does afflict people of all backgrounds.  And simply put, both homelessness and housing discrimination are affliction which are preventable, with an increase in awareness and efforts being made by the general population as to their existence and extent.

You would be hard pressed to find a politician who is willing to advocate for the continuing of the existence of a homeless population.  Furthermore, if asked, no one would support, at least barring economic differences or racial issues stemming from their own biases, housing discrimination.  To this end, it makes no sense that we, as a community, claim to wish to see the end of homelessness, as described the CQ reader, such as that of single mothers or children, but continue to allow one of the primary causes this issue.   In that we fight homelessness, but oftentimes sit contentedly, thinking that the Civil Rights Act in the ’60’s was enough effort made to fight the issue of minority suppression in the United States. So that rather than perpetuating the injustice which we oftentimes turn a blind eye to,  while hypocritically claiming that we are an accepting community who wishes to see all people on equal footing to some extent,  it would behoove us to take meaningful steps to rectify this situation.

This is where the issue becomes far more complex.  While the measures taken by the Bush and Obama administration are admirable,  they are equivalent to cutting out a metastasized cancer without even trying to treat the original tumor.  The assertion that studies done to determine the causes of homelessness were inconclusive is unacceptable, and if not being redone, must be conducted again.  It is folly to try to find people places to stay without taking steps to ensure they or others don’t end up on the streets.  Considering that homelessness existed before the Reagan era, which the text cites as the period of a fundamental shift the American economy,  there must be a universal, continuous, underlying cause, which must be identified and rectified.

In regards to housing discrimination, this is an issue less to do with homelessness, although it does cause it, but rather with race relations in the United States.  Landlords will not be able to change, unless there is a fundamental shift in our society in regards to how the races view each other.  This can be helped, not necessarily solved, by a changing in our educational system.

Both homelessness and housing discrimination are symptoms of greater ailments, and it is time that we targeted the underlying problems rather than what these problems cause.