Homelessness - A look Around the Globe
While it may seem easy for us to classify our local issues as issues that only happen in our immediate area, that is not correct for the majority of the time. There is a famous Latin saying that reads, “Errare humanum est.” This translates to “To Error is human.” Although issues may seem consolidated to a specific place, the common denominator between errors or issues is the human element, not just the location.
For example, take the issue of homelessness in New York City. Many believe that homelessness is so severe in America because of the firm mindset of capitalism and focus on materialistic things. On the contrary, it seems like the issue of homelessness may be as severe or even more of an issue in other places around the world. In an article written by SBS comparing homelessness in America vs. Australia, the author touches on the fact that the numbers of homeless people in Australia are higher than that of the United States but not because they have more of a capitalist than us. In fact, they report more homeless people because they count them in a very different way. Here in America, we count homelessness by people who either sleep on the street or sleep in a shelter. In Australia, they count homelessness by the factors that make up a home. These may include any relatives that the person has nearby, your level of s security, and “your freedom to come and go.”
Although Australia does have a high rate of homelessness, they are enacting policies that are not only working but can be a solution to our homeless problem in the United States. According to the Everybody’s Home project in Australia, they are taking an approach that is heavily centered around the government providing aid to people who are less fortunate. The part that separates them from America is that they are trying to be involved in every person’s situation instead of providing a blanket solution for everyone.
Personally, I believe that this is the best solution to fight homelessness in not only Australia but in the entire world. If we can provide unique aid to everyone depending on their situation, we will be able to target our resources in a way that quill truly make a difference.
Work Cited
Us and them — A look at homelessness around the world | SBS Life
