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Homelessness, street children, inadequate housing, slums
 Homelessness is a growing problem that affects not only developing nations but first world countries as well. Many people do not understand the severity of the issue, and therefore are unsure of things they can do to help. Millions of children call the streets their home because their own homes are inadequate and unsafe to live in. Many of those millions lack any home at all, inadequate or otherwise.
Some might suggest that homelessness is a result of laziness. For many, homelessness occurs as a result of something they did or lack of doing anything, or laziness. However, for many others, homelessness is a result of multiple factors including broken marriages, loss of financial stability, lack of public housing, refugees fleeing their own country, veterans injured in the line of duty or other factors. Homelessness is defined on our own street corners, in our neighborhoods, cities, and countries. The solution is complicated because not only do the poor have to be willing to help themselves but we must also be willing to continue helping with their needs.
According to statistics, there are over 1 billion homeless people throughout the globe who do not have adequate access to housing or shelter. Currently, cities across the globe are inhabited by up to 100 million street children and people living in shacks or slums without water, sewage, garbage collection, heating and cooling or electricity. Imagine how different life would be without these things, and that is what they live out everyday. They have to endure illness and an unshakable sense of disconnectedness. The majority of the homeless worldwide are women and children. According to the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements, women are twice as likely to be at a disadvantage when it comes to making a living, as they are also responsible for running the household in most societies. Homelessness is growing most rapidly in Africa, Asia and Latin America. These are also the very places where the population rate is highest. By 2015, it is estimated that the top ten largest cities in the world will be located on one or more of these continents.
The basic human right to obtain adequate shelter is expressed in Article 25 (1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and needs to be the universal standard by which the homelss and destitute are approached. Whether rich, poor or in between, we all need to observe these basic rights for ourselves as well as for those around the world. If not, then homelessness and poverty will increase.
SOURCES
Colorado Coalition for the Homeless 13421 Antlers St, Broomfield, Colorado 80020 USA www.coloradocoalition.org
National Alliance to End Homelessness
1518 'K' St- Suite 206- NW, Washington, DC 20005 USA
www.naeh.org
National Coalition for the Homeless
1012 14th St-Suite 600- NW, Washington DC 20005 USA
www.nationalhomeless.org
Shelter Now International
502 E New York Ave, Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 USA
www.shelter.org
Universal Declaration of Human Rights www.unhchr.ch/udhr/lang/eng.htm
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