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Causes of Homelessness in San Francisco

Although there have probably always been a certain amount of the population that was homeless, there seemed to have been a sharp increase in the number since the 1980s (Wilton and Wolch, 1996). Additionally, according to Nunez and Fox, each year since 1993 there have been marked increases not only in the homeless population in general, but in homeless families as well (1999). San Francisco spends an average of $13,000 a year, per person on its homeless programs, and the population continues to grow (Fagan, 2003). While almost everyone has an opinion as to the cause of homelessness and why it is more prevalent in some areas and not others, it needs to be recognized that it is a complex issue where there is no easy answer as to just what causes homelessness. This paper will examine and discuss the different causes of homelessness in San Francisco, looking specifically at mental illness and substance abuse or drug use.

During the 1980s, one of the reasons there was such a sharp increase in the homeless population was the deinstitutionalization of people with mental illnesses and the failure of community based systems to care for those no longer in facilities. This is a trend that continues even now as the homeless population grows and programs to serve them close (Wilton and Wolch 1996). One example of this is what is happening to residents of Milestones Human Services, which will be closing its program now that it has sold its building located South of Market. The purpose of Milestones was to help homeless people with drug and mental illness problems. According to Jack Spaw, who admitted people into the program: ôOur population is very hard to place. They are here because no one else would accept themö (in Seligman, 2003, p. A-15). The new owner, St. Anthony Foundation, will move in its own program, which is also a program for the homeless. However, few of the current MilestonesÆ residents will qualify for the program at S...

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Causes of Homelessness in San Francisco. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 21:22, March 28, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1701036.html