Post by Maria Foscarinis highlights crisis of family homelessness
and decreasing availability of resources to meet the growing need
The Huffington Post on March 23, 2009 published Invest in Ending Homelessness by Maria Foscarinis, a lawyer, is founder and executive director of the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty.
The article highlights the crisis of increasing numbers of families across the country becoming homeless as they lose their jobs and homes. The article also discusses the decreasing availability of resources to meet the growing need, and prescribes measures that we can take to prevent and end homelessness in America.
The post highlights that “If current trends continue, estimates suggest 1.5 million more people will become homeless over the next two years.” Ms. Foscarinis notes “homelessness is a growing domestic human rights crisis. It doesn’t have to be. Homelessness can be solved, but it will take an up-front investment and a commitment by the President and Congress. Certain steps can prevent a new wave of suffering and help people off the streets.”
This is an excerpt from the post.
Solving homelessness is in everyone’s interest. Not solving homelessness costs more than ending it with housing and supportive services. Homeless people are more frequently ill, but with little access to health insurance; minor illnesses become serious and expensive emergency room care becomes routine treatment. People living in public places increase management costs for cities. And children like Joey risk becoming homeless adults, perpetuating the vicious cycle.
Investing in ending homelessness by building the safety net would create jobs, strengthen communities and save money–shoring up the interests of Wall Street.
It’s time to end homelessness and ensure the basic human right to housing for all Americans.
We agree that now is the time not only for Washington but also in Trenton, county courthouses and town halls, to invest in ending homelessness.
To read the full post click here.
Maria Foscarinis, a lawyer, is founder and executive director of the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, a not-for-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. She is a contributing author to the just-released Mandate for Change: Policies and Leadership for 2009 and Beyond (Lexington Books).
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