While circumstances vary, the main reason people experience homelessness is because they cannot find housing they can afford. A lack of affordable housing in the United States contributes to the inability to acquire or maintain housing, particularly in urban areas where homelessness is more prevalent (Source: National Alliance to End Homelessness). A variety of additional factors can contribute to
the problem: chief among these are poverty, a decline in levels of public assistance, lack of affordable health care, mental illness, and addictive disorders. In our area, economic conditions are currently playing a large role: 50% of homeless individuals cite job loss and earnings as a trigger to their homelessness. The sole purpose of the HTHC project is giving hope, hope to the individuals that wants the second chance in life. Those that have fallen victim of abusive environment, drugs and alcohol, economy, proper education, and the biggest reason of all the loss of job. I have brought this idea to many of my peers and network and some will argue that homeless don’t want to be helped, that they are comfortable with their current situation. In some aspect this is true -- to an extent. I have spent time talking to the homeless community, asking them questions about their past, dreams, life goals and achievements, what they would like to see or do different, and while some do enjoy the poverty life style, there are a large number that I’ve met and encountered that if they had an opportunity to a second chance! That they would be willing to do whatever it takes to succeed. It's time to stop turning our cheeks, and open the blind eye to unite together for hope in humanity.
