The Problem of Homelessness in USA

Question: Discuss about theProblem of Homelessness in USA. Answer: MHA of Los Angeles: The Context of Homelessness Since emerging as a global leader in several aspects (including political and economic aspects), the United States has been faced with a myriad of socio-economic and political problems. The country which is considered a savior in terms of pulling out developing nations from the dungeon of backwardness has itself been drowned in the pool of problems. One of the most dreaded problems that United States has been facing is a problem which is both social and economic in nature. Homelessness is a problem that has rendered several different negative implications for the country and its populace. It must be noted that despite being hailed as a global leader in terms of progress, United States is an abode of about 500,000 people who are still homeless. Hence, it is imperative for the federal government and for every level of government in the United States to render painstaking efforts for mitigating the problem. Considering the need of eradicating the menace of homelessness the governments m ust collaborate with private organizations to address the issue and to help sustain the countrys global reputation. Several programs have already been implemented to mitigate the problem, and among them the Recovery program of Mental Health America of Los Angeles deserves special mention. This is primarily because the program strives to pay attention to individual needs, and its pivotal objective is to provide shelter to those who urges for help along with advocating for its clients. Homelessness is a menace to the American society and to the countrys economy. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) reported in 2015 (as cited in Johnson, 2015) that, more than 500,000 people (a quarter of which had been children) were homeless in the United States in 2015, and this was primarily the result of scarce affordable housing across much of the nation. It must be noted that, Many U.S. cities are confronting a sluggish economic recovery, stagnant or falling wages among the lowest-income earners and budget constraints for social welfare programs (Johnson, 2015). The outcome of all such failures is increase in the degree and rate of homelessness (National Alliance to End Homelessness, 2015. Homelessness has emerged as a problem that has already gone out of control (America, we have a problem: Homelessness is out of control, 2016). Such a crisis has shifted the focus of political and economic discussions towards governmental and private agencies that are re ndering helping hands to those who are homeless and in need of shelter to sustain their bare existence. It is in respect of emphasizing the roles and responsibilities of non-governmental, non-for-profit organizations that the works and programs of Mental Health America (MHA) must be highlighted. Founded in 1909, MHA has sustained its reputation to be the nations leading community-based nonprofit organization that has been dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental illness and to promoting the overall mental health of all Americans (Mental Health America, 2016). Having said so, it must also be noted that it would be erroneous to consider the organizations efforts to be confined to mental health assistance only. This is because; in terms of addressing the issue of homelessness, MHA, and especially, MHA of Los Angeles, has rendered tremendous efforts. But before everything else, MHA have always paid attention to individual needs. MHA has always understood the need of addressing the needs of individuals who suffer from psychological problems that often are outcomes of combined factors among which homelessness is one. MHA understands the need of providing easy access to mental health services to those individuals who are in mental distress. In this respect it must be noted that the organization provides distressed individuals, who approach the organization, with proper access to easy screening tools and to primary care physicians so that they can be properly diagnosed and treated (Mental Health in America Access to Care Data, 2016). Apart from taking individual care for those who approach them to get rid of their mental distresses, MHA of Los Angeles, especially, strives to provide shelter to those homeless individuals who come to them for assistance and for relief. It is in this respect that special mention should be made about MHA of Los Angeles Homeless Assistance Program (HAP). The mission and objective of HAP is to provide individualized services to persons who are homeless and have mental illness (Homeless Assistance Program, 2016). HAP should be related to the organizations Recovery program, which helps individuals in need of mental health assistance (to recover from mental illness) through four stages, viz. hope, empowerment, self-responsibility, and meaningful role in life (MHA Village, 2016). The truth that MHA of Los Angeles is dedicated to providing shelter to those who are in need and who approach them for assistance, is evident in the fact that the goal of all HAP services is to connect people to l onger term homeless and mental health services (Homeless Assistance Program, 2016). Though not a residential program, HAP relates to other programs to provide shelter to homeless individuals who approach the organization. Finally, it must be pointed out that as a humanitarian nonprofit organization, dedicated to mitigate mental health problems and to address menaces like homelessness, MHA of Los Angeles has been successful in establishing a reputation for being an organization that stands for the rights of its clients. It must be noted that the organization has a long proven history of changing lives through the process of advocating for the rights of those individuals who are suffering from mental illness and who have come to the organization for assistance (MHA of Los Angeles, 2016). Moreover, the organization provides direct services to those people who are in need of such services (MHA of Los Angeles, 2016). Known for its emphasis on emerging as an innovative organization, MHA of Los Angeles has always been an organization that delivers both training and education to those talents who have the potential to stand by those who are in need of shelter and mental health assistance. In conclusion, considering the need of eradicating the menace of homelessness the governments must collaborate with private organizations to address the issue and to help sustain the countrys global reputation. Several programs have already been implemented to mitigate the problem, and among them the Recovery program of Mental Health America of Los Angeles deserves special mention. This is primarily because the program strives to pay attention to individual needs, and its pivotal objective is to provide shelter to those who urges for help along with advocating for its clients. References America, we have a problem: Homelessness is out of control (2016). Retrieved December 3, 2016, from https://www.rt.com/op-edge/337192-homeless-poverty-us-crisis/ Homeless Assistance Program (2016). Retrieved December 3, 2016, from https://mhavillage.squarespace.com/hap/ Johnson, E.M. (2015). More than 500,000 people homeless in the United States: report. Reuters. Retrieved December 3, 2016, from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-homelessness-idUSKCN0T908720151120 Mental Health America (2016). About Us. Retrieved December 3, 2016, from https://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/about-us Mental Health in America Access to Care Data (2016). Retrieved December 3, 2016, from https://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/issues/mental-health-america-access-care-data MHA of Los Angeles (2016). Serving The Community for Over 90 Years. Retrieved December 3, 2016, from https://www.mhala.org/ MHA Village (2016). What is Recovery? Retrieved December 3, 2016, from https://mhavillage.squarespace.com/what-is-recovery/ National Alliance to End Homelessness (2015). The State of Homelessness in America 2015. Retrieved December 3, 2016, from https://www.endhomelessness.org/library/entry/the-state-of-homelessness-in-america-2015