About Homeless Shelters
Talk of homeless shelters can be a taboo topic. Though there are people living on the streets everywhere, most don't want to talk about it. There are facts about these shelters, and a lot of non-truths as well that get thrown around. These organizations can provide a lot more good for people than most would ordinarily think. Homelessness is a huge worldwide problem, and more people should learn the truth about it.
The Facts
Homeless shelters are places found in urban cities that people without homes can stay in during the night. Some shelters are open during the day for those who need refuge 24 hours. Shelters offer people a safe place to stay and a bed to sleep in. Anyone who is homeless can stay at these establishments; no one is turned away. There are some that are only for men or women.
These organizations are run by the government or state, a church or non-profit organization wanting to help. It takes a lot of money, which can sometimes be hard to come by. The local government often helps with funding.
Features
Not only do homeless shelters provide beds, but lots have a soup kitchen too. Soup kitchens give hot meals to those without, for free. These are volunteer-run usually.
Some of these havens also provide treatment for drug and alcohol abuse. According to Goodwill, about one in four people who are homeless use these substances. Some shelters in Canada actually provide a fixed amount of alcohol daily to wean these people off of it--these are called Wet Shelters.
Workers at the shelters also help the homeless find jobs and train for interviews, in an attempt to put these people back into society.
Effects
By providing homeless people with access to drug and alcohol counselors, support groups and training for jobs, homeless shelters can help rehabilitate some of the people that stop by. If a person is dedicated to getting back on his feet, he can use the resources provided to him for help.
Lots of people see shelters as a positive way to keep displaced people off the streets, but these places truly provide more than that. They give support, and their staff, if caring enough, can help the 94% of homeless who don't wish to be, go back to living their lives.
Geography
Some believe that homeless people only stay in big cities, but there are people who have no homes in every state, every country, regardless of size. Homeless shelters are often found in bigger cities simply because the population in big cities is higher.
They want to be able to provide service to as many people as possible, so big cities are the best place to put them. But every place in the world has some people living on the streets. It is a worldwide problem.
Misconceptions
Some believe that homeless people want to be that way. According to Goodwill, less than 6% have chosen this lifestyle.
Another misconception is that every street person has a mental illness. Though some do, Goodwill states that only about 25% of the homeless are mentally ill.
It is also true that a lot more children are without homes than most people think. Almost one in every four homeless person is a child, usually those who have no caretakers or have run away.
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