re: Reagan and Homelessness

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But his policies did not make spending money on homelessness a priority.

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Compared to Johnson, Nixon, Ford and Carter. I'm not saying Reagan is at fault for homelessness. He didn't make people do drugs or drink or have mental health issues, but it's true that he changed polices and spending.

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The failure of urban housing projects to provide safe, secure, and affordable housing to the poor.[21][22][23][24] Additionally, many workers cannot afford to live where they work, and even in moderately priced communities housing costs require a large portion of household income.[25]

The deinstitutionalization movement from the 1950s onwards in state mental health systems, to shift towards 'community-based' treatment of the mentally ill, as opposed to long-term commitment in institutions.[21][22][23][24] There is disproportionally higher prevalence of mental disorders relative to other disease groups within homeless patient populations at both inpatient hospitals and hospital-based emergency departments.[26]

Redevelopment and gentrification activities instituted by cities across the country through which low-income neighborhoods are declared blighted and demolished to make way for projects that generate higher property taxes and other revenue, creating a shortage of housing affordable to low-income working families, the elderly poor, and the disabled.[21][22][23][24]

The failure of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to provide effective mental health care and meaningful job training for many homeless veterans, particularly those of the Vietnam War.[27]

Deprived of normal childhoods, nearly half of foster children in the United States become homeless when they are released from foster care at age 18.[28][29]

Natural disasters that destroy homes: hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, etc. Places of employment are often destroyed too, causing unemployment and transience.[30]

People who have served time in prison, have abused drugs and alcohol, or have a history of mental illness find it difficult to impossible to find employment for years at a time because of the use of computer background checks by potential employers.[31]

According to the Institution of Housing in 2005, the U.S. Government has focused 42% more on foreign countries rather than homeless Americans, including homeless veterans.[21][22][23][24]
People who are hiding in order to evade law enforcement.[21][22][23][24]

Adults and children who flee domestic violence.[21][22][23][24]

Teenagers who flee or are thrown out by parents who disapprove of their child's sexual orientation or gender identity. A 2010 study by the Center for American Progress shows that a disproportionately high number of homeless youth (between 20–40%) identify as LGBTQ.[32]

Overly complex building code that makes it difficult for most people to build. Traditional huts, cars, and tents are illegal, classified as substandard and may be removed by government, even though the occupant may own the land. Land owner cannot live on the land cheaply, and so sells the land and becomes homeless.[21][22][23][24]

Foreclosures of homes, including foreclosure of apartment complexes which displaces tenants renting there.[33]

Evictions from rented property.[33]

Lack of support from friends or family.[21][22][23][24]

Individuals who prefer homelessness and wish to remain off the grid for political and ideological purposes. Often self-identified as Gutter Punks or Urban Survivalists. The Department of Housing and Urban Development rarely reports on this counter-cultural movement since Gutter Punks and similar individuals often refuse to participate in governmental studies and do not seek governmental assistance for ideological or political purposes.[34]
Lack of resources in place in the communities to help aid in prevention of homelessness before it becomes a crisis.[21][

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LINK

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yes I agree that Snyder was a fake and a liar, but there are in fact homeless people.

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rue. I recall that. But it's amazing that it was 20 years before Reagan; yet he got blamed for it.

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True. I recall that. But it's amazing that it was 20 years before Reagan; yet he got blamed for it.

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Homelessness really began to flourish during the 1960's with the forced contraction of state mental institutions through court mandated deinstitutionalization.


True. I recall that. But it's amazing that it was 20 years before Reagan; yet he got blamed for it.

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