argument essay

Youth homelessness is becoming more and more common nationwide. Many may be also saying that the child is to blame. This is not the case. Most of the reason is either the state’s fault or even the parent’s.

            One way it’s the parent’s fault is because many parents struggle with addiction. Take twelve year old Brianna DeMaio, for example. Her mother had an alcohol problem. The article “I’ve Been Homeless for Six Years” says that after loosing her job, DeMaio’s mother moved in with her boyfriend, leaving twelve year old Brianna to fend for herself on the streets. DeMaio, eighteen now sleeps under the bleachers of her old high school. This shows how caretakers not always being responsible leads to situations that children may not be able to or know how to handle.

            It could also be the state’s fault. First of all, homeless shelters have lots of people. This leads to lack of space. For example, the article “I’ve Been Homeless for Six Years” says: “Lots of demand, little supply: a shelter for homeless youth in Seattle assigns available beds by lottery.” If the lottery get filled up, there is not going to be any other space for more people. After all “There are only 4000 shelter beds for accompanied homeless across the U.S.” the article also states that in more rural areas, you have to walk a lot more to find a homeless shelter because of lack of public transportation and how everything is so spread out. This shows that if the state just put a little more effort into this such as more soup kitchens, more homeless shelters or more public transportation, we could minimize the amount of youth homelessness.

            Many may say that it is the child’s fault because they break rules. For example, Joey Perrins-Lane, fifteen was kicked out of the house by his mother when he was caught doing drugs. Although Joey should not have been doing drugs, there were so many other things his mom could have done to have him stop doing drugs or get help. But instead, she decided to kick him to the curb. Also many kids run away. Yes, kids should not be running away, but some are running away because they are being abused by their parents and feel unsafe.

            Child homelessness is not the child’s fault. Children can’t always handle the situation that they are put into. Its not their fault because they don’t make money so they can’t get back up off their feet. If you were a scared, homeless child, what would you do?