Homeless Fill America's Streets

The number of homeless people in the U.S. remained steady last year, underscoring just how much work needs to be done to actually lower the number of people living on the streets. According to a recent Housing and Urban Development report, an estimated 633,782 people are homeless in the U.S. When the agency conducted its homeless count in 2011, it found that 636,000 were living on the streets and in shelters, the Associated Press reports. While the report contains some more heartening figures -- for example, the number of homeless veterans dropped by about 7 percent from the year before -- advocates aren't hopeful veteran homelessness will be eliminated by 2015, as the Obama administration projects. To help empower homeless people, and bring an end to homelessness, consider getting involved in the following advocacy initiatives: 1. Bring Comfort To Homeless KidsWhat about America's Homeless Children?: Hide and Seek by Shane, Paul (Google Affiliate Ad) To offer homeless children the comforts every young kid deserves at bedtime, Project Night Night fills up totes with a cozy blanket, a children's book and a stuffed animal. The 25,000 care packages the nonprofit doles out each year aim to ease the psychological trauma homeless children suffer, while also promoting reading and family bonding. Find out how you can get involved with Project Night Night here. 2. Feed Homeless PetsSave Homeless Animals T-Shirt (Google Affiliate Ad) An estimated 5 to 10 percent of homeless people keep cats or dogs, which many rely on for companionship and protection. To help those who are struggling to find shelter and food for themselves, and their furry best friends, consider getting involved with Pets of the Homeless. This nonprofit brings pet food and veterinary care to those in need. Find out how you can pitch in or make a monetary donationhere. 3. Help Homeless Vets In its continued effort to end veteran homelessness by 2015, the Department of Veteran Affairs pledged $100 million in grants in July to local organizations nationwide that aid low-income veterans and their families. One nonprofit that’s helping to empower former servicemen and servicewomen is U.S. Vets, an organization that in the course of one year helped 3,000 veterans find housing and more than 1,000 veterans obtain full-time employment. Find out how you can get involved with U.S. Vets here. 4. Give Homeless People A VoiceNo Shame in My Game: The Working Poor in the Inner City by Newman, Kat (Google Affiliate Ad) To put a face to the plight of the homeless in this country, video blog Invisible People documents the day-to-day struggles that come from living without shelter. Founder Mark Horvath, who once lived on the streets of California, aims to use his storytelling platform to make homeless people visible and inspire advocates to take action. Find out how you can get involved here. 5. Get The Government Involved The National Coalition for the Homeless provides advocacy programs and pushes public policy initiatives with the goal of ending homelessness and protecting homeless people’s rights. The organization's main policy focus is its Bring America Home Act, which would serve as the federal government’s first comprehensive response to the causes and consequences of homelessness. Freedom of Speech by Ditchfield, Christin [Paperback] (Google Affiliate Ad) American Government and Politics Today (2011-2012 Edition) by Schmidt, (Google Affiliate Ad)The Impact of Local Government Modernisation Policies on Local Budgeti (Google Affiliate Ad)
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