with the good comes the bad.

things that i see every day in philadelphia: students walking to class, music performers lingering in the street, the occasional fist fight or screaming match, and unfortunately, homeless people.

it is tragic that although this city can be viewed as so beautiful, it still has its downsides. there are some people here who have worked hard and made their lives full of luxury. there are students here striving to earn a degree and make something of themselves. and then there are the less fortunate: those who cannot compare to the lucky ones. the homeless people make amends by living in the streets. whereas most of us sleep in a comfy bed in an air-conditioned or heated room, these people find comfort in a cardboard box with a few newspapers to keep warm.

it is heartbreaking to think that such an issue exists all over the world, and here in philly. thousands of people are existing without homes, raising their families with no shelter. i know there are those who pretend to be homeless in an attempt to earn extra money from a passerby. but then there are those who actually maintain this lifestyle. there are groups out there to help homeless people. but the problem is not becoming smaller. homelessness is a well-known issue. it occurs all over. so what can be done to eliminate the problem? what do you think causes the problem? do people become homeless because they simply do not care to make a living? are there homeless people who once had a home and could not pay for it? so many thoughts come to mind. and since the issue of homelessness is a big one, there are many websites to its dedication in philadelphia.

Project Home is a great websited devoted to homelessness in philadelphia. it claims that there are about 4,000 homeless people here in philly (living in shelters or on the street). most of them are african americans in their twenties, thirties, and forties. sadly, one third of the amount of homeless people in philly are children. since most shelters close in the winter, this is when most people are forced to make a living outside. the site also claims that the reasons most people are homeless are due to an inability to pay for a house or health care, or because of mental illness/substance abuse/domestic violence. Project Home is a site devoted to end homelessness in philly.

Philly IMC also gives information about homelessness in philly. although this website is more focused on how viewers can make a change in the issue. there are articles listed to "help educate the inspire the political will for change." the site acknowledges the fact that homelessness is rising here in the city, and there should be something we can all do to alter that.


both sites touch upon an issue here that is devastating: homelessness. i believe in philly however. as you can tell, i know it has its magic and liveliness. but with the good, one must accept the bad. and after we have accepted the bad, it is our duty to change it and make it better. yes, homelessness exists. but as citizens of the city, we should do all we can to let those people enjoy the same luckiness here that we do.

oxox