Student Spectrums

Zaara Khan is a 10th grade student particulary concerned with social issues of pressing concern. She also delves into other topics and subjects through her blogs.

According to the NCH, or the National Coalition for the Homeless, 1,437 acts of violence against the homeless were reported in the United States between 1999 and 2014, and approximately 16.5% of attacks resulted in fatalities. The homeless population is an issue everyone always talks about. The homeless are depicted as these evil people who have done wrong and still believe in their crude ways. But is this always the case? I have seen videos online of homeless people getting denied access to stores, bathrooms, and even public places such as parks. And, as a Muslim teenage girl, I feel continuous anxiety when walking in a city, like San Francisco, with my family. So, this brings up the question, should unhoused people be bullied for their mistakes? 

The New York Times surveyed in June 2022, asking 30 people in New York who experienced homelessness 12 questions about their experiences. The collection of people reigned from students in school to families with children. Shea Anderson, one of the interviewees, said that at parks, she could just “blend in and relax: there wasn’t anything that had to be bought, any task that had to be done.” Most unhoused people felt embarrassed being in places where they had to buy something to be there, such as a coffee shop. I feel ashamed when I leave a store without buying anything, it must be terrible for unhoused people. 

An unhoused person could be a recovering drug addict who went down the wrong path, or a parent who tried their absolute best to take care of their child. They do not deserve the treatment they get. Everyone deserves a second chance especially if they have already suffered the consequences. Someone who is recovering from abusing drugs must have already suffered enough, and now they have to start from scratch and work their way back to where they were. The same goes for a parent, they tried the best they could to ensure their child’s future, and sacrificing everything they have for them shows how much they care for their kids. Since no one knows what a person is going through, why do we treat people with rudeness instead of kindness? Landlords are incredibly biased when it comes to applying to own a house. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, a person who has a job and is applying for a home might face landlord discrimination against past or current homelessness, eviction history, involvement of criminal justice, and income source. This can prevent a person from getting a house which is a crucial step towards recovering to where you once were. 

The homeless population in California is estimated to be more than 200,000 as of January 2023, which is mainly due to the housing crisis and almost two million jobs that got laid off due to COVID-19. One of the main reasons why people experiencing homelessness cannot get back to stability is due to the discrimination. This leads people to ponder what would happen if society continues to blame the victim and harass the homeless population and what would happen if people were more considerate. If people were still inconsiderate towards them, more violence would start and lead to more casualties. On the other hand, if people were kinder, they could help them regain stability and live a prosperous life. All it takes is a simple act of kindness.