Homelessness

What issue does Dave discover?

Homelessness.

How do people become homeless?

People may become homeless because of a mental illness, domestic violence, gambling, drug addiction or loss of work.

What are the lives of homeless people like?

Homeless people refer to themselves as rough sleepers- they have no bed, no safe place to stay; they are lost in hopelessness and are not accepted by fellow humans. They may be constantly bashed or harassed and they are desperate to break out of the cycle, though to them it seems impossible. They have nowhere to go.

Who is helping these people?

Mission Beat is one of the main companies working to help homeless people on the streets. They accept donations and set up places like soup kitchens to provide homeless people with the necessities they need. The Salvation Army also works to help homeless people.

How does Dave’s experience ‘shed light’ or raise awareness to the issue?

Dave’s experience shows exactly how homeless people live- in embarrassment, shame, fear and without sleep or food. It gives an insight on homeless people from the perspective of someone who has put themselves in their shoes to experience exactly the same things as homeless people do. Dave’s experience expresses and enforces the need of the homeless people and displays how ordinary people can do so much to help by raising awareness of homelessness.