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Homelessness and Poverty

An Issue We Can’t Ignore  
Highest month of inflation in 2024 Los Angeles.
Highest month of inflation in 2024 Los Angeles.

People might hear about them a lot in the news, the truth is not much has or is being done. Many people don’t have a place to live or enough food to eat. Society  needs to help them now. Furthermore, Homelessness isn’t just a social issue found in big cities. It can occur anywhere in the United States including small towns and suburbs.  One must keep in mind Homelessness and being poor are two different things. Being poor is not having enough money, while being homeless means you have no roof over your head. More and more people are having these problems. “  To fix these problems, people and the government need to work together. As society continues to experience high inflation the price of food and housing and energy continue to rise as a result more and more people are slipping into poverty which can lead to homelessness. The increase in housing has had a lot to do with homelessness due to it increasing by 47.1% since 2020.

Highest month of inflation in 2024 Los Angeles. Original Created By Anthony Hidalgo

Some people try to help, but they can’t do it alone. “It is  hard for people that are stuck on the streets to find a job even in fast food places like McDonald’s because of their appearance and a lot of times because of their past records, due to them not having a secure place to take showers and keep up with a good hygiene or get clean clothes” By Kimberly Viveros a student in Esteban E Torres high school.  Talking about  it is not enough; society needs to do more to help. Many Shelters provide people with food, clothes, and sometimes a place to sleep, but it’s not enough for them because shelters only accommodate for only a third of homeless people living in the city. Society needs more help and better ideas to fix homelessness and poverty. “Los Angeles is one of the most expensive cities to live in.” said an anonymous teacher in ELARA. Many people can’t afford a place to stay or food to eat. It’s important for all of us, neighbors, teachers, students, and leaders, to come together and make a change. Communities can help by donating to shelters, volunteering, and pushing for better laws. Let’s not just talk about the problem, let’s take action and help those who need it most. Together as a community society  can make sure everyone has a safe place to call home. These people having no roof under their heads is a reason people need to take action.  


Anthony Hidalgo is a junior at Esteban Torres High School, and is on the school football team. He also enjoys playing video games, like Warzone and Fortnite, or listening to all types of rap music, watching Youtube videos in his free time. One of his favorite things to eat are Wingstop’s garlic parmesan and lemon pepper wings.

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