SEC-S17W2- "Homeless people in my country".

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INTRODUCTION

Homeless is the absence of home, people living in the streets without shelter because they are poor. Being homeless can be quite challenging both mentally and physically especially for individuals who are forced to live on the streets. It is difficult to fathom how the homeless people manage to survive more especially those who are on the streets. Homelessness constitutes a catastrophic, life threatening, devastating and isolating experience for the elderly and their families. They suffer from frostbite due to the excessive cold on the streets. The homeless women and girls are sexually assaulted and raped. The homeless youths are engaged in crimes like theft, burglary and prostitution to survive. The homeless elderly and the children turn to beggars, begging for food to eat on the streets.

Question 1: Are there homeless people in your country?

Yes, there are a good number of homeless people in my country Nigeria , who find themselves without a home and without hope of survival. They struggle daily by begging for food, water and money to survive and at night, they sleep under the bridge or in the gutters and on the road sides.

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Question 2: What do you think is the cause that lead this people to be on the street, homeless and without a family?

People become homeless for lots of different reasons such as;

1. Many young people run away from domestic violence situations and some may have been kicked out of their homes by parents and guardians.

2. Some people are homeless because they lost their jobs due to unforseen circumstances; and as bills piled up without any money to meet up with their basic needs ( feeding and payments of rent), they are forced out of their homes and become homeless by living on the streets.

3. Terrorist activities, insurgency and military brutality especially in the Northern and Eastern part of Nigeria is another reason why people are displaced from their homes.

4. Natural disasters such as fire outbreaks, violent communal conflicts and flood which spreads diseases such as cholera also impacted homelessness in Nigeria.

5. Force evictions by government officials without any form of notice or warning before forcibly removing residents are also one of the causes of homelessness in Nigeria.

6. Poverty: Many people become homeless because they can no longer afford the rent since they lack the economic power to own a house in any way, and without jobs or any source of livelihood or government assistance, they are rendered homeless.

7. Some are homeless due to addictions to alcohol, drug and gambling.

8. Culture and traditions: Some people are homeless as penalty for offense against the culture and traditions of the people. Such serious offense include murder, where the offenders are banished from the community.

9. Some people are rendered homeless because corrupt government officials embezzled the public funds meant for housing provisions including shelter. Such acts impoverish many and tender others jobless.

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Question 3: Has the government tried to create different shelters to help these people?

The government has tried in a little way by providing refuge camps known as IDP camps in the Northern part of Nigeria for the internally displaced persons. These camps are only for those who have been forced to flee from their homes because of terrorist attacks. However, the government also introduced and established a national housing policy and schemes with the aim of providing and ensuring adequate housing.

Charitable organizations and philanthropists, NGOs, Catholic Church and other organizations provides day care centers and residential homes to homeless older adults.

Question 4: What could you propose so that these people do not remain in this dark world?

I proposed that the government should set up an adequate infrastructure to provide shelter for the homeless, the aged and also equip the military with well equipped arms to fight insurgency. The government should also design , empower and equip effective crises response system which will quickly exit homelessness. Government should also render help and financial supports to those who lost their jobs due to unforseen circumstances and cannot be able to afford rent.

In addition, government should map out programs designed to assist low income people and also make provisions for a permanent supportive housing for the homeless especially the most vulnerable.

CONCLUSION

Homeless people suffered abject poverty, hunger and exposure to other health hazards. The health implications of the situation of these internally displaced homeless people are quite obvious. They are poorly fed and slept on the street. Many of whom live in places such as bridges , gutters, railway stations, roadside and markets and did not have any relatives they could turn to for help.

I am inviting my friends @sbamsoneu, @mandate and @roselove to participate in this contest.