23. Are the Homeless People Insane?

Jonathan Kozol's article explores the long-held belief that homeless people are homeless because they are mentally insane. That due to the lack of proper asylums for them, they were turned out upon the streets. But studies show that the main causes for homelessness are not psychological as they are economical. The article notes the rise of prices since the inflation and the great depression, and also notes that it's not unnatural for homeless people to be insane, since insanity isolates them from society and from the help that they need. It also points out that the government prefers to make homeless people sound like dangerous subjects, so that they don't appear as "victims of displacement from enterprising realtors", which most of them are. It also alloows people to keep from thinking about solutions for the homeless, and to enjoy the extra space that others might actually need. It also mentions that homeless people obviously don't feel well on a regular basis; they're denied food and shelter, and might have families to raise, so it's ridiculous to expect them to be happy. The article ends by saying that if homeless people all raised their voices against their treatment at the same time, they might force people to listen.

This article is deeply thought-provoking, exploring another issue which is usually taken for granted. It's short and concise, and raises the right questions without being agressive. It doesn't commit any blatant logical fallacies, and covers multiple sides of the argument frankly and honestly. I agree with the speaker's point of view, but it's a hard pill to swallow, because it's uncomfortable for us to reach out to people who are seen as undesirables. It's much safer to assume that they're insane and walk by them than to offer help. Also, there is the issue of drug-addicted homeless people, which is prevalent in Brazil. Many often use the money they get for drugs. It makes it tri9ckier to help them, but it's not impossible.

http://faculty.law.ubc.ca/myoung/poverty/Are%20the%20Homeless%20Crazy.pdf