Homelessness

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 2-3% of the U.S. population experience at least one night of homelessness over any given five year period. This statistic caught my attention because, even though I regularly notice homelessness people on street corners and in parks in downtown Denver, I never gave much thought to homelessness as an issue that effects what equates to 5 to 8 million individuals. With the DNC coming to Denver, the city has made many strides to put its best face forward, including preparations such as planting flowers, repainting parking lines, and assuring security. City officials have also made an effort to make the homeless population disappear during the week of the convention, offering day passes to the zoo and one-way bus tickets to anywhere in the continental U.S. I have to wonder, however, whether, instead of hiding such a blatant subsection of society in order to increase the city's prestige, perhaps politicians should attempt to make more long lasting strides in alleviating these homeless individuals' situations. After all, the Democratic Party stands on a platform of being the party of the people. They should turn their attention to the dire needs of the homeless during their convention, instead of merely pretending the problem does not exist.