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Homeless. Whose problem?

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Homelessness is a growing problem around the world.

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A United Nations report suggests that 100 million people are homeless,

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and another 1.6 billion people lack adequate housing.

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Many countries are having difficulty keeping pace with the problem,

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which grows regardless of the wealth of nations or the lack thereof.

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For instance, there are around 60,000 homeless in New York City,

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where some of the world's wealthiest live.

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What is even more troubling is the fact that the ever-spreading culture of hate

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results in homeless people being more and more treated like criminals.

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For instance, spikes have begun to turn up across the cities of England,

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in places where homeless people previously tried to sleep.

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Street fixtures are now designed so that no one can lie on them.

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Rough sleepers report being hosed with water by security guards.

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Similar spikes and measures have begun to appear in other cities of the world,

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including Paris, Montreal, New York, and Tokyo.

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In Australia, move-on laws permit authorities to disperse homeless people,

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where a person's mere presence could cause anxiety to another person.

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Paris police are reported to have taken the blankets of homeless people

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in an attempt to send them away.

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In other words, such hostility is increasing at an alarming rate.

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For example, recently, footage surfaced showing how people

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laughed at a drowning refugee in Venice's Grand Canal.

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He died minutes later in front of their eyes.

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In August 2015, a Greek Coast Guard vessel pierced a migrant boat with a lance.

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Migrants in the water were then rescued by the Turkish Coast Guard.

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Or remember how that infamous Hungarian camerawoman

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tripped a refugee man running with his child in his arms.

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Or where European police tear-gassed and used batons against refugees

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that had children, women, and elderly amongst them.

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We can cite many more examples.

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We should remember that these people have to deal with lack of a safe shelter,

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food, warmth, and privacy.

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Not to mention the constant threat of abuse, violence, exploitation, and humiliation.

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A large number of them suffer from medical problems.

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Children, women, and the elderly are particularly at risk,

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especially during the winter months.

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Thankfully, there are good developments too.

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In a show of solidarity, many British people chose to cover the spikes with mattresses

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and cushions across the city.

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Countless homeless charities are working full-time to do everything they can

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to ease the pain of these people,

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who deserve dignity and respect just as much as anyone else.

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We should remember that no one chooses to be homeless,

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and certainly no one deserves to be treated with hostility because of it.

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In truth, they deserve and need even more kindness

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for experiencing something so difficult.

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There is no doubt that many countries have made well-intentioned efforts to solve the problem,

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but clearly they are not enough.

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For this reason, it is crucial to carefully devise strategies

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and set the priorities right.

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Some of the most urgent and immediate steps can include the following.

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The number of shelters and aid workers should be quickly increased

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to save as many people as possible.

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Funds should be raised through simple tax schemes

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that are not too burdensome on the public.

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It should be made impossible to force anyone to evacuate his home

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unless he has a safe and dignified place to go,

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which has proper privacy.

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Minimum wages must be sufficient to pay the rent and buy food.

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Health care costs should not strip people of their ability to pay their rent

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and render them homeless.

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It is important for conscientious people to imagine themselves

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being in the shoes of these people.

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No one would want to be in that position,

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and no one would certainly want to be treated with hostility

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because they didn't have a home.

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So without further ado,

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let's make up for our mistakes

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and choose to be better,

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kinder,

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and more compassionate.

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Have a great day.

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Have a great day.

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Have a great day.

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Have a great day.

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Have a great day.

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Have a great day.

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Have a great day.

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Have a great day.

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Have a great day.

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Have a great day.