This document discusses homelessness in Binghamton, New York and Denver, Colorado. In Binghamton, the author interviews an anonymous homeless man who says homelessness is often not a choice due to lack of education and experience preventing job opportunities. Many homeless shelters have also closed. In Denver, homelessness has increased dramatically since legalized marijuana in 2010 attracted many new residents but not all found prosperity. The author observes two homeless individuals huddling together for warmth and interviews them, learning their paths to homelessness involved moving to Denver, losing jobs and housing, turning to crime and drugs. The document argues strengthening family and faith could help minimize homelessness by providing a stable foundation.

1. THE PROBLEM 1
The Problem
Isaiah Rashad, II
Crown College
SOC 2535 Anthropology of Global Cultures
Dr. Craig Cook
January 29, 2017

2. THE PROBLEM 2
Intro
Have you ever wondered how you got where you are in your life or someone that
you know and love, and pondered the struggles that came your way knowing that the
wrong decision could have lead you into homelessness, regardless of your race, gender,
culture or region-let us explore some of the realities that looks upon us.
I found that the homeless situation is getting worse within our nation and that there are
many factors that make this a reality. Problems with economic growth, housing, jobs, drugs and
the criminal system, which includes personal choice and circumstantial realities that are only
known, but to the involved. For this project I chose the ethnographic technique of conversation,
and interviewing integrated with problem oriented ethnography.
The Binghamton Problem
From the beginning of the American migration most prominently during the industrial
revolution, immigrants where flooding into some portions of the country, most of all within a
small section of the State of New York which was known as Ellis Island. This is where the
dream is present from afar in a statue known around the world as Liberty. When people would
enter into this free land, they would swear an oath of allegiants to the United States at Ellis
Island and become American citizens.
When immigrants became Americans, they all faced very real possibilities of making it or
breaking it in a new world of the unknown. Many came to the United States with established
professions, others with new ideas and dreams-starting from the bottom. But many ended up in
the new world all to realize that Liberty and prosperity does not segregate between the races,
gender, culture or region a person is in, whether in gains or loses.

3. THE PROBLEM 3
Nearly 70 years ago, the new Ellis Island was established in Binghamton, New York.
People of all sorts enter into this land ready to live the dream of liberty along side native born
Americans, but just like those before them, the realities of American life and the possibilities of
homelessness were and still are very real. Presently, the economy is very low, jobs are not
plentiful, housing is still up, and higher education is still required and homeless is forever
present. While driving down Frontline Street located on the east central side of Binghamton,
which is the archway into American freedom, you will see a vast homeless population and many
more down its side streets. Men and women sleeping on the street corners, huddled up next to the
off wind side of abandoned buildings or catching a nap at the local public library, where it is
warm and safe is their daily reality.
On this 11th day of December, I visited with an African American male who wished to
remain anonymous, sleeping at the local library. He claimed that he was currently homeless and
sleeps in a private place that he would not disclose. When asking him the question about the
homeless situation and how a person becomes and stays homeless, he made the comments;
“homelessness is not always a choice, I did not want to be here, but all that I did brought me

4. THE PROBLEM 4
here. I have an education, but it is minimal and the requirements for a job are so high, that
something I could learn in a few days stops me and others from that possibility because we either
lack the education or experience and in some cases both. This forces us to stay homeless, seeing
no other way out,” (Personal Communication, 2016).
I also observed that many homeless shelters which were once operational are now shut
down in the area for reasons unknown, but assumed by many that it was a burden to keep so
many open for the homeless. This has caused many homeless people in the area to remain
homeless-with no stable place to rest their heads, there cannot possibly be a stable place to raise
a family, or seek gainful employment.
The Denver Problem
In gaining further insight into the homeless problem, I saw the need to compare
homelessness in another city, one where the economy is doing better such as in Denver,
Colorado, located in the near center of the United States, a mile high which offers a central point
for traveling in any direction.
There has always been homelessness in Denver, but since 2010, the homeless problem
has increased at levels not seen since the 1849 Gold Rush in California-not to say it for the glory
ideal, but to the unknown realities with respect to those who were the less fortunate. Like the
famous Gold Rush of 1849, many people traveled far and wide to take a shot at being rich,
making it or breaking it in an effort to find their American Dream in Denver. This is largely due
to the 2008 legalization of recreational use of marijuana. What many did not expect is that the
American Dream did not happen for many settlers in California during that time. In-fact many
who were looking for the dream found themselves in worse conditions upon arrival. Starvation,

5. THE PROBLEM 5
sleeping in tents with entire families, bargaining and trading their last possessions often
proceeded suicide were all realities then as they are today. However, there are social programs
and homeless shelters that offer guidance, but the problems and the population has greatly
increased today which raises the question by many regarding true fulfilled resources.
With legalized marijuana in place as a daily norm for sale and use, the economy has
grown rapidly which brought many jobs, increased housing developments, and a spread of
urbanization with the perception of ever lasting prosperity. But not everyone is prosperous. The
increase in homelessness has overwhelmed this central U.S. city in a way never thought of.
Unlike Binghamton, Denver has become overcrowded with the homeless population which has
flooded into suburban areas of the metro, causing local towns and village governments to have
their own concerns. On nearly every corner there are homeless individuals or families who are in
despair. No money, limited resources, little education and no hope is their daily way of life.

6. THE PROBLEM 6
Mike and Shannon huddled together on the
East side of the Denver Rescue Mission to stay warm
On this cold and bitter day of December 18th, 2016 in downtown Denver, Colorado, I
observe from a distance two people; a man and a woman huddled together to stay warm. At first
sight it would appear that they are a couple, but this could not be farther from the truth, they
were strangers to one another. They were both cold so they stood together in the blanket on the
off wind side of the homeless shelter, never speaking a word for nearly two hours. Warmth was
the conversation which did not require words, just a blanket and momentary peace of mind while
silently figuring out the next option for the day.

7. THE PROBLEM 7
Like many, Shannon moved to Denver in April, 2016 with her husband from Nashville,
Tennessee to cash in on the job market and all the area had to offer. Shannon explained that she
realizes now that they made the biggest mistake of their life by moving to Denver. She said the
homeless situation for them began after they could not afford to pay the increase in rent and
where forced out of their apartment. Although her and her husband had jobs, it was never enough
to maintain a standard of living. Now out on the streets, no family or friends to support them,
both were desperate and turned to crime to support themselves. The stresses of everyday living
led them to drugs, which then supported other criminal behaviors. Within a short period of time,
Shannon and her husband found themselves in and out of jail, further away from honest work
and home, and closer to homelessness. In-fact her husband is still in the Denver County Jail.
Mike, a native of Denver, said that his problems began in April too. He was working a
good job in middle management in a reliable company and had been there for seven years. Mike
said that his homeless situation is all his fault. In April, 2016, Mike says he tried the illegal drug
known as Acid for the first time and that led him to other drugs-within a short period of time he
found himself not focusing on work, being suspended often, and eventually lost his job. This led
him to losing his home and resorting to crime to get his addictive fix. And, unfortunately his
family, friends and former coworkers refused to trust him or even want him around. Mike also
mentioned that he has tried to go back to the right ways of life, but the spiral goes down so far
that any attempt to pull out is unseen and hopeless; his biggest worry is where he will sleep each
night.

8. THE PROBLEM 8
Consider This
In two different states and in two major cities we see that homelessness is very real and
does not discriminate in any way. As a thought, yesterday we had gainful employment, today we
are worried and tomorrow we are homeless for whatever the reason. Consider this; being a
reality for many, we must provide a strong foundation for our human existence which begins
with family. Maintaining family at all cost. Second, to bring the Lord our God into our lives as
the glue to that foundation. And in doing so, we will have a stronger social system with values
beyond ourselves, but one made up for the benefits of others. Lastly, this creates a government
that supports such systems never forgetting that personal choice, freedoms and the foundational
glue of God and family exist as one culture, would likewise minimize our current system of
growing degradation. This is not to ignore the realities of the institution, but if our foundation is
correct, our institution shall be.