Pre-flection

Learning about the hunger and homelessness that surrounds is very distressing. I was not aware of all of the people that face these problems in our country. It is estimated that 27 million Americans live with hunger every day. Out of those 27 million 3 million are forced to live in their cars, under bridges, or in shelters on the street. These numbers have not been this high since the great Depression. With our nation once again facing an economic downfall it is inevitable that these numbers will once again be increasing.

Soup Kitchens and Other Actions

With more and more people becoming hungry and homeless soup kitchens are being overwhelmed by the amount of people that need their help. This is also the case with homeless shelters. These institutions are running low on both help and space. With the rough economic times wreaking havoc all over our nation help is hard to come by. A lot of middle class people are being forced to take up second jobs so the time they might have volunteered for is time they need to support their own families.

Learning all of these facts is distressing but it is also motivating. See all of these people struggling makes my five hours on a weekend seem like a miniscule gesture. Any time that can be spend helping those less fortunate than us is valuable. If we begin to show our devotion to our community now the one's who come after us will not feel that they are too good to help also.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Biological and Physiological Needs
These would be the needs a homeless individual would need to focus on. Without food and shelter or warmth the individual's life would be in danger and any chance of climbing the pyramid would be erased. If the individual cannot fulfill the lower stages of the pyramid they cannot focus on the less basic needs. They will need to focus on having something to eat and a place where they can keep warm. These basic needs include air, food, drink, shelter, warmth, sex, sleep, etc.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Safety Needs
If an individual who is under the poverty line or homeless can provide themselves with the basic needs, their safety needs will be the next issue. If they have a shelter this will be their basic safety from the weather elements. But the areas these individuals usually inhabit are crime ridden and dangerous so just a house will not provide them with enough safety. They are rarely surround by a safe environment which further limits their ability to flourish.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Belonging and Love Needs
These needs could theoretically still be fulfilled by homeless individuals. I doubt it would be in a work group that this interaction occurs. But there is not a reason for individuals of that group to interact and form relationships that lead to love. This love could lead to the creation of a family. But in the circumstance most of these individuals live in it would be hard to support a family.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Esteem Needs
Beyond the first three steps, it is hard to imagine that a homeless individual could fulfill the needs closer to the top of the pyramid. Without an education or career it would be impossible for an individual to have a high social status or responsibility. Their responsibilities would be mostly centered around their basic needs and less around the reputation they have with people. They would not have a sense of achievement due to the lack of a job and in most cases family.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Self Actualization
This need would never be fulfilled by a homeless individual unless in some freak case that is what they wanted to do with their life. As Maslow states a need cannot be fulfilled until the need below it is completely fulfilled and the person does not have to worry about it on a daily basis. So without fulfilled esteem needs the homeless individual could not begin to grow as a person and do what they truly want to.