Many people in Ames are beginning to realize that homelessness is a bigger problem than one may realize. What is homelessness? According to the UN, a homeless person lacks stable, safe, and functional housing. This includes those who are living on the streets as well as those who are doubled up with someone — they lack a stable living situation.

Nearly 2,500 people are experiencing homelessness in Iowa.

Due to difficulty accessing healthy meals, many homeless students experience food insecurity. Just getting to school can be an issue for those who do not have access to adequate means of transportation. Not having the correct conditions to sleep may lead to sleeping in school instead, damaging school performance. Many students have to move around to access housing and other resources — this contributes to many dropping out of school in order to go into the workforce as early as possible, or to live as homeless junkies.

For students, there is a direct correlation between homelessness and academic instability. Following Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the most important needs of every human being is to ensure survival and adequate living conditions. When students are spending every day wondering about where they will sleep and if they will be able to eat, this necessity overrules the necessity to do well in school, and thus their grades seriously slip.

Fortunately, there are measures being taken to deal with this issue. 

The federal government, through the McKinney-Vento Act, ensures transportation from school to the home environment of the homeless student. The District has two to three pantries located in nearby elementary schools for students who are unable to access food. The Bridge Home provides immediate relief for those who are homeless and in need of assistance. And Ames schools conduct a school supply give away called Blast Back to School that gives out backpacks and supplies to those in need. 

But, of course, this is still not enough.  

According to Jean Muhammad, a homeless liaison who works with family and student advocates, ACSD last year “had 91 students who were identified as homeless. This year we have 125 and we’re not even half way through the year yet. Homelessness in Ames is a growing problem and resources to support homeless families are scarce. This is definitely something we need more awareness of.”

The mental health of these people must be taken into consideration as well. When all of your basic needs are met, it is easy to take care of yourself. When basic needs are not met, this becomes a luxury rather than a reality.

Homelessness and serious poverty is a global issue. Although most often associated with struggling nations in the Global South, it can be surprising to know that homelessness is prevalent even in the United States, which is believed to be the richest country on Earth.

Even in an unsuspecting place such as Ames there can be homeless people. Taking note of this and taking action against this will hopefully lead us to a world devoid of homelessness and poverty.