The evident rise in the number of #homeless people in California is no longer news. It is clear from statistics that homelessness can affect people of all ages and demographics due to the various causes and factors that result in homelessness. From children, to young adults, to even the elderly; thousands of people are in need of shelter across the board.

Both temporary as well as permanent shelters have been provided by social services to curb the situation in an attempt to explore multiple strategies. The Runaway Homeless Youth (RHY) for example, at one time provided about 81,000 needed services besides offers from grantees or for people without homes. State and local government agencies have employed preventive strategies such as proper counseling, legal services for low-income earners who may soon be wrongly evicted from their homes, rapid and early re-housing,  emergency financial assistance for rental services, mediating services between house owners and low-income tenants. 

Another considerable achievement is the consistent research used to identify statistical data of those facing homelessness and its causes. This in and of itself may not seem like a solution, but it is significant for a system that truly desires and is working towards providing a solution. With this kind of data, progress can be monitored and adequate effort can be channeled to attack the root causes of the problem.

With the progressive increase of the populace experiencing homelessness, one may begin to wonder if social systems set up for this purpose are actually helping, or causing more harm. However, it is important to not forget that while it is true that the magnitude of the challenge can push one to doubt the credibility of these systems, it does not negate the fact that they are contributing significantly to solving the problem. Baby steps are still progress, even if that progress is slow. Although there’s more work to be done, these efforts are helping those in need.