Essay on Homelessness in The Glass Castle - 1264 Words

A suburban life is a paradise full of shopping, colorful gardens, and well-groomed homes. Despite all these benefits, a suburban life is an isolated life. People living in suburbs are rarely exposed to miseries in society. One of these conflicts is homelessness. When living in an environment surrounded by homes, individuals often have difficulty imagining not being able to sleep in a warm bed, eat a proper meal or even receive necessary medical attention. This grim situation is depicted in the writings of Jeannette Walls. In the autobiography The Glass Castle, Jeannette Walls accurately portrays homelessness by explaining its causes, its impact upon daily life, and its effect on victimized families. Walls’ autobiography establishes that†¦show more content†¦This is supported by Walls’ autobiography, for her father had difficulty securing a job for a substantial period of time. â€Å"‘Bad News,’ Lori said one day when I got home from exploring. ‘Dad lost his job’† (Walls 67). I don’t think this quote adds anything; it really isn’t necessary. Even if Rex, her father, looked for a job he can’t find one. â€Å"Then he got fired from his second job and from his third, and was kicked out of the electricians’ union and started doing odd jobs and day work† (Walls 110). Further, homelessness also occurs because there are not enough affordable housing options. Specifically, â€Å"A lack of affordable housing and the limited scale housing assistance programs have contributed to the current house crisis and to homelessness† (National Coalition for the Homeless - Why Are People Homeless?). Affor dable housing will allow homeless people to live in homes until they can afford a real house. The lack affordable housing was apparent in the book. â€Å"Since we had no money for a down payment and no steady income, our options were pretty limited† (Walls 149). All that the Walls’ can afford is shack in a remote forest. Also, sexual abuse is often a cause of homelessness. Research has shown that â€Å"Each year thousands of children run away from home to escape physical or sexual abuse or neglect†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (The relationship between childhood sexual abuse and sexual health practices of homelessShow MoreRelatedJeannee Castles Views On Poverty In The Glass Castle1263 Words   |  6 PagesThe Glass Castle. The Glass Castle tells the story of Walls and her siblings as they experience an impoverished childhood and attempt to escape the poverty-stricken lives of their parents. In her descriptions of her life and the lives of her family members, Walls influenced my ideas about poverty, homelessness, and escaping hard lives. Jeannette Walls’ The Glass Castle influenced my ideas about poverty by showing me that poverty can yield positive results. 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