More Crimes are Now Directed Against Homeless People

During this time of economic recession and uncertainty, losing your home may be a very serious thing to happen. With the collapse of top financial institutions, remortgages become more expensive and people just couldn’t do anything but default on their real state plans. Uncontrollable debts have also caused widespread confiscation of homes and real estate properties and will continue to do so as interest rates soar high. People across the nation are losing their homes faster as the economy is still at a standstill.

What makes things more complicated is the sudden increase in crimes that target homeless or street people. In the year 2008, there were about 27 homeless people killed. In 2009, that figure almost doubled with 43 people getting killed. The figures only count the number of deaths not counting the thousands more of physical and verbal abuses experienced by these already struggling people. What makes them more vulnerable to these abuses is the fact that they live in streets making them more near to criminals and other evil elements.

This is such a huge concern especially among law enforcers, politicians and human rights advocates. National Coalition for the Homeless, a human rights advocacy group, implied in their report the traumatic and sometimes near-death experiences faced by homeless people. According to the report, there were cases when homeless people got doused by gasoline and were set on fire. There are also others who were badly beaten by bottles, baseball bats, metal pipes and other hard objects which can inflict direct physical pain and suffering.

It is intriguing to hear that the F.B.I. does not keep track on crimes committed to homeless people. Because of this, Maryland Democrat Senator Benjamin L. Cardin has already passed a bill which will require the F.B.I. to monitor the crimes committed to homeless people. The bill is already under review and will await deliberation. This rising problem with regards to violence against homeless people should be taken by politicians more seriously. As the recession continuous, more people are expected to lose their homes and live at city streets.

In a case in April 2009, three teenage boys were accused of beating a homeless man to death by smashing his skull with metal pipes and makeshift bats. Their plan was to beat up a “bum”. The homeless people are ones who are the most vulnerable to these inhumane attacks. If the government doesn’t do anything about it, more people will lose their lives and human rights abuses will continue. We call on the U.S. government to provide appropriate protection to these people and also help people to secure their homes.