Homeless-Expose+the+Myths

Focus questions


 * Why are many Americans subject to the streets?

**__Thesis:__**
==//Perkins has a very clear cut and defined perspective of why people go homeless: drug and alcohol abuse, "homeless advocates continue to promulgate the myth that homelessness is primarily an economic problem rather than a mental health and substance-abuse problem," however they choose to neglect the way in which they could actually help these people get back up on their feet. Perkin believes the answer is simple: take the blinds off the horse and accept that in order to help these "lost cases" it's not economic reform in which we must push for, but for medical rehabilitation. //==

**Organization: **
 ====Jospeh Perkins opens up bluntly on the issue of people being homeless. His curiosity sets him to investigate his question. It's almost as if it's "science experiment" and he becomes curious on why people really go homeless and decides to reasearch for himself. After  researching, he concludes that people are homeless, not because of "poverty," but because they suffer from "mental illness and substance abuse." He also provides statistics for the reader to prove his point that it's not economic aid that these people need, but rehabilitation. Perkin's perspective on this issue is reasonable, however many of his audience wouldn't agree with him. For example, many would believe that it is an economic issue that's destroying peoples lives which end up subjecting them to what some deem as the "ghetto". He believes it to be vital that the government should step in and take real responsibilty of the issue. He leaves on a powerful note,"If we really wanted to help the homeless, we would pay far more attention to their mental health and substance abuse problems." ==== <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif">

"I saw no yuppies in threadbare suits sifting through the trash bins." - **Metaphor**
"Create jobs program for them. Give them income assistance. Offer them day care and health care." -**Parallel Syntax**

Tone & Mood:
====The reader can automatically either disagree or agree with his asumptions depending on their own personal perspective on the issue of homeless people. The author's attitude is clear: he doesn't show any sympathy or buy into the excuse of economic downfall of being the reason people become homeless. He focuses on the "real" problem and supplies a more ideal solution. Perkins takes a very bold approach as he gives the audience his opinion about the homeless population compared to those not a homeless statistic. "Homeless were not 'like you and me' who simply had fallen upon hard times." This quote illustrates the straight foward manner he uses to compeare between the homeless and non-homeless people. In addition, through he use of metaphors he denotes how he can not percieve a buisnessman living on the streets.====

====**Rational appeal:** Perkins uses rational appeal in the sense that he is bias by only using his argument about why people become homeless and doesn't care about what other people have to say or think about regarding this topic.====

**Language & Style:**
Perkins illustrates two certain styles that he succesfully incorporates in his work. His work is both scientific and statistical at the same time. Various ocassions he mentions how the homeless rates differ from from todays world to 30 years ago, "In 1932 the Conference of Mayors conducted a survey. It showed that 28% of the homeless population in cities were mentally ill and 44% were substance abusers." His style is appealing to the audience in a sence that he utilizes statistical information to get the audiences attention.

//Interesting Vocabulary://
 * vogue**:popular currency, acceptance, or favor; popularity
 * promulgate**:to set forth or teach publicly
 * disgorged**:to eject, yield, or discharge something.
 * legions**:A large number; a multitude.
 * purveyors:** One that furnishes provisions, especially food
 * dysfunction**: any malfunctioning part or element
 * imprimatur**: sanction or approval; support


 * Works Cited:**
 * Perkins, Joseph. "Homeless: Expose the Myths." __Homeless: Expose the Myths__ 28 Mar 2008 <http://aplangcalendar07-08.wikispaces.com/space/showimage/Homeless-Expose+the+Myths.pdf>.

R. Argueta, P.4 N. Marin, P.4