Mental Health, Inflation, Oh My!

Mental health is not always on people's minds when strolling past someone living on the streets, so as not to lock in stares of sadness.

Although mental health awareness is increasing as the younger generation is not afraid to speak up about how they are feeling and the way they want to be treated. It is often lost in translation when referring to one residing on the streets. Most cannot fathom the hardship and often turn a cheek to cope with the loss of hope in the people without housing.

National Alliance to End Homelessness reported that Congress assisted with a funding bill for 2023 at $3.633 billion. To compare perspectives of how we view the importance to homelessness, the data collected for NASA as of August 30th of this year is a whopping $33.09 billion in budgetary resources. (Amounts to incur obligations in any given year).

Time has shown mental health goes hand in hand with addiction due to the stigma that still sleeps with the older generations, as well as financial resources not being readily available in America or just the cost in general to staying alive. Unfortunately, the cost of catching a high outweighs the lows of feeling you can never get ahead by losing your home.

A federal initiative, House America, under the current administration, has the hope of tackling more affordable housing, drug addiction, and mental health.

National Alliance to End Homelessness is non-partisan (non-partisan is a lack of affiliation with a political party). It has a stat on their website that suggests an estimated $4.8 billion is needed to bring homeless services salaries into the modern era. A defined list on their website clarifies the top troubles that can contribute to losing one's home: Income, health, escaping violence, and racial inequality.

This week, on November 7th, 2023, The Federal Reserve (created back in 1913, which is the central banking system of the United States)— made progress on controlling inflation back down to the target of 2%. Chicago Fed Bank President Austan Goolsbee claims, "Over the next couple of months, we might equal the fastest drop in inflation in the last century."

Between 2021 and 2022, consumers were busy, causing supply constraints, otherwise known as limitations of the ability to market to deliver new stock— especially regarding food, energy, and durable goods. Inflation does not just sit ideal when it affects homeowners; it also affects shelter costs. National Association of Home Builders marks shelter costs as one of the largest lumps of inflation issues, alongside a nationwide shortage of $1.5 million housing units.

Bank of America polled 1,167 Gen Z adults ages 18-26 for its annual Better Money Habits survey. The research review showed that more than half of Gen Z mentioned the high living costs as a hurdle to success. Gen Y, Z, and Alpha are set to dominate in luxury buying, coming in at a defying 80% of the luxury goods market CNBC mentions. With the younger generations growing up with screens and access to their peers' every move, with people posting and boasting lavishness instead of living, many of how Americans will continue striving to stay alive, and that pressure lay heavy on Gen Alpha's shoulders. Gen Alpha wants to repair the gap between generations while paving a smoother road for future generations. It is up to all to come together and work for the wellness of humanity.