1. Before starting my research project I knew that there were homeless people
around the area where I was going to be doing my research, at 51st and Chestnut
Streets in Philadelphia because I used to live in that area, and from my experience
living in a shelter when I was 14. We had rules in the shelter, some of the rules were
good in some were awful. For example, we were not allowed to have food in rooms, and
have our own room but had to share a bathroom to a floor. When I first arrived there, I
asked why did this have to happen to my family?
I believe homelessness occur at any giving time. Some people needed help from
others or didn't want help. Before I conducted my research I thought people that were
homeless had no other option but to live on the streets. I thought some wanted to live
on the streets because it was a better place for them to live if they had no income.
The topic of homeless is an interesting topic to me because I have seen
homeless people living on the streets and have experienced being homeless around the
area of 51st and Walnut. I choose this topic because for me homelessness is something
major throughout the world.
When I started my research, I hoped to learned more about homeless people
and why homeless people choose to live outside? Have they or have they not sought
out help? Why Is there so many homeless people and no one helping? Lastly I wanted
to know the the difference between homeless and homelessness?
I started my research process by heading out to our worksite at 51th and
Chestnut. As I was there I noticed some homeless people around there and started my
investigation by asking question such as why are there so many homeless people and
no one helping? Once I had a focused researchable question, I started collecting

2. primary research around 51 Street. I used quantitative data counting homeless people
around that area. For my secondary research I went to the Internet search engines like
Google and Bing. I used keywords search such as, homeless people around 51th and
Chestnut. I located articles to read and printed them. From my active reading skills by
mark up and also annotated the articles I read.
I found the best information by doing a interview with one of the homeless people
around 51th and Chestnut. Which was a form of primary research. It was best to get it
from someone who or was in that predicament around that area. They have had
experienced many challenges and can talk about their experiences.
Where I had most success was doing my secondary research where I had to find
what I’m looking for on the Internet. Instead of trying to find someone that had the time
to talk or someone who don't even want to talk to me it was easier to go online. On
Google I found the site www.projecthome.org. Project home is an non-profit
organization that helps people break the cycle of poverty and homelessness through
affordable housing, employment, health care, and education.
I had some failures when I was doing my research. Trying to find a homeless
person to interview was hard because I wasn't having luck trying to find a nice person to
talk to. As for myself, I felt nervous kind of scared of how that person might react
towards me. I'm shy so it had some awkward moments. But I pulled though.
Throughout my research I worked with someone who shared the same topic. My
partner was especially helpful; helping me with my actively reading strategies with the
articles that I had selected. My partner Tahyra helped me find articles, and to

3. understand what I didn’t know and helped me get a better understanding of what my
articles were about.
One setback I had was trying to come up with great questions for my research
project. I had trouble focusing on just one good question so I had to use a research
chart to examine my questions to find out the best by making my question researchable.
I had to figure out the best question instead of just putting something that was too hard
to research. I had changed my question several times.
Homeless people in Philadelphia is an important topic, but there is hope for them.
Project Home enables people to break the cycle of homelessness by providing housing
and other services. Outreach teams from Project Home conduct street outreach, some
even around the clock looking to help homeless people that are living on the streets
(www.projecthome.org, n.d). The differences between homeless and homelessness is
when you are just homeless you are moving from house to house really not having a
stable place to lay at night. Homelessness means you are sleeping outside asking
people for money or to buy something to eat.(www.projecthome.org, n.d) states “Its
difficult to really calculate the exact numbers of homeless people on the streets
considering the numbers of people that live in parks, vehicles and abandoned houses.”
People who are homeless find it harder to trust other so they choose to live on
the streets. “The US Department of Housing and Urban Development HUD defines a
person who is homeless as: someone does not have a fixed, regular and adequate
nighttime residence. This person may be sleeping on streets with friends or family, in
cars, or abandoned building, or in shelters, approximately 10% of the homeless

4. population lives on the streets www.projecthome.org., N.D).” Those who don't trust or
pride interferes choose to live on the streets. A homeless person named Mamma Pop,
said, she was better off staying living outside because she feel as though she will get
everything she will need. She feels safe and claims she is a wild one (personal
communication, July 3, 2014.” Her perspective on shelters is that they judge who you
are.
From what I discovered some people don't give money directly to the homeless
because cash gifts are often used to buy drugs and alcohol. I feel I understand the issue
of homeless I know now that there are really people helping them out not just Project
Home. But other organizations and shelters such as Philabundance who help feed
them, and Homeless Advocacy Project (HAP) who helps by giving them legal help when
they need someone to defend them. Going back to the experience I had, being
homeless changed my life because I didn't want to be in a predicament where I had
nowhere to call a home.
This topic of homeless is being addressed in Philadelphia with organizations
helping the homeless by giving them food, a place to stay, and change of clothes. If I
could do something differently it would be to help out and even volunteer more by really
trying to encourage them to get help if they wanted the help.
The next time I will write a research paper I will be able to start my own inquiry
process which means I can do the research steps my self so I can conduct a better
research paper. For myself I learned how to show my motivation and use my people

5. skills because I was able to be on time and meet all my due dates in paper process. I
was able to communicate and give my full attention towards my research paper.
My final thoughts on this topic are not just assume homeless people are faking
when they asks for money or food they really might be in need it. You never know,
homelessness can occur at any giving time depending on an individual's situation. Just
remember, what if you became homeless? Would you want to be helped? Make your
donations count, find a well-known, reputable organization in your community if you
choose to help out. Many shelters and soup kitchens also welcome contributions of
food, clothing and other supplies. Lets help end the problem.
Reference
"Project HOME." Project HOME. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 June 2014. <http://www.projecthome.org/>.
"Philabundance." Philabundance. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 June 2014. <http://www.philabundance.org/>.

6. "Homeless Advocacy Project - Free legal help for homeless individuals and families." Homeless Advocacy Project -
Free legal help for homeless individuals and families. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 June 2014.
<http://www.homelessadvocacyproject.org/.