Homelessness in America first appeared in the early 1600s with the beginning of
immigration, which mainly consisted of poor people looking for a job and a place to
settle. Between 1870 and 1924 millions of immigrants were coming to U.S. and
cramming tenement houses. Those of them who were extremely poor and could not
afford their living expenses, finally found themselves on the streets. The Great
Depression of the 1930s, which brought unstableness and massive unemployment,
increased homeless population drastically (Sweeney 13-17).
The history of homelessness in New York City can be traced back to the late 1970s.
At that time there was sufficient housing in New York for those people with law incomes.
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