Academic English

Describe the homeless situation in your community, city, or country? Where do they live, and what kinds of homeless assistance programs exist to serve this population? What are some possible solutions to the problem from an individual or government standpoint?

“be short on cash” = have very little money
“Many people are so short on cash that they become homeless and live on the streets.”

“be hard up” = have little or no money
“I’m really hard up right now, and I don’t have enough money to rent an apartment or live on my own.”

A. Listen to the recording and answer the questions.

What are some ways in which everyday citizens can help meet the needs of the homeless in their area?

Use the Internet to find the answers to these questions:

• What local organizations in your area serve the poor and/or homeless?
• What kinds of services do they provide (e.g., emergency shelter, free meals, food pantries, clothing, and other personal care items, and/or addiction recovery services)?
• In what ways can people volunteer their time and money to such organizations?