In the beloved city of Pomona, there has been an issue for decades on many topics. A main problem that affects many in the Pomona community is the homeless population that surrounds our streets. This issue has continued to increase as time goes on. While efforts have been made to help reduce this issue, it remains a major problem that requires a different approach.

An important factor that contributes to the homelessness issue is the lack of affordable housing in our city. Living in a state such as California, with its high cost of living, makes many of our families struggle. This is important to consider, as the steady increase in rent prices has made it quite difficult for our community to cope. Additionally, many of Pomona's people are low-income, which makes them unable to afford housing, leaving them with no choice but to live on the streets we see today in our community.

Many in our community, mainly the homeless people on our city sidewalks, face significant problems. These problems include addiction to substances, which makes it very hard for these people to escape the poverty of living on the streets. They also face mental health problems, which makes it difficult for them to find reliable jobs and good housing to live in with a steady income. This is a reason why it’s very hard for our people who are currently homeless to get off the streets at this moment. There has also been an increase in harsh grudges against the homeless in our city.

With many small businesses wanting to expand their platforms by attracting customers, it has been very hard to do so with homeless people surrounding their stores. This has led to owners and others in our city expressing hatred towards these homeless people. This has been seen with them reporting the presence of homeless people, as they fear it discourages customers from coming to their shops. Overall, homelessness has been seen as a never-ending cycle. A solution Pomona can pursue is lowering the cost of housing, which would dramatically reduce homelessness in our city. Furthermore, expanding both mental and physical help through clinics will ensure that people who are homeless have the necessary support to get their feet off the streets. The city of Pomona can make great progress and thrive if we take the initiative now.

Students in Pomona High School's AP Economics and Government class have showcased their understanding of real-world issues by writing insightful op-eds for The Pomonan. Combining critical analysis with a touch of journalism, these submissions explore topics at the intersection of economics and government while fostering meaningful engagement with their community. Encouraged by their teacher to think deeply and articulate their perspectives, these young writers have demonstrated creativity, civic awareness, and a growing appreciation for the power of the written word in shaping public discourse.