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= Homelessness in the 1980's: Written by Maddie M. Arnold = = =

Whoa oh, livin' on a prayer
===I chose this song because I believed that it was explaining the homelessness issue in the 80's and how "Tommy" & "Gina" are working so hard to hold on to what they have, but it also had a good meaning to it. It was explaining that even though times were tough then, the couple still had each other and they will not give up... "Take my hand and we'll make it I swear."===

= Response to the Lyrics- = ====The point that is being made by the lyrics of the song is that a couple who is holding on to their last penny are struggling to survive and the economy is tough for a lot of people in that time period. Although, they are telling each other that they have one another, and that's the most important. The lyrics relate to some facts that I learned in my research because the song is explaining how "Tommy" is working hard to keep his job because the unemployment rate in the 1980's was very high. You could loose jobs easily and have trouble trying to get jobs too. Any money mattered, even if it was a low pay...it was better then sleeping on the street.====

= Bio Artists- = ====The group/artist of "Livin' on a Prayer" is Bon Jovi and his band. Bon Jovi's real name is John Bongiovi, Jr. Their type of music is mostly rock. This song that Bon Jovi and his crew sung was a major hit throughout the time it was written and a few years on. Bon Jovi believes this song was a perfect topic for the 1980's because of the poverty and unemployment rate that shot up and was a major issue in the United States. In 2004, "Livin' on a Prayer" was the theme song for the Boston Red Sox in the American League Championship Series.====



= Facts- =
 * ====In 1979, the homelessness rate was starting to become higher then past years.====
 * ====By 1894, homeless people were everywhere (in the streets), and it was becoming a huge national problem though out the United States.====
 * ====Many cities were caught off guard when people began to literally pile up in the streets with no where to go.====
 * ====Philadelphia donated $32 million of their local funds for temporary shelters.====
 * ====In the decade of the 80's, people were always debating on what was causing such a high rate of homelessness and many believed that it was trying to afford housing when not employed. Some believed it was caused by spousal abuse & drugs.====
 * ====The homeless people were called "Street People" and the number of them kept increasing over time...especially in the major cities (New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Saint Louis)====
 * ====The U.S. Government determined that about 200,000 to 500,000 people in the nation were homeless.====

= Opinion Piece- = ====My opinion about this issue is that times were very tough then (and sometimes now too), and it was a HUGE national problem. Nobody should have to live on the streets and not have a home, especially if it was below freezing at night time. Many people tried to help and donate to have people stay in shelters, but there were still many less fortunate that couldn't. People could not help that they were loosing their home and job, it was the economies fault that the unemployment rate shot out the roof. I have learned to not take thing for granted and be thankful for what I've got in life. I've learned that many homeless people back then weren't homeless because of crime, but because of loss of wealth and jobs in the United States.====

= Resources- =

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=Link to Class Wiki (1980):=

Class Wiki 1980