Arsali, Benjamin Aryan

Homelessness is a systemic issue in the United States, which significantly impacts both the individuals who are homeless and society as a whole. One of the major factors that drives homelessness is the loss of employment or the failure to maintain steady employment. Homeless individuals also have difficulty regaining steady employment or entering the workforce as their opportunities are often limited by their criminal records, limited employment history, and lack of a permanent address. This creates a vicious cycle keeping homeless individuals homeless. This paper argues that it is in the best interest of local governments and communities to end homelessness by providing a path towards steady employment. This paper will introduce the social enterprise model as a method of achieving this goal, specifically discussing the startup, growth, viability, and success of a landscaping social enterprise.