Urban and Rural Problems

In chapter 8, it talks about urbanization, the shift of populations from rural areas into cities, which has shaped communities from ancient settlements like Jericho and Aleppo, both early examples of long-inhabited cities, to modern U.S. urban centers expanded through immigration, the large arrival of new citizens from other countries, and industrialization, the movement toward factory-based production that drew people to live near workplaces. Early cities struggled with limited sanitation, meaning the absence of effective systems to manage waste, which led to disease, while later cities experienced social problems such as crime, identified in the notes as one of the harms intensified by rapid urban growth. The displacement of Seneca Village, a 19th-century African American settlement removed for the construction of Central Park, reflects how urban development has reshaped communities. Contemporary issues such as gentrification, defined in the notes as neighborhood changes driven by wealthier newcomers that raise rents and displace poorer residents, and rural challenges like poverty, described as higher in many rural areas, and limited healthcare, shown in the notes as fewer physicians and hospitals per resident, reflect ongoing inequalities. These issues are explained through functionalism, which examines the functions and dysfunctions of cities; conflict theory, which emphasizes how political and economic elites use resources to maintain advantage; and symbolic interactionism, which focuses on everyday interactions and social norms that shape how residents perceive and experience urban and rural life.

On a single night in January 2024 the Brevard Homeless Coalition counted 1,071 people experiencing homelessness in Brevard County, representing a small increase (~2 %) from the previous year. Of those, 779 were living unsheltered, an increase of approximately 17 % compared to 2023. Additional breakdown shows that the number of chronically homeless individuals (those homeless a year or more with a disabling condition) increased by 71 %. The data also revealed a significant shortfall in shelter beds: while 1,581 total beds were counted (shelter and transitional housing), 742 individuals and 36 family members remained unstably housed, translating to a deficit of 717 beds for individuals and 27 for families. 

The Brevard Homeless Coalition (BHC) is a non-profit organization in Brevard County whose mission is to make homelessness rare, brief and non-recurring in our region. They serve individuals and families experiencing homelessness (or at risk) by coordinating the local Continuum of Care (CoC), managing federal and state housing/service funds, and providing data tracking through a Homeless Management Information System. Their programs include emergency shelter, transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, and a system to assess, match and house people. Recent data highlight that in the January 2024 “Point in Time” count more than 1,000 people in Brevard County were experiencing homelessness and the population of those with a disability rose 72% from the prior year.

References:

Urban and Rural Problems.pdf: 202540-SYG-2010-21Z-40363-Social Problems

Press Release 2024 PIT and HIC Count - Brevard Homeless Coalition

Our Mission - Brevard Homeless Coalition

Caption: This image contrasts the density and intense growth of urban skylines with the open space and slower pace of rural communities. It highlights how environment shapes daily life, opportunity, and social challenges in different ways. Together, the two sides illustrate the diversity of living experiences across modern society.

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