Week 7 Writing Homework
Write a letter to the city council addressing the issue of homelessness within the city, using examples and techniques to emphasise this issue.
Please upload your homework as a comment below:
- Due Date : March 29, 2025
- Feedback will be shared in 3-5 days
10 thoughts on “Week 7 Writing Homework”
Dear respected council,
I am writing to address the imminent problem of homelessness. As not just a bystander but instead a concerned citizen, homelessness is something that constantly torments millions around the world. As you relax in the serenity of your home, people are condemned to lie on the cold marbled ground. As you sleep in the comfort of your bed, people face the storm of homelessness as it rages on. Some of these people sometimes don’t have a choice but are instead cursed with this difficult journey filled with hardships.
Amongst these people are veterans. Yes, the veterans that fought for all of us to bring the peace and safety we were blessed with. While we soak in the beauty of our lives, these veterans are condemned with the endless tormenting truth. Reality is not as pleasing as most think. It tortures many of us and while it is unbeknownst to us, many people face the terrors that lurk within the streets.
Take John as an example. He was a veteran from the Vietnam war, a time of death and struggle. He fought against other troops, in near death situations. He risked his life for all of ours but we won’t do anything to help him as John lays at the mercy of death.
Many things can be done to prevent homelessness. By building shelters and building for homeless people, you can provide a roof over their head. By taking even a little bit of the taxes you collect, you can make a difference. One main factor of homelessness is unemployment. By providing free educational programs, you can help people start careers.
I urge you to please take action right away. Be the link between a dream and a reality.
Thank you,
Lyndon Wang
FEEDBACK
RW-YEAR 6_WK7- Siming Wang
29 March 2025
Respected Members of the Sydney City Council,
I am a 12-year-old boy and a resident of the Sydney City Council. I am writing to express my deep concerns about the heartbreaking situation of homelessness in our local community.
Since the end of the pandemic, over the last two years, whilst commuting to school, I have noticed an increasing number of vulnerable people living roughly on our streets. Homeless people have taken shelter under office buildings at prime locations such as Martin Place, George Street, Townhall Station and Underground walkways such as the one connecting Central Station to Ultimo.
Our local community and the wider Sydney suburban population has been devastated by the rapid increase in the cost of living and rising unemployment. Increase in population and competition for rental properties have increased rents well beyond what an average earner can afford to pay. The situation has become even more precarious due to fewer homes getting built because of shortage of materials and labour.
It is ironical in a wealthy country like Australia and Australia’s wealthiest city Sydney that we have this alarming rate of homelessness. In the short term, I urge the council to find temporary accommodation funded by the council so that we can provide safe and comfortable living conditions to these people. Over the long term, the council must increase the number of multi storey building approvals to increase the number of homes available for rent to make renting more affordable.
Thank you for taking the time to consider my plea. Feel free to contact me if you need me to provide more input.
Kind regards,
Om Trivedi
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RW-YEAR 6_WK7- Om Trivedi
To the Honorable Members of the City Council,
I am writing to you today with a heavy heart, a heart burdened by the visible and growing crisis of homelessness in our city. It is a crisis that cannot be ignored, a blight on our collective conscience, and one that demands immediate and compassionate action.
We see them on our streets, under our overpasses, and huddled in doorways. They are not faceless statistics; they are our neighbors, our fellow citizens, and they deserve more than the apathy and indifference we often offer. We see the tangible results of policy failures and societal cracks ,overflowing bins scavenged for scraps, the haunted eyes of individuals struggling with addiction and mental health, and the precarious shelters made of cardboard and dreams.
Consider the discarded needles in our parks, a stark reminder of the desperate measures some take to cope with their pain. Consider the increased strain on our emergency services as they respond to medical crises exacerbated by exposure and lack of access to healthcare. These are not isolated incidents; they are symptoms of a system failing those who need it most. Ignoring these issues is not only inhumane, it is fiscally irresponsible, leading to increased costs in the long run.
We can no longer afford to simply “manage” the problem. We need to address the root causes of homelessness: poverty, lack of affordable housing, addiction, mental illness, and domestic violence. We need to invest in comprehensive solutions that provide not just temporary shelter, but pathways to permanent housing, job training, mental health services, and addiction treatment.
Let me share a story, a composite of experiences I have witnessed firsthand in our city, to put a human face on this crisis:
Elara is 16, though she looks older, her face etched with worry and hardened by the streets. She used to live in a small apartment with her mother, a single parent struggling to make ends meet. When her mother lost her job, they were evicted. One missed paycheck turned into a descent into desperation. Now, Elara sleeps in the alley behind the old bakery, wrapped in a tattered blanket she salvaged from a discarded pile. She spends her days searching for food, navigating the maze of shelters, and dodging the dangers that lurk in the shadows. Her dreams of becoming a writer, once bright and vivid, are now clouded by the daily struggle for survival. She is bright, intelligent, and resilient, but even her spirit is beginning to fray under the weight of her circumstances. One cold morning, I saw her trying to mend a hole in her shoe with a piece of cardboard. Her eyes held a mixture of defiance and despair that will haunt me for a long time. Elara is just one of many. She represents the untold stories of young people whose potential is being squandered on the streets.
We, as a city, must do better. We must offer Elara, and countless others like her, a chance to rebuild their lives.
The time for complacency is over. The future of our city, and the well-being of our most vulnerable citizens, depends on our willingness to take bold and decisive action. Let us work together to create a city where everyone has a place to call home, a city where Elara and others like her have the opportunity to thrive.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I urge you to prioritize this critical issue and take meaningful steps to address the crisis of homelessness in our city.
Sincerely, Louisa
FEEDBACK
RW-YEAR 6_WK7- LOUISA CHEN
Dear Honourable Council Members,
Lately, cases have been rising of homeless people all around our community. Is this not an issue that should be solved? People who have helped our town in some kind of way are ending up on the streets, having to fend for themselves. Do you not see people begging as you walk through the streets – how could someone be so blind? Wake up! See the human beings sleeping on the cold, cement floor, eating scraps from the local bins and freezing from the harsh winds and heavy rains. Many unfortunate people have become victims to homelessness and this pandemic needs to end.
Emily used to help the soldiers that were injured while fighting in Afghanistan. Today, she roams the streets with her two little daughters, finding food and a comfortable place to sleep. Has Emily not helped our country enough? Why is this happening to her? The sufferers of homelessness should NOT have to go through this! They are not statistics! They are human beings! People just like us, that deserve to have a real home and edible food.
In the views of those affected, the council members are negligent and obdurate. You do not change things in the worry of losing in politics. People are not politics! They are substantially greater and are not comparable. The establishment of more homes and apartments would aid those that have nowhere to go. How can you sleep in a warm, cozy bed while people outside are freezing and starving? How can you not show empathy?
We are all part of one community. We are all one species. We are all equal. No one should have to deal with the consequences of homelessness. Additional houses and apartments would help these people immensely. Show some compassion and help your people. Is this not your job? Is this not a change that you want to see? Help this community thrive!
Sincerely,
The Hidden Testimonies.
Dear Honourable Council Members,
Lately, cases have been rising of homeless people all around our community. Is this not an issue that should be solved? People who have helped our town in some kind of way are ending up on the streets, having to fend for themselves. Do you not see people begging as you walk through the streets – how could someone be so blind? Wake up! See the human beings sleeping on the cold, cement floor, eating scraps from the local bins and freezing from the harsh winds and heavy rains. Many unfortunate people have become victims to homelessness and this pandemic needs to end.
Emily used to help the soldiers that were injured while fighting in Afghanistan. Today, she roams the streets with her two little daughters, finding food and a comfortable place to sleep. Has Emily not helped our country enough? Why is this happening to her? The sufferers of homelessness should NOT have to go through this! They are not statistics! They are human beings! People just like us, that deserve to have a real home and edible food.
In the views of those affected, the council members are negligent and obdurate. You do not change things in the worry of losing in politics. People are not politics! They are substantially greater and are not comparable. The establishment of more homes and apartments would aid those that have nowhere to go. How can you sleep in a warm, cozy bed while people outside are freezing and starving? How can you not show empathy?
We are all part of one community. We are all one species. We are all equal. No one should have to deal with the consequences of homelessness. Additional houses and apartments would help these people immensely. Show some compassion and help your people. Is this not your job? Is this not a change that you want to see? Help this community thrive!
Sincerely,
The Hidden Testimonies.
Dear Honourable Council Members,
Lately, cases have been rising of homeless people all around our community. Is this not an issue that should be solved? People who have helped our town in some kind of way are ending up on the streets, having to fend for themselves. Do you not see people begging as you walk through the streets – how could someone be so blind? Wake up! See the human beings sleeping on the cold, cement floor, eating scraps from the local bins and freezing from the harsh winds and heavy rains. Many unfortunate people have become victims to homelessness and this pandemic needs to end.
Emily used to help the soldiers that were injured while fighting in Afghanistan. Today, she roams the streets with her two little daughters, finding food and a comfortable place to sleep. Has Emily not helped our country enough? Why is this happening to her? The sufferers of homelessness should NOT have to go through this! They are not statistics! They are human beings! People just like us, that deserve to have a real home and edible food.
In the views of those affected, the council members are negligent and obdurate. You do not change things in the worry of losing in politics. People are not politics! They are substantially greater and are not comparable. The establishment of more homes and apartments would aid those that have nowhere to go. How can you sleep in a warm, cozy bed while people outside are freezing and starving? How can you not show empathy?
We are all part of one community. We are all one species. We are all equal. No one should have to deal with the consequences of homelessness. Additional houses and apartments would help these people immensely. Show some compassion and help your people. Is this not your job? Is this not a change that you want to see? Help this community thrive!
Sincerely,
The Hidden Testimonies.
FEEDBACK
RW-YEAR 6_WK7- Jinaya Patel