...intended to be used as a nighttime residence (temporary or permanent) i.e. places like public parks, bus stops, subways, streets, etc. So this concludes our definition of Homeless. Now we shall take a look at some statistics obtained through reliable national data sources. Speaking broadly, people face homelessness because they cannot afford suitable housing. In fact, homelessness is clearly visible in urban areas of the country, where people lag enough resources to meet their housing requirements and eventually end up homeless. Homelessness can attributed to lack of money, higher living costs, scarcity of economic residence, etc. Moreover, data gathered by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, through point-in-time count shows that; a) There are 610,042 people facing the problem of homelessness on any given night in America[2] i.e. almost 19 people in 10,000 will be suffering from Homelessness. b) Of these homeless people, 222,197 are with families whereas; the remaining 387,845 are individuals [2]. How Do People End Up Homeless? The data gathered by the “National Alliance to End Homelessness” gives us a quick view of the reason behind homelessness. The report [3] suggests, families usually end up homeless because of some unpredicted mishap or a financial crisis, some major accidents, death of a family member, or...
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...understanding of social justice finds root in a concept of shared humanity that necessitates the equitable treatment of people and the equitable allocations of community resources. The repetition of the word “equitable” is intentional in this understanding. Equity emphasizes fairness in the context of acknowledged differences regarding race, ability, gender, income, citizenship, etc. I firmly believe that these differences and the barriers and privileges that come with them must be recognized and addressed in order to advocate for social justice. While equality – as opposed to equity – certainly plays a part, emphasizing equality over equity frequently translates to sameness over fairness and thus often diminishes social justice advocacy...
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...Slade 05/04/2016 * APA Citation Norman, T., & Pauly, B. (2013). Including people who experience homelessness: A scoping review of the literature. The International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 33(3), 136-151. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/01443331311308203 * Problem Homelessness has been associated with isolation, marginalization and social exclusion. It is well understood that those impacted by homelessness often have fewer opportunities than the general population to participate in policy processes, especially in relation to decisions that affect them. Being homeless has many health and social consequences that affect an individual's life chances and opportunities for participation in decision-making over the life course. * Review of Literature Principles of inclusion in policy development have emerged in discourses on disability, the mental health consumer movement, and have begun to inform discussions of drug use. Without the voices and participation of those impacted by homelessness, there is a risk that important understandings essential to the development of effective solutions to homelessness will remain obscured. A search of peer reviewed and grey literature to generate recommendations for the development of guidelines for social inclusion of those impacted by homelessness as part of a community-based response to ending homelessness in effort to answer, how to foster social inclusion in programs and policy between housed and unhoused people...
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...Introduction Homelessness is a crisis faced across the globe. Homelessness can be simply defined as a person living without a home, forcing them to reside on the streets. Some homeless people exit the situation quickly, but many more fall into homelessness long term. Much of this trend is due to many social-economical factors in the society. Drugs, finances and abuse are some of the root causes to this problem. The lack of jobs, rise in living costs, addictions to drugs, and domestic disputes are what drive people to become homeless. According to a report released by the US census Bureau, (2014), the rise in homelessness is significant, hitting 3.5 million people who experience the situation in every year. Out of the 3.5 people experiencing homelessness, 35% of them are families that include children. The families in the United States are the fastest growing segment of homeless individuals. The military veterans who are homeless constitute 23% of the total people who are homeless in the United States. Of the 3.5 million homeless people, 25% are minors who are aged below 18 years (U.S. Census Bureau 2014). The minors become homeless when their families or the caretakers become homeless. Some of the homeless children lack paternal families and may have run away from the orphanage and children homes to make lives on their own. The statistics showed that 30% of the homeless people had experienced domestic violence and 25% suffered from mental illnesses. In the urban settings...
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...problem the homeless population is, controversies arise over who should be taking care of these people. Homelessness is not a new concept in America. Having been around for over a century, the past few decades has become exceptionally worse. Homelessness is not something that is easily defined. Alex K. Rich and Geraldine Wagner tell their readers that most who study the problem of homelessness define the issue as “those who are forced to sleep in places not designated for sleeping.” Jennifer Bringle defines the homeless as people who do not have a “fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence” (4). However defined, the fact that they do not have a permanent residence is only the beginning of the problem. Although there are many controversies today surrounding the problem of homelessness and whether the government is responsible or not, the nation as a whole should take responsibility and work collectively to strive for an end to the problem. To some the way to end homelessness means leaving the change up to the homeless themselves. Critics today focus on the idea that people are homeless because of their own actions. In Ted Gottfried’s book Homeless: Whose Problem Is It, Ronald Reagan is quoted as saying, “The homeless . . . are homeless, you might say, by choice” (50). Also quoted in Gottfried’s book, radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh, says that the nation’s homelessness is “tied to a lack of personal responsibility and a . . . decline in respect for the traditional American...
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...“modern” homelessness and the kind of homelessness typical throughout American history is a. that the homeless population was once all white, but today it is racially diverse. b. that today’s homeless people are concentrated in New York, Boston, and San Francisco, but they used to live in other cities. c. that whereas homelessness was once a transient phenomenon tied to cycles of the economy, today homelessness is a near-permanent condition for many Americans. d. that homelessness was once a crime, but today it is legal. 2. According to Rubin, the Housing Act of 1949 a. was a major achievement for housing rights’ activists. b. resulted in the demolition of poor but vital communities. c. produced suburban sprawl as affluent middle class families fled the cities. d. guaranteed every American “a decent home and a suitable living environment” and, with little exception, fulfilled its promise. 3. For Rubin, the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit is an example of a. a successful public policy initiative. b. the undue influence of corporate America on the legislative process. c. a program, that despite good intentions, ultimately deepened the problem of homelessness. d. a prudent legislative compromise. 4. At the end of the article, Rubin recommends that: a. the government should stop intervening in housing and health care. b. the government should guarantee housing for everyone, thereby ending homelessness. c....
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...transient among other definitions. The term is well known because a large number of Americans have been named such who lived on the streets, or “skid rows” of this country. Homeless individuals have existed throughout history; however, more recently, a larger number and many categories of homeless individuals occur. In this paper the subject to examine is the history of homeless persons in America, the nature of the social problems and issues experienced by the homeless, demography of the homeless, common clinical issues and intervention strategies, and a discussion of future interventions. Vulnerable Populations Homeless Persons Homelessness has been a phenomenon in America beginning in the late 1700s according to author Kenneth Kusmer. “Kusmer begins with an examination of homelessness from the late seventeenth century through the early nineteenth century. Although the number of homeless fluctuated somewhat in this period (rising in the late eighteenth century and in the 1820s), concern about the homeless was not widespread. The homeless were also largely an urban phenomenon; rural residents rarely encountered homeless persons. The Civil War introduced soldiers to railroad travel and to foraging, and after the war, some veterans continued to ride the rails and lead a homeless existence. However, it was during the depression of the 1870s that the numbers of homeless rose substantially and there were a series of violent confrontations between railroad-riding...
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...The Homeless in United States: Root of problems, and solutions Imagine feeling lost and not knowing what to do or where to go. We spend each night in the musty weather on a bench, which you call your bed. As you wake up to the chattering noises each morning you decide which public place will allow you to clean yourself up. When you get hungry, you beg people for change to eat a cheap meal or you search the nearest garbage can. For the rest of the day you sit in the city hoping people will notice you and want to help out. Knowing that you are not judged by whom you are but what you are, you realize that most people in society do not understand homelessness, and wonder if the circumstances in homelessness will ever change. Every day in cities and towns across the country, men, women, and children dressed in rags walk the streets, often talking to visions and begging for money. However, many causes are the problems to the homelessness which have theirs impact on children and people should think about finding solutions for the homeless. Homelessness is the condition of people without a regular dwelling. According to National Alliance to End Homelessness, 578,424 peoples were experiencing homelessness in 2014 (2015). There are several circumstances that can cause individuals to repeatedly end up on streets. First, poverty is a difficult one to break. Once an individual falls below a certain income level...
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...the outside, I am very weak when it comes to poverty and homelessness. Maybe because I grew up poor and I am somewhat able to relate the struggles of not having any money to meet daily needs. Homelessness is a global issue. Many people from many different countries face the same tribulation. While it’s common, homelessness continues to exist and solutions have not completely solved the problem. I came to this class very hesitant, nervous, and didn’t really know what to expect. However, all that changed. I’ve been a volunteer in a couple of organizations and met many homeless people in my life but I never thought I would have the chance to really dig deep in the issue of homelessness. This class allowed me to not only see the surface of the problem of homelessness in the U.S. but also study the root cause, find and discuss solutions. By talking in groups and formulating ideas and solutions, I learned to open up and widen my perspective. Sometimes, solutions tend to work better when you are looking at things from a different...
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...Literary Research Report: Without A Home “Being homeless is probably the only thing I’ve ever been good at” (Alexie 1). The sad truth in the matter is that some people do not function well in society. In the short story by Sherman Alexie, “What You Pawn I Will Redeem” the reader gets to learn what one old homeless Native American man does in a twenty four hour period. Of course, people become homeless for a multitude of reasons, which we will explore further in this paper. Homelessness can be caused by many factors including addiction, domestic violence, family conflicts (particularly runaway youth), unemployment, post traumatic stress, and mental illness (Portland Mental Rescue Mission). Although these factors are certainly reasons for...
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...Vietnam War. As a direct result of Post Traumatic Syndrome and other mental/medical disabilities many in this group may not have a permanent home to call their own. To define homelessness according to the site for National Health Care for the Homeless Council (retrieved 2014), one of the official definitions for the state of being homeless or homelessness is presented as follows: A homeless individual is defined in section 330(h) (4)(A) as “an individual who lacks housing (without regard to whether the individual is a member of a family), including an individual whose primary residence during the night is a supervised public or private facility (e.g., shelters) that provides temporary living accommodations, and an individual who is a resident in transitional housing.” A homeless person is an individual without permanent housing who may live on the streets; stay in a shelter, mission, single room occupancy facilities, abandoned building or vehicle; or in any other unstable or non-permanent situation. [Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C., 254b)](National 2014) This is one of the definitions that tries to explain this large sociological perspective based on trends or patterns and the fact that this social situation requires such a broad explanation to attempt to cover all aspects of homelessness. This explanation does show how widespread and complicated the state of being homeless is and how socially there is not one simple...
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...Homelessness Georgia Davis Eng/147 June 29, 205 Janet Levy Homelessness “Homelessness is a worldwide problem that affects millions. You will find them sleeping on sidewalks, under bridges, on park benches, in cars and in any little cubby hole they can find. You will see women, men, young kids and families” (G. Davis, personal communication, June 29, 2015). ("The Portland Rescue Mission" ( 2015 ). Retrieved from http://www.portlandrescuemission.org/learn-more/myths-about-homelessness According to ‘the Portland Rescue Mission’ (2015), “The methodology for finding and counting the homeless is imperfect; we simply do not find everyone”. “Why are they all out there? What is Homelessness and what causes it? Homelessness is a very complicated issue that has no social or economic boundary. Mental illness, substance abuse, domestic violence and economic times affect all ages of the Homeless” (G. Davis, personal communication, June 29, 2015). 1. Homelessness and Mental Health Mental Illness seems to be one of the leading causes of homelessness. “During my involvement with the homeless, I knew of a women name Frankie. Frankie was a school teacher, had a husband and two children. One night their home burned down with Frankie’s husband and children being lost in the fire. Frankie lost all rational thinking, not understanding why she lived. Frankie had a complete mental breakdown and ended up on the streets of Dallas homeless. This is a case of mental illness being the...
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...addresses the crisis of homelessness in Seattle. Mayor Schell attempts to tackle the problem and makes a pledge to end the epidemic that he may or may not be able to keep. Specifically, the mayor pledges in June that by Christmas 1998 there will not be homeless women or children living on the streets of his cities (Electronic Hallway). This pledge garnered mass attention as it was run on both local newspapers and televised. Homelessness is robust in nature and scope and takes more than a pledge and good will to eliminate. It may not be within his realm of possibility either fiscally or logistically to accomplish what he pledges. Listening in the audience is the Director of the Community Services Division of the Department of Housing and Human Services, Alan Painter. Painter has over ten years of experience in planning and putting into action a variety of programs targeted at helping the of homeless. He agrees with the mayor’s assessment of the homeless situation, the need to eliminate the problem and applauds the mayor’s fervor. He is however, skeptical that such a feat can be accomplished and wonders how this pledge will mess or clash with the cities standard procedures for handling the homeless. The mayor’s pledge in effect puts Painter on the hot seat, so to speak in that he must devise a strategic plan to essentially make the mayor’s pledge a reality or as close to it as possible. Painter fears the cities current approached to homelessness are not capable of meeting...
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...which provide services to homeless people. Goldade, Kate. Homeless Former Smokers’ Interest in helping Homeless Current Smokers Quit. Minnesota: American Journal of Health Promotion, 2012 Goldade purpose is to describe factors that associate with interest of homeless former smokers in helping homeless smokers quit. She discusses how to start saving money you would need to stop buying cigarettes and use that money to provide for yourself. Hopper, Kim. Reckoning with Homelessness. New York: Cornell University Press, 2003. Hopper draws on his strengths as an anthropologist and advocates providing a deeper understanding of the roots of being homeless and on the streets. Hopper tells the largely neglected story of homelessness among African Americans and vividly portrays various sites of public homelessness, such as airports. Hurley, Jennifer A. The homeless: opposing viewpoints. San Diego Calif: Greenhaven Press, 2002. Hurley starts off of how serious homeless is for society. She discusses how homelessness affects cities, rural communities, women and children and many more. She expresses that the hardcore homeless should be arrested and put behind bars. Jarrett, Christian. Helping the homeless Psychologist Vol. 23, 2010. Jarrett examines the psychology’s response to social problems that can be related to people who are homeless. He identifies how when people who end up with absolutely nothing are able to get back up and on their feet again. Jencks, Christopher. The Homeless...
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...Many literatures explaining women's homelessness in the United Kingdom, have argued from a feminist perspective which highlighted that the market dominated housing policies disadvantage female-led households based on a gendered division of labour. For example, Watson and Austerberry (1986) argued that historically the organization of domestic labour and child care, and familiar care were individualized and mostly the work of women rather than collectively distributed. Furthermore, feminist believe that patriarchal policies in the United Kingdom have favour nuclear families and marginalised single female accounting for their vulnerability to homelessness Watson and Austerberry (1986) . Whereas Novac, Brown, and Bourbonnais (2009) identified...
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