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The effect of homelessness on society
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More handpicked essays just for you.
The effect of homelessness on society
Homeless literature review
WHY HOMELESS AFFECT MENTAL HEALTH essay
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Homeless individuals are at risk every day as a result of violence because they live in hostile environment. Estimates of the extent of mental illness in the homeless population vary, but there is growing consensus among researchers that approximately 30 percent of the homeless population
(Koegel, Melamid, Burnam, 1995) For example, family homelessness has been increasing in the United states in Recent years. Now, more schools and communities are challenged to serve students whose lives are touched by the uncertainty and instability that homelessness brings. (Miller, 2015) People are forced to live destitute without daily necessities like healthy or sanitary food, housing or substantial clothing.
I think many homeless people are happy to be homeless. Some primary causes of homelessness are lack of affordable housing, unemployment, poverty, and low wages. Homeless adults seem more likely to become homeless because of both choice and circumstance. Children, however, are most likely to be homeless because of circumstances, such as their parents. Rose Mary and Rex choose to be homeless.
“1 out of every 100 persons in Europe- or approximately 3 million people [are] homeless,” (Blair 21) states Cornelia Blair, the author of Homeless in America. Not only is this number extremely high, it only accounts to one country; Imagine the number across all 136 countries scattered across the Earth. And the homeless population is constantly on the rise, creating a fear for many who live dangerously close to losing everything. Homelessness is a predicament that affects all people, old and young, and can last from as little as a few days to as long as the rest of their lives. It is a serious problem caused by low income, domestic violence and abuse, and lack of Veteran care, but can be amended by child sponsorships, help from the government,
Homelessness due to individual factor or structural factor? Homelessness is the condition of people without a permanent dwelling. It is an uncontrollable issue around the world and influences different ages of people. Homelessness can be divided into two camps which is structural causes and individual causes .Structural
Rachel Roth begins this article by examining the historical components of reproductive rights and fetal rights in this country. She then explains that the history of the two have created the now issue that women face in around the topic of abortion. She explains that the long struggles of abortion have led to fetal rights. “This idea has served to punish women in nontraditional behavior than to protect their children, while reinforcing the idea that women’s bodies are and should be public property” (Roth, 322). Meaning, the concept of fetal rights has begun to take its own course of action, which in the process has decreased the rights of the woman.
Abuse and neglect are one of the top three leading causes of youth homelessness. “Studies show 70 percent of homeless youth have suffered some form of physical, sexual or emotional abuse” and “45.7 percent of street
Homelessness is very real in the United states with 3.5 million Americans left without a place to call home each year. There is a strong stigma against homeless individuals who are seen as chronic and episodic, but in reality, those seen living on the streets in downtown areas of cities are families with children. The vast majority have been thrust into homelessness through a life altering situation that was unexpected and unplanned for. One of the harsh realities is that homeless individuals and families tend to come from communities of concentrated poverty. Many factors lead to pushing people onto the streets and occasionally, these same factors can be the reason they stay homeless.
These factors include, but are not limited to, lack of affordable housing, economic insecurity, behavioral health, etc. Research has found that the main contributing factors for children living in homeless families are the lack of affordable housing, poverty, and domestic violence (Aratani, 2009). Similarly, mental illness, substance abuse, and lack of affordable housing are the top contributing factors of homelessness among unaccompanied youth (Aratani, 2009). In addition to analyzing the factors that can cause homelessness, the article explores the impact that homelessness can have on youth. For example, homelessness can often lead to food insecurity since food supplies can be scarce, which can then have a negative impact on the child/youth’s overall health.
The current government is creating a situation where more families along with their children are experiencing homelessness. An individual may be considered homeless when they lack permanent housing and have to stay in shelters, abandoned buildings or vehicles, on the streets, or in other forms of unstable situations. Many homeless people start out with jobs and stable residences, but then social and economic factors intervene, causing a rapid change in their living situation causing them to leave, and live on the street. Even with the population of homeless keeps increasing, the government does not aid nor benefit the homeless because they only worsen the homeless problem by having laws that go against homelessness, not helping mentally ill homeless population, and having the lack of subsidized housing.
In addition, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) stated that an individual may be considered as homeless if the person is “doubled up” or if this individual is unable to maintain his housing situation causing him to live with his friends or relatives. Also, those that are previously released from prisons and hospitals which have no house to return were considered as
Individuals who have experienced homelessness before and sometimes many times are referred to as the “marginally or episodically homeless”. As a result they require a range of more intensive services and support for both adults and children. They may alternate between the shelters or streets and friends, family or independent living, often perceived as having mental health or substance-abuse issues and relying on other homeless people rather than family members. While they may accept concrete assistance, they may not be able to find housing and require a long-term commitment of time and resources to assist them in reestablishing themselves as participating members of the community. By adapting social roles that do not demand high levels of personal functioning, they have adjusted to periodic homelessness.
The issue of homelessness in America has been evident since the early 1600’s. Across the country men, women and children spend their nights on the streets not knowing when or if they will ever find a permanent home. States and federal officials or city councils have tried to alleviate or at least reduce the number of homeless over the last several decades at a city, state or national level but it continues to be an ongoing problem. There is a multitude of factors that account for the growing homeless population that affects each state in the country differently. Though there are many contributing factors that contribute to the amount of people living on the street at any given night in the U.S.
Disabled individuals, veterans and families are some of the demographic that is affected by homelessness. Physical ailments such as malnutrition, lack of hygiene, undiagnosed diseases and/or disorders can be detrimental. Mental disorders such as depression can develop due to the harsh circumstances of living on the streets. The lack of support, affordable housing and medical care that homeless individuals are receiving are prime examples of the need for compassionate and dedicated social workers to assist homeless individuals in regaining hope, purpose, and to evoke the strength within themselves. Living in shelters or public areas, homeless individuals are extremely resilience.
Women and children are overwhelming affected by this, with one in two homeless women with children in homeless services are escaping domestic violence (Homelessness in Australia 2012). In addition to domestic violence the other frequent seen causes of homelessness are, lack of affordable housing, intergenerational poverty, unemployment, mental illnesses and young people exiting state care (Homelessnessaustralia.org.au, 2015). A common misconception is that mental health and drug addiction are the main circumstances for people being homeless(Roger, June 2015) .Although there is a link between the two circumstances most homeless individuals develop mental health issues and drug addiction after living on the streets for a long period of time (Homelessness in Australia 2012).