Throughout history there has always been a considerable amount of the population that may have lived in not so ideal conditions. Some of the first written accounts of homelessness are seen from as far back as the middle ages. One would think that during this time there would not be people who don’t have food or shelter. Unfortunately in today society there are many who don’t have a decent place to sleep every night. Homelessness can be so uncommon to the conditions that a lot of people can relate to. If we are not careful we can even become repulsed by the issues this population can create for our communities. It’s important however, to stop and think about how these people became homeless in the first place.
Shelter, after food, is considered
“One diverse population that has continued to increase over the quarter of a century is composed of people who are homeless” (Baggerly & Zalaquett, 2006, p.155). Homelessness has become a growing problem in society because more and more people are finding themselves to be homeless and not knowing where to turn. Many people do not
Homelessness is a social problem that is prevalent around the world. Homelessness has existed for much of "civilized" human history. In the last two centuries, homelessness and changed and expanded. Sociologists who study and research homelessness have argued over its formal definition for decades, though for some, the definition of homelessness seems self explanatory and obvious. The paper will examine homelessness, particularly as a sociological issue, or a social issue seen from a sociological perspective. The paper will additionally reference sociological theory as a means of explanation for homelessness, such its causes, the demographics/populations, and other prominent known characteristics of homeless people. There are individuals and groups who choose to be, from a normative societal perspective, homeless, but for a great deal of the homeless population, it can be a treacherous and tragic lifestyle that is a result of a distinct set of social, societal, and individual factors.
Currently, the rates of homelessness in America continue to drastically increase. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (2012) depicted how many people are homeless in a single night in America. The findings revealed that there were approximately 633,782 people who are homeless in America or 20 out of every 10,000. Approximately 394,379 are single individuals and 239,403 are people in families with 77,157 homeless families in a single night, and approximately 162, 246 are children. Veterans are more likely to be homeless than those who are non-veterans, approximately 29 out of every 10,000 veterans are homeless. Unfortunately, 38 percent of those who are homeless are unsheltered, either living on the streets or in places that are not suitable for human inhabitation. Most states account of for less than 1% of homeless population, whereas Texas contains approximately 5.4% of America’s homeless population. In San Antonio, there are approximately 2,981 people who are homeless each day, and 1,243 are unsheltered. Through a sociological perspective, the social problems of homelessness can be analyzed through the concept of sociological imagination, the comparison of the person-blame approach and the system-blame approach, and through the analysis of one’s own community’s effort in helping those who are homeless.
A homeless person is an individual without a permanent, stable housing situation who either spends his or her nights on the streets or in temporary facilities, such as shelters and abandoned buildings. Throughout history, society has been “holding the poor, rape or incest victims, minorities, or the handicapped responsible for their misfortunes” (Zur). Society has been blaming the homeless for being in the position they are in. However, upon closer inspection, it must be noted that “children under the age of 18 accounts for 39% of the homeless population…battered women who live in poverty are often forced to choose between abusive relationships and homelessness…[and] 40% of homeless men have served in the armed forces” (Who Is Homeless?). It is clear that those who are homeless are not
“homelessness is described as the situation of an individual or family without stable, permanent, appropriate housing, or the immediate prospect, means and ability of acquiring it. It is considered as the consequence of systemic or societal barriers, a lack of affordable and appropriate housing, the individual/household’s financial, mental, cognitive, behavioral or physical challenges, and/or racism and discrimination. Most people do not choose to be homeless, and the experience is generally negative, unpleasant, stressful and distressing”.
I believe certain individuals such as the homeless exist in this world and have a place just as they do for a very valuable reason, the same reason Barack Obama is president, the same reason Odysseus was the leader, and the same reason any CEO is the CEO. Each piece or person is apart of life's bigger puzzle and has an important role in society whether we realize it or not. If the homeless didn't exist, would our random acts of kindness even occur? If there wasn't such a thing as pity, then would our random acts of kindness occur? We all rely on one another to fill our role on this earth. I believe our role was set for us before we were ever introduced to the world. Yes, we have the power to control how we conduct our lives, but
"Oh you live in Longview, Washington?" A term that is stated way to often when someone claims they live there. Disproportionate assumptions of the town are often made by those who usually have never even stepped foot in Longview. Before Washington passed a law forbidding panhandling, it wasn 't an unusual sight to see a homeless person on the side of the road holding a sign begging for change. What Longview, Washington needs is a strong structured program, that helps transition homeless not only gets homeless off the streets but also keeps them off.
I have been asked to write an essay on a Social Issue. I have chosen Homelessness. I chose this because it is a very serious issue not only here in Australia but all over the world. In Australia there are is about 105,000 Australians that are homeless on any given night, all of which are either living in a makeshift home or sleeping on the streets. In my essay I am
community allows them to do so (Grzymala-Busse, 2016). This would also be an example of a movement that takes the vulnerable populations’ experiences and views into account because these churches have had frequent interactions with these individuals.
Homelessness has always been present, yet its numbers now outweigh any sense of reason, and the “social fabric”
We have all seen it before. The man sitting on the cold street possessing only a few rudimentary goods while begging for food or the woman holding her child’s hand while asking for spare change. Some people saunter by these downtrodden individuals unconcerned, while others give them sympathetic looks and drop a few coins in their cups. We are aware of homelessness, almost too aware and yet we go on with our lives without further regard. Homelessness has become such an epidemic in the United States that it is normal and practically expected to be seen in our urban streets. Homelessness is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as, “Having no home or permanent residence.” While that is true, there are many other dynamics that come into play with this social problem. Without proper housing, the homeless community is more susceptible to violence, disease, weather conditions, hunger and ultimately death. We all recognize homelessness but what can we do to help those in need?
Problem: Many of the homeless within the community are unable to provide themselves with proper necessities. Over twenty five percent of homeless people live in conditions where health, safety, and opportunities lack. Despite the many organizations now available to assist the homeless, many people still need help. In January 2016, Bridge Communities commissioned a survey to establish the amount of people living in various types of free housing. The data shows that the number of the “unsheltered population increased 3%”(“Bridge Communities Statistics”). This creates a problem for the already large amount of homeless people and for the organizations that attempt to help them. For reasons unknown, many homeless people avoid staying in shelters
Homelessness is an epidemic that affects millions of people all over the world. These people have no place to live, are rarely able to bathe, and they have little to no food to eat. There are many reasons why people become homeless, but they can be broken down into three categories; Structural factors, systematic failures, and individual and relational factors.
In conclusion, homelessness is a problem that is happening all over the world. As homelessness are people just like everyone else in the society, people should definitely feel sorry towards the homeless, because homeless suffer every day. But, with the right support and help homelessness could be overcome, and hopefully the homeless will make a change in their lives. Imagine this, in 2005 an estimate of 100 million people has to suffer with no money, clothes, and no home. Homelessness is a huge population that is still increasing. Unfortunately, this number of homelessness has been increasing when people do not have enough money to afford a home. However, there are about 7 billion people in the world. So, it is possible for people to help
“It’s time to declare a war on homelessness, which is evolving into a crisis,” proclaimed Mayor Kirk Caldwell in The Honolulu Star Advertiser. (Katel, 841-864) Homelessness has become a widely known issue in the United States. Many people today are living in the streets without a source of food, water, or a place to sleep at night. Some who are among the homeless include the elderly, children, and those who are mentally ill. This is a cause for concern for citizens who are living their daily lives. Some people express their fear of homeless persons, believing that they are just beggars for money and take up space on the streets. Although the description homeless people is not always true, homelessness does affect society and puts the future generation at risk of becoming homeless as well. People need to bring attention to the homeless problem across the United States so action can be taken and change will take place.