Observation Paper On Homelessness

According to Volunteers of America, over 670,000 Americans are homeless, 48 million people go hungry every night, and 46.2 million Americans live in poverty. In 2013, Volunteers of America helped hover 83,000 homeless individuals. This organization works to prevent and end homelessness through a range of support services including eviction prevention, emergency services, transitional housing and permanent affordable housing. By doing so they engage homeless individuals, including youth and families with children, and stay with them for as long as it takes to return them to self-sufficiency. This organization reach out to homeless individuals through street outreach and mobile outreach services and engage with homeless individuals, youth and families with children. Moreover, they provide assistance that ranges from paying a first month’s rent to offering permanent supportive housing so that people with disabilities can become stable and productive members of their communities.

My capstone project is on homelessness and preventative methods. Research on the various factors that are associated with homelessness and how to best reduce or end the homeless situation. Research shows that there are many suggestions on methods to reduce homelessness (the Homeless First Program) which have proven to reduce the numbers in various states across America (Tsemberis, Gulcur & Nakae, 2004). The homelessness problems are multifaceted with overlapping of other factors such as mental illness and risks, which include substance abuse, health disparities, and victimization, all of which have a role in the homelessness (Canton, Dominguez, Schanzer, Hasin, Shrout, Felix, McQuistion, Opler & Hsu, 2005).

“Homeless is more than being without a home. It is tied into education needs, food, security; health issues both mental and physical, employment issues, etc. Don’t forget the whole picture.” (“Boxed In” 2005 pg. 108)

Homelessness is a serious problem in our society. Every night in our nation thousands of people are on the streets. This type of behavior is considered deviant because it does not reflect the norms and values of our society. In many cases the homeless people in our country are treated as total outcasts. Many of these people have severe mental disorders. Some are victims of an economy that has failed them. One may ask how such harsh situations exist in such an advanced society. With all the money and programs created to help people it seems ridiculous that this behavior exists. In a society where people have so much how is it possible that there are still people that have so little. The homeless are humans, no different than anyone else.

Homeless in America is the most shameful problem that we try to ignore.Such as Arnold Abbot, a 90 year old man who went around making good for the homeless; and the couple Brenda Knokrl and her boyfriend Robert Bloch letting homeless people sleep on their porch. Getting fined for their effort to help. Homelessness continues to be a major issue in our country because we as people look down upon them and do not treat them as equals, we assume that they are in situations based on the addiction and dependency of drugs and alcohol. Not all homeless people are drug addicts or alcoholics, most of these homeless people are young adults with children and most people don't understand that homelessness goes

For a start, as my social and human capital assignment, I will be focusing on homelessness and the associations it entails. Through exploratory research, via peer reviewed journal articles and one in-person interview, I have collected data to see what social disparities and/or oppression the homeless population face from day-to-day. Furthermore, I had the pleasure of conducting my interview with a 62 year old chronically homeless male originally from Nigeria. The location of the interview took place at a homeless shelter in Dallas, TX. Through the duration of this assignment, my participating interviewee will be identified as Bingo for confidentiality purposes. Equally important, as the interviewer – I was sensitive to the participant’s responses

Topics for a final paper: I know other students are thinking the same thing, what am I going to write about to cover that many pages? Where am I going to find the information to support the subject? Will people be interested in the subject? The last question is what I am asking you, my fellow students.

When I first arrived to this homeless mission, there were probably around two-dozen homeless men, women, and children sitting down eating breakfast. I never imagined that young children and infants were a victim to this type of lifestyle. These children knew nothing other than what they had be brought up on. This was their lifestyle and it was heartbreaking to see so innocent children being put in this situation by no fault of their own. As I continued to help out, I talked

Steve Berg is the Vice President for Programs and Policy at the National Alliance to End Homelessness. The Alliance is one of the leading advocates which seeks to find solutions to the issue of homelessness. It works collaboratively with public, private and non-profit organizations with similar goals to analyze and develop policy, and offer sensible, cost-effective solutions that help communities end homelessness. Its data driven research gives policymakers and elected officials the information they need to inform debate and educate the public. Mr. Berg’s background in economic development, human services, and housing and where those issues intersect. He has also worked on welfare reform and employment issues. I will be using data and information papers published on their website to substantiate my thesis statement.

How do people view homeless people in public places like the park? Do they run away? Do they stare? Do they walk up to them and offer them a hot meal or money? What faces do they give them? Is it a frown or a smile? Unfortunately, there are millions who go without a proper place to sleep every night (1 pg 5). You will find these people sleeping in abandon cars, on the street, on park beaches, and even in hallway buildings. Anywhere they are able to find a place to sleep they will. I decided to do my observation study on how people react when they see homeless people in public places like the park. Why are they looked down on so negatively? These people that we are throwing to the side like yesterday trash is someone’s mother, father, brother, sister, or friend. We are simply ignoring them.

Addressing homelessness, regardless of its cause, requires creativity, empathy and dedication. Oftentimes, the factors that lead to homelessness are complicated and intertwined, with no clear origin. Medical catastrophes, job loss, and foreclosure or eviction can be the catalyst into a life of insecurity and chronic homelessness. Once secure, stable housing is lost, a person faces a slippery slope. In Kansas City, like many other substantial cities, efforts to combat homelessness must be creative and comprehensive in order to succeed. Social programs that focus on stable housing and address the complicated causes of homelessness prove to be the most successful.

When we were first introduced to this assignment, I was both excited and nervous. I was excited because it gave me the opportunity to step of my comfort zone. I was also excited to be able to get out into the community and practice some of the social work skills that we have learned in class. I was nervous because I knew it would be hard to hear the struggles of a single-parent experiencing homelessness. As someone who was raised by a single-parent, I also know how easy it can be to fall into homelessness. Overall, I think I was more excited about doing this assignment because I truly did want to hear the stories that single-parents experiencing homelessness wanted to tell.

The purpose of this study is to identify areas where the use of data, algorithms, and comprehensive need assessments could reduce costs while increasing access to services by those in need. This research has the potential to reduce duplication of processes involved in administration and services to more efficiently prevent or resolve homelessness. I have reviewed recent literature identifying many structural barriers to services faced by homeless individuals. Each of the research papers I reviewed identified areas where lack of communication between agencies, unclear criteria or unstated criteria, and poor communication with clients increased difficulty in obtaining services for eligible clients.

Affordable Housing is the social problem and the social issue addressed by the social problem is homelessness. Homelessness is “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” (HHS, 2016).

     Homelessness as an issue in today's society is largely ignored. To many, the problem of homelessness is invisible or barely noticed. When these people do see the homeless it is found in the form of beggars who need to “pull themselves up by their bootstraps” or mentally ill people who “just can't help themselves”. In either case the central point remains; the homeless must be people who are incapable or unwilling to help themselves. After all, wouldn't they stop being homeless if they just tried? These sorts of rationalizations cover a more disturbing truth; that for many in today's society, the spectre of homelessness is more pressing of a problem than helping those who are already on the