The world has many issues. As a Social Worker my goal is to help alleviate some of those issues. But with as many issues as there are I do not have the skill set or time to combat all the issues that I see. Because of this I need to choose an area to focus on and put my effort into that so that my education and training is put to good use. To choose an issue that is most concerning to me I have to look at my community to see where there is a need. When I look at my community I see many people living in poverty. The good thing about my community is that there are many services for those in need. There are several food banks and many other agencies such as No to Abuse, NyE Communities Coalition, and various counseling agencies that provide needed …show more content…
Being a rural community we have no form of public transportation. For those who are homeless having no transportation to get to services keeps them from utilizing services such as the food banks. Another issue that arises is even when homeless individual make it to the food banks they have no way of carrying or storing the food. A good portion of the food is perishable so that takes away much of the food that is provided. Another issue is that many of the homeless individuals have mental health issues and many abuse alcohol or drugs. These two things coupled together makes it hard on the homeless individuals to coherently decide to go to the food banks when they are open. Another issue with my community is that we have no homeless shelter. The summers here are very hot and the winters are very cold. The only shelters that the homeless in my community have are tents if they are lucky enough to own …show more content…
As a BSW prepared social worker I can help combat the problem with homelessness in my community. In order to do this I have to do several things before I put anything into action. The first thing, after graduating and obtaining a position, would be to get permission to start looking at creating a homeless program. The next thing I need to do is talk with the various agencies in my community. I need to see what exactly they have to offer for the homeless, because I do not want to duplicate services. After I have done this the most important thing I need to do is talk with the homeless about what they actually want so that I am addressing their needs effectively. After I have done these few things I need to create a committee of various people from different agencies so that it becomes a community effort to help address the homeless issue. Once the committee is formed then we can develop an action plan. Part of the action plan would be to apply for government grants, talk with the town board about creating a homeless shelter, and finding others in the community that would be willing to give their time. In the mean time we can give the homeless the necessities they need such as clean socks and shoes, proper clothing, toiletries, and blankets/sleeping bags, etc… Another part of the plan would be getting them connected to mental health services, health clinics/health insurance, and job
Homelessness in the United States has been an important subject that the government needs to turn its attention to. There has been announced in the news that the number of the homeless people in many major cities in the United States has been increasing enormously. According to United States Interagency Council on Homelessness reported that there was an estimation of 83,170 individuals have experienced chronic homelessness on the streets of the United States’ streets and shelters on only a single night of January 2015, which is a small decrease of only 1% from the previous year (People Experiencing Chronic Homelessness, n.d.). The United States must consider this subject that most of the people underestimate it and not pay attention
We know the population that we are dealing with and how to serve with them. In most cases, the issue that we notice is the underfunding of the programs that better support this population. Our efforts to deal with the issue are not, in accord with the research findings. I say that because the number of homeless individuals that we have in the state are not consistent with the amount of homeless people that are being served. Typically, people affected by homelessness are the extremely poor and in some cases people who recently experienced major life changes such as divorce, job transitions, and the elderly who can no longer work. However, children are also, in most cases, impacted by homelessness. Usually, this is due to their care being the responsibility of an adult who happens to be
California currently faces the ominous blessing of the El Nino weather system, which promises to bring desperately needed rains in the form of storms and torrential rains. In preparation for these rains, California also has to address the homeless population, who will be stranded in the rains if adequate shelters are not provided for them. In his article, Sunnyvale: Fast-tracked Emergency Homeless Shelter Set To Open, Eric Kurhi cites expert opinions, utilizes emotional appeal, and employs rhetorical devices such as diction in order to provide information on the new homeless shelter opening in Sunnyvale while discussing the overall problem of homelessness.
Youth become homeless for a number of reasons including: family violence and neglect, rejection due to sexual orientation or gender identity, the overwhelmed child welfare system and extreme poverty. These youth almost always have experienced unimaginable abuse and trauma, in their homes, their communities, and on the street. It is the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA)-funded services and programs that help to rectify the deep injustices that homeless youth experience on a daily basis.
At least 800,000 people are homeless every year. At least for out of five people experience being homeless. About 20,000 children and their families are going through homelessness. Homelessness is big in New Orleans and have increased a lot over the years. No one really found a way to end homelessness. A lot of homelessness come from drugs, people who ran away from their homes,lost jobs,education,veterans, changing in housing markets,people with illness and ethnic. All homeless people have different reasons and stories to how they are homeless not all homeless people are going through homelessness for the same thing as people think they are (Burt 16). Over 670,000 americans are homeless , 48 million are hungry every single night and 462 million live in poverty. Homelessness has increased more in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Some people are still homeless till this day after the storm happened Hurricane Katrina destroyed 52,000 units, rental homes and people who owned their homes. They have shelters systems provided from mostly churches to try to help homeless. “ Poor people just have been priority recovery and need help to get back on track where they started at”( Rather 2). Homelessness service systems grew larger there are beds available, emergency shelters and transitional housing and permanent housing. Communities and legislators need programs to help homelessness they need to research on how to help end
It is logical that there are numerous health, nutritional, developmental, and psychological problems that are associated with being homeless as a youth. Health problems start even before birth if a mother is homeless and pregnant then her baby is more likely to be born with a lower birth weight than compared to normal children (Rafferty, Y., & Shinn, M., 1991). Children who are born into homelessness have higher death rates (1991). This could be due to the lack of prenatal care for homeless pregnant women. Furthermore, homeless children are more likely to have “upper respiratory infections, minor skin ailments ear disorders chronic physical disorders and gastrointestinal disorders” (Rafferty, Y., & Shinn,
To be homeless is to be living in shelters or on the streets. The causes for people to become homeless, is a mixture of reason that leads to being homelessness for an individual. Homelessness can be for any one, young, old, and families due to limited assistance and personal choices. This effect are communities, businesses, other people and the homeless themselves. Here are some of the effects of homelessness are health, personal, families, and abuse.
The homeless population in the United States does not only include the humans out on the streets, but also the ones in living in vehicles, emergency shelters, transitional housing, and other unstable environments. Over six-hundred thousand individuals are currently homeless in the U.S. In our current society, people often become homeless due to circumstances beyond their control. Humans often face abrupt personal and public challenges within their lives causing change and displacement in their housing status without notice nor a choice. In relation to personal reasons for homelessness, individuals who identify as LGBTQ and victims of domestic violence encounter many different situational problems leaving them displaced. Furthermore, there has been a sharp increase in unaffordable housing recently causing other people to suffer issues in a more public manner.
As technology advances and more countries join the developed world, we here in America have a forgotten population. Here in America, a land of great wealth and opportunity, we have a neglected homeless population. In a land so rich it is hard to believe that over half-a-million people are left homeless, leaving hundreds of thousands on the street. (National Alliance) New York City has been upsetting the national trend of a decreasing homeless population. (Facts about Homelessness) Many people find it easier to look the other way rather than take on such a monumental problem. Disregarding this problem will not make it go away, and will even exacerbate the problem. Homelessness did not happen overnight, nor will it go away overnight, but change is possible. The systemic reasons for homelessness have changed over time, creating the need for community groups and governments to tackle homelessness in different ways. Until we have a concrete plan for solving homelessness the problem will persist.
Homelessness is a social issue that has been overlooked for too long. It can be observed in many states worldwide. The rising population of homeless people affects those characterized as homeless, their families subjected to the lifestyle, and the communities where homelessness exists. There are many solutions but only a few will be discussed. Improving existing shelters and building new shelters are general solutions. More in depth solutions within the shelters include programs that assist the homeless with opportunities for re-entry into the community. I would first like to discuss reasons why this issue should be looked into and conclude with recommendations.
Homelessness is not something that was created over night; it has existed for a long time; often we choose not to see the homeless, or bother with them, so we look the other way. Homelessness is not prejudice toward race, creed, or religion--it has no boundaries; all homeless people should not be stereotyped as being drug abusers or the mentally ill that have been released from mental hospitals. Homelessness is not a disease that a person can catch from bodily contact, but it certainly has afflicted many Americans. We need to find the cause of homelessness before we can find a solution. More money for more programs is the typical response, but we should look at what has already been instituted and reevaluate them.
As a result, homelessness can be decrease by educating the public about the problem, help the homeless by teaching them financial management skill and build more houses that is affordable, as homeless are human just like us. We should help them to make sure that they can overcome these obstacles and be able to make changes in their life by walking away from
Homeless individuals are known for taking hand outs and they prefer to plead for money rather than to go work for it. People assume most of the the money that is given to homeless people they spend it on drugs and alcohol because of the fact that many homeless people have drug and alcohol addictions. It is not uncommon to come across homeless youth and older homeless population that are known to abuse substances like drugs and alcohol. Because of the fact that homeless people have substance abuse problems, they tend face illnesses and infections. Many hard working Americans ask themselves “why don’t homeless people just get jobs?” The assumption is they are just lazy and unmotivated. Homeless people choose to live the life they live. Everyone goes through problems but not all people take the path homeless people do. The problems homeless people face is not an excuse for them to be helped and maintained by other hard working people. Although homelessness might be a choice to some, no one knows the hardships these people have gone through. Some assume these people are just lazy but in reality a lot of these homeless people have jobs of their own, they just can’t afford housing and a decent life. Everyone has their own opinion on homeless people, but that does not change the fact that one should still serve the homeless. Not because homeless people need help but because we are
Countless throughout the streets of Jackson, MS there are homeless people asking for food, money, etc. and some people aid them and others walk away. However, does anyone ever see the other side of the equation? Driving down Gallatin St. one night I saw firsthand the “other side”. Because of this, the issue that my research will cover is homelessness. Homelessness is defined as a state in which individuals lack a fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence. Poverty, lack of affordable housing, declining wages, lost jobs, the economy, foreclosure, decreased assistance programs, domestic violence, substance abuse, mental illness, single parenthood, etc. are some of the causes of homelessness in America. Some of the proposed solutions are: affordable housing and homeless prevention programs. However, there needs to be less energy focused on providing temporary housing for those who are homeless, and more focus on providing permanent, affordable housing. Homelessness is an issue that should concern all of us. With a decrease in this situation it would clear up the amount of people walking around on the streets and everyone would feel more comfortable traveling at night. If someone is homeless, it is a common belief that they are more inclined to criminal activity; therefore less homelessness could equal less crime. Homelessness is not discriminatory and can happen to anyone at any time.
The population of Los Angeles continues to grow each day because people perceive that the opportunities will improve their economic and social well-being. Most of them get good jobs manufacturing, business and the government giving them the ability to provide for themselves and their children. Those who are not lucky enough do not realise their goals and depend on the government and the society for basic needs. The effort of the city and the government to house the homeless cannot take the pressure of the rising number of the homeless without the support of the society. Los Angeles in the United State’s largest urban and has the highest number of homeless people making the task of housing its population next to impossible without participation