Homelessness is a severe problem that negatively affects all members of society. In 2020, more than 580,000 people in America were homeless, and the statistic may be understated (National Alliance to End Homelessness, 2021). A large number of homeless people reduces public safety, leading to an increase in mental problems and suicides. Homelessness is associated with the loss of essential resources, but homelessness’s social and psychological costs are no less significant (Morse, 2021). Solving the problem of homelessness is one of the goals of the social worker, who acts on the basis of the existing state policy.
Goals of the Homelessness Solution
The main goal of the fight against homelessness is to integrate people in difficult situations into society, help in finding a job, and provide mental help. The goal of the current policy is also to reduce social prejudices regarding homeless people and increase tolerance. The measures taken in the long term are aimed at reducing criminal ratings, drug addiction, the number of suicides, and the cases of mental illnesses.
Existing Policy
A long-term strategic action plan has been developed for the homeless in the United States. The US Department of Health and Human Services has one of its goals to prevent an increase in homelessness rates (Leavitt, 2018). In addition, the program is focused on establishing a better standard of living for the homeless through the provision of medical and social services (Leavitt, 2018). A policy is proposed to provide affordable housing for low-income families. The existing policy also aims to increase the number of workers involved in helping the homeless.
Gaps in the Existing Policy
While there are some excellent points about the homeless policy in the US, there are significant problems with it. First, they relate to the lack of public attention to the problem of homelessness. All services that offer assistance to the homeless expect people to turn to them independently. In fact, homeless people are often fearful of judgment and feel ashamed of their situation, making it difficult for them to seek help. In addition, many homeless people do not have the technical means and therefore cannot receive information about the assistance offered.
Contribution of the Social Worker
When working with homeless people, the role of a social worker is very significant. A social worker working with the homeless should receive special training to work with people who have lost essential resources (Provence, 2020). First of all, it should be aimed at helping to close gaps in existing public policies. As a social worker, I aim to work with the community to raise public awareness of an existing problem. As a person who frequently communicates with people, I can convey the idea that solving the problem of homelessness should be a common goal. Also, while working with the homeless, I can inform them about the existing assistance services, where they can get food and accommodation.
Conclusion
Addressing the problem of homelessness is critical to improving social well-being and economic growth. Existing public policies, despite clear goals and objectives, have gaps. Filling these gaps can be a challenge for the social worker who deals with the homeless population. The role of a social worker may be to raise public awareness of the issue of homelessness. Also, the social worker should inform the homeless about places where they can get the minimum necessary things, food, or accommodation.
References
Leavitt. (2018). Strategic Action Plan on Homelessness. HHS.gov. Web.
Morse, G. A. (2021). On being homeless and mentally ill: A multitude of losses and the possibility of recovery. In Loss and trauma (pp. 249-264). Routledge.
National Alliance to End Homelessness. (2021). State of Homelessness: 2021 Edition. National Alliance to End Homelessness. Web.
Provence, M. A. (2020). Encouraging the humanization of patrons experiencing homelessness: A case study of the role of the US public library social worker. The Library Quarterly, 90(4), 431-446. Web.