Introduction
Homelessness is a pertinent social problem that has been escalating over the past few decades. Efforts by different governments across the world to contain the problem have not been successful in dealing with homelessness (Atherton and Nicholls 96). Homelessness is attributed to poverty, substance abuse, mental disorders, unemployment, and increased rental rates, among other factors.
Chronic homeless is believed to be the major cause of other social problems such as poor health, substance abuse, and illiteracy amongst the affected individuals (Tompsett et al. 50). The cost incurred by governments in providing healthcare services for homeless individuals is high, and if the issue is not addressed in time, it may affect the world’s economy in the near future. This paper explores the issue of homelessness, its status and impacts, the historical context, and ethical solutions to the problem.
Status quo/impacts
Statistics indicate that by March 2015, 578,424 individuals in the US were homeless (“National Alliance to End Homelessness” 5). According to the “National Alliance to End Homelessness,” about two-thirds of these people spend their nights in temporary shelters (6). In addition, one-third of the homeless individuals spend their nights either in cars or under bridges.
Moreover, a quarter of the group is composed of children who are under the age of 18 years (“National Alliance to End Homelessness” 7). Veterans form a great number of homeless individuals in the US, with about 57000 of them spending nights in temporary shelters or unsheltered places (“National Alliance to End Homelessness” 6).
Research indicates that homeless persons are at a high risk of contracting infectious diseases, which increases the cost of health, thus affecting the country’s economy (Tompsett et al. 53). Security of the population is also a major concern since such people have to carry their clothes and beddings to avoid loss through theft.
Homeless people’s privacy is not guaranteed, and they suffer from the shortage of sanitary materials, which exposes them to infectious illnesses and other health hazards (Atherton and Nicholls 113). The problem with this population is further compounded by the lack of addresses, which denies them job opportunities since employers require potential employees to prove their residency before they are hired (Cronley 329).
In addition, the groups have fewer chances of being admitted to educational institutions due to their poor financial and health conditions (Tompsett et al. 54). This population is highly susceptible to violence, and it contributes to increased crime rates where they reside. In addition, the government incurs huge losses in a bid to address other parallel social issues emanating from homelessness (Shelton et al. 468). The losses come in the form of healthcare costs, police patrols to deter crime by these groups, and civil cases, among others.
History/context
Homelessness is not an emerging issue as it dates back to the 17th Century (Turnbull, Muckle, and Masters 1066). Initially, it was not viewed as a social problem, but as a moral issue and obligation as people moved from their rural areas to prove their financial wellbeing (Toro 477). However, today, the issue has turned into a social problem that requires stringent measures to contain it. Various groups have engaged the governments in civil suits in efforts to have the administration settle all the destitute persons.
The suits are premised on the Bill of Rights that guarantees each citizen the right to proper housing (Cronley 331). Research indicates that 20% of homeless persons suffer from untreated mental illnesses, and this aspect complicates the problem (Toro 477).
Research further indicates that the group is at a high risk of suffering from addiction in an effort to contain stress and ignominy associated with homelessness. Drug addiction has been one of the leading causes of death in the US, which makes the issue of homelessness a significant area of study and research (Tompsett et al. 57).
Homelessness has been a pertinent issue since the 17th Century, and up to date, it has not been fully addressed despite huge resources being devoted to the fight against the issue (Turnbull, Muckle, and Masters 1066). The US is among the few countries that have been at the forefront in the fight against the ever-worsening social problem (Toro 472).
However, this task has been insurmountable due to the shortage of funds and the increased number of legal and illegal immigrants in the US (Cronley 322). According to the “National Alliance to End Homelessness,” the only way to deal with the issue of homelessness is through the provision of permanent houses to all homeless individuals, and many policymakers support this argument.
The market value of rental houses is increasing tremendously, thus leading to a loss in the available houses for the poor in society (Atherton and Nicholls 140). This aspect has led to an increased number of homeless persons in the country as more people join the homelessness state. The high number of homeless people in the world, coupled with the numerous cases of new homelessness cases have prompted various organizations to come up with programs aimed at providing permanent solutions to the recurring problem (Shelton et al. 471).
Ethical solutions to the problem
The Obama administration, through the Opening Doors initiative, has stated its commitment to achieving zero cases of homelessness in a span of 10 years. Since the Opening Doors campaign was launched in 2010, the US has recorded a 21% decrease in the number of homeless persons (“National Alliance to End Homelessness” 32).
The program is slated to achieve zero homelessness by the year 2017. However, it faces insurmountable challenges, among them being the inadequacy of funds. In addition to the Opening Doors, which is an initiative sponsored by the Obama administration, the American government has put in place other projects aimed at containing the issue of homelessness.
Another program that has successfully reduced the number of homelessness in the US is the Federal Housing Program, which is designed to provide permanent houses to low-income earners. The overall program is comprised of two subprograms, viz. the public housing and the federal housing vouchers.
Since its implementation, the program has seen most homeless individuals acquire homes. The rent charged to tenants living in homes provided through the program is slightly lower than the market rates, and it is determined by considering the annual income of each household.
The Permanent Supportive Housing is another program, which has seen the number of homeless people reduce significantly. The program was launched in the 1980s to address the issue of homelessness amongst special groups such as the mentally challenged and the HIV/AIDS victims (Shelton et al. 467). This program, together with the HUD, has managed to deter the increase in the number of the homeless population through the provision of affordable housing to the target groups.
Raising awareness about the problem to the public through the media and other public forums is another effective way of fighting the issue of homelessness (Cronley 327). Raising awareness invites people and organizations to help with inputs in the form of opinions and funds. This aspect is a good strategy for eliminating homelessness in some parts of the world.
For example, the Cornerstone Christian Church in Vista allowed homeless persons living in the streets to occupy its parking lot, following the awareness raised by the media (Tompsett et al. 48). The church allows the people to use the lot until they acquire a job or after they are financially stable enough to cater for their housing needs. The church also provides counseling services to veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) coupled with those suffering from substance abuse.
This aspect has helped in the reduction of the number of individuals without homes since stress and substance abuse are closely linked with the issue of homelessness (Shelton et al. 465). Awareness also attracts non-governmental organizations and the international community to come and assist the suffering group through financial and other forms of donations.
The United Way of San Diego and Project 25 are good examples of organizations that have joined the fight against homelessness due to the creation of awareness. The organizations provide homeless individuals with addresses with a mailbox that helps the groups find jobs easily coupled with facilitating their involvement in communal activities.
Recommendations
The following suggestions should be considered in a bid to counter homelessness:
- The government should initiate more programs to build houses for the homeless
- Advocacy groups should be empowered to champion the campaign against homelessness
- People exiting homelessness should be equipped with the necessary financial management skills in a bid to avoid the problem in the future.
Works Cited
Atherton, Iain, and Carol Nicholls. “‘Housing First’ as a means of addressing multiple needs and homelessness.” European Journal of Homelessness 2.1 (2008): 289-303. Print.
Cronley, Courtney. “Unraveling the social construction of homelessness.” Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment 20.2 (2010): 319-333. Print.
National Alliance to End Homelessness: The state of homelessness in America. Washington D.C: Homelessness Research Institute, 2015. Print.
Shelton, Katherine, Pamela Taylor, Adrian Bonner, Marianne Bree. “Risk factors for homelessness: evidence from a population-based study.” Psychiatric Services 60.4 (2009): 465-472. Print.
Tompsett, Carolyn, Paul Toro, Melissa Guzicki, Manuel Manrique, and Jigna Zatakia. “Homelessness in the United States: Assessing changes in prevalence and public opinion, 1993–2001.” American Journal of Community Psychology 37.2 (2006): 47-61. Print.
Toro, Paul. “Toward an international understanding of homelessness.” Journal of Social Issues 63.3 (2007): 461-481. Print.
Turnbull, Jeffrey, Wendy Muckle, and Christina Masters. “Homelessness and health.” Canadian Medical Association Journal 177.9 (2007): 1065-1066. Print.