Introduction
Social issues are a source of conflicting opinions based on what is considered morally right or wrong in personal life or interpersonal decisions in social life. According to Zastrow, a social problem implies the existence of an “influential group asserting that a certain social condition affects a large number of people” (Zastrow, 2000, p. 3). A social problem is a problem that affects many people in a society. Many people seek to solve this group of common problems in modern society. This is often the result of factors beyond individual control. Based on the above definition, the current paper addresses two social issues: homelessness and the veteran community.
Target Population
The target population is divided into two groups: homeless and veteran communities. Homelessness is an acute social problem that is becoming increasingly urgent every year. The attitude of state authorities and ordinary citizens towards the homeless is ambiguous, and the mechanisms for providing support and assistance to them are not effective enough. The homeless category includes those who huddle in basements and attics and live with friends in hostels or houses intended for demolition. The lost category consists of those who huddle in basements and attics and live with friends in hostels or houses designed for destruction. The second target population group is the veterans, who also require significant support and help in integrating back into the workforce or providing healthcare opportunities.
The Effect of Social Problems on the Target Population
The social problems include the particular social conditions that affect the mentioned target population groups. Such social conditions may consist of bureaucracy, the lack of government investments, class distribution, the lack of ethical considerations within the scope of the legislation, and many others which can deprive the mentioned population of the necessities. All three levels of social existence are allocated. On a micro level, homeless people can be stigmatized or discriminated against. On the meso level, the social problem affects the personalities of the target populations. Homeless people’s self-perception is distorted because they cannot afford society’s necessities. For the veterans who spend much time on war events, the emotional damage to their ego can be mentioned. It is caused by the lack of opportunities to adapt to non-war living conditions, which require the support of a specialist. The macro level of the target population is also affected because people are deprived of the possibility to build up an ideology or plan the future because their basic needs at home or communication are not met.
The Scale of the Problem
Most people who find themselves homeless are homeless because they are not protected by society. Despite the current growth of ethical-related interventions in various countries focused on equality, many people still suffer from not having enough money to live. The social polarization of the population, unemployment, and the high cost of housing is by no means a complete list of problems that states need to solve in the first place. According to the Organization, at least 100 million people in the big world have no apartments (Global homelessness statistics, n.d.). Therefore, the problem is relevant, having vast scales. The issue of veteran support is less relevant compared with homelessness. However, it is still extremely important. According to the current statistics in the USA collected by the National Center for Veterans, the number of currently living veterans is significantly small (National Center for Veterans, n.d.). However, it is stated that the support for such people.
Problem Analysis from Theoretical Perspective
The social problems of such significance as homelessness can be solved only through utilizing complex macro-sociological theories such as functionalism. Some mechanisms can be redesigned using this approach to the government’s functioning (Zastrow, 2000). As a result, preventing unwanted effects on the target population can be achieved. At present, quite a lot of experience has been accumulated in providing practical assistance to people without a fixed place of residence. The most important system of assistance to persons without a fixed place of residence is practical social work with the homeless. It should be focused on preventing difficult life situations and the rehabilitation and adaptation of these groups to the conditions of life. The development of this system can be performed through the functional perspective minimizing the negative impact of homelessness on society.
At the same time, the issue of veteran support can be considered from another theoretical perspective. Veterans’ support mainly includes a system of state-guaranteed economic, legal and social support measures aimed at improving the quality of life of veterans. Therefore, the approaches from the micro-sociological level should be allocated. Behavioral and personality theories are usually used to help people understand themselves and adapt to new living conditions (Zastrow, 2000). Social support and the help to adapt to life in the modern world can be performed through the help of psychologists centered on socializing people.
Conclusion
Therefore, social problems affect almost all the people in society. However, more vulnerable groups are already experiencing adverse issues related to unmet physical or moral needs. The homeless and the veteran population require specific attention, support, and protection from the government and social workers. Different theories can be applied to modeling social issues solutions, but the primary key to positive societal changes lies in the equal treatment of people disregarding their living conditions or income. The kind and support from the other members of society and the government can help the vulnerable population to feel more needed.
References
Global homelessness statistics. (n.d.). U.S. Homeless World Cup. Web.
Zastrow, C (2000). Social problems. Wadsworth.
National Center for veterans: Analysis and statistics. (n.d.). U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Web.