Introduction
Such social phenomenon as homelessness has a very old tradition; its origins can be traced throughout Antiquity, Middle Ages and Renaissance. This term has a wide range of meanings: first, it denotes inability to buy or rent regular housing or any other form of residence. This notion has several constituent parts like inability to receive appropriate medical services, stigmatization by other members of the community, failure to withstand one’s rights in the court and many other aspects (Helvie & Kunstmann, 1999). It should be pointed out that status of homeless people in the society varies from one country to another: in the United States, Western Europe or Australia, they have better opportunities of deriving support of the government, while in Russia this layer of the population is virtually unprotected from any external harm (Helvie & Kunstmann, 1999). But there are some common features and difficulties faced by these individuals.
Main Body
Perhaps, the most stressful problem is the stereotypes, deep-rooted practically in every society. First, more successful citizens in many regions of the world tend to believe that the current state of homeless people is mostly due to alcohol abuse, low professional skills or even laziness. Undoubtedly, this is just a misconception but it is very strong. The most widespread causes of homelessness are unemployment, high cost of real estate, environmental disasters or even former imprisonment especially in Post-Soviet countries (Helvie & Kunstmann, 1999). While analyzing the nature of this phenomenon and obstacles encountered by these people, we should also mention the attitude of the state. The thing is that bureaucratic machinery frequently turns into an impassable labyrinth for them. For example, in order to obtain qualified medical aid or to file a written request to any governmental agency, a person needs to register and specify address etc. If someone does not possess fixed adobe, he or she will have to fight against red tape and other forms of bureaucracy. Furthermore, crimes committed against them often remain unpunished. Of course, these cases are investigated by the police but it is not done diligently (Levinson, 2004).
As it has been noted before, homelessness has a long-standing history. In fact, even Biblical passages contain references to people who had no place to live in (Levinson, 2004). It has undergone many changes, for instance, landless peasants during medieval period, fugitive serfs in Russia or illegal immigrants in the United States. Nevertheless, this problem fully manifested itself only at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, when population of the world began to increase. This demographic explosion eventually raised prices on real estate. Nowadays this issue has become one of the major international concerns. To some extent, it is closely intertwined with geopolitics because people from less developed countries move to the US or Australia and this results into housing crisis.
Conclusion
At present, there is no universally accepted method of coping with this difficulty. Specific action plan depends on economic situation in a particular region. Certainly, many governments have launched programs which make housing more affordable. But even in such scenario, a great number of homeless people cannot purchase it as they have no sources of income due to unemployment (Helvie & Kunstmann, 1999). A complex set of measures must be taken to strengthen their position in the community. It comprises training programs, temporary lodging, part or full-time employment etc. Yet, at first it is of the crucial importance to dispel stereotypes held about them. The efforts of the governments are unlikely to yield any fruits unless they are supported by average citizens who should at least feel empathy for the homeless.
Reference List
Helvie. C. O. Kunstmann. W (1999). Homelessness in the United States, Europe, and Russia: A Comparative Perspective. Westport, Bergin & Garvey.
Levinson. D (2004). Encyclopedia of homelessness. London SAGE.