Homelessness Essay

1519 Words4 Pages

Introduction People experiencing homelessness face violations of a wide range of human rights. The injustice in society can mean that they are subjected to discrimination and disadvantages in the form of financial and social as a result of their living situation. This report demonstrates the ways in which social injustice impacts on the life of the homeless population in the areas of criminal justice, education, socioeconomic status and health. In order to address this inequality, it needs to be recognised that Homelessness is not a choice but rather the result of disadvantage in the community, and one of the most important markers of social exclusion. Strategies must be put into place to ultimately reduce social inequality and increase opportunities for employment, economic participation, education and social inclusion. Criminal justice Upon becoming homeless, people are more visible to law enforcement agencies and as a result the likelihood of them facing issues of crime and fines is increased. Their chaotic lives and lack of a permanent address can result in difficulties complying with social security requirements and therefore make them more vulnerable to crime. As addressed by the Australian Institute of Criminology, the situations in which homeless people are placed could have a great impact on how they deal with criminal offences. For example, appearing in court and paying fines, this would result in further criminal issues (Australian Institute of Criminology, 2008a). Between 1999 and 2006, over 20,000 police detainees were surveyed as part of the Australian Institute of Criminology's Drug Use Monitoring in Australia program. The results gathered demonstrated vast differences between homeless and non-homeless people. O... ... middle of paper ... ... the homeless population and the general public are evident when looking into the fields of criminal justice, education, socioeconomic status and health. The concepts of structural inequality, lottery of birth and life chances distinctly impacts on the opportunities homeless people have to acquire a sufficient standard of living. In order to address homelessness, it needs to be recognised that homelessness impacts on a person’s ability to enjoy basic rights. This directly relates the way that our society perceives and treats homeless people. In order to assist homeless people to better their living and health situation policies must provide flexibility, understanding and support to take account of their life situation. In conclusion, it is important that the injustice in society is addressed to reduce and expel all disadvantages that the homeless population face.

Show More
Related

  • The Problem of Homelessness of Young People in Australia

    641 Words  | 2 Pages

    This moves away from the ‘traditional’ definition of homelessness, which can be referred to as primary homelessness, or homeless without shelter. A broader definition is now considered, which also includes secondary homelessness, moving frequently between forms of temporary accommodation, and tertiary homeless ness, living long term in accommodation that falls below community standards for housing (Chamberlain & MacKenzie 2008). The inclusion of varying types of homelessness highlights the understanding of homelessness to be considered without a ‘home’, not just without a ‘roof’ (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2011).

    Read More

  • Oppression In The Homeless

    1304 Words  | 3 Pages

    The simple definition of oppression is the cruel and unfair treatment of an individual or group of people. Oppression can be systemic, meaning it is deliberate, and designed to marginalize a section of people by forever keeping on the outside of society. One such group of people who have been historically and continue to be oppressed are the homeless. According to Johnstone, Jetten, Dingle, Parsell, and Walter (2015), homeless men, women and children are denied basic civil rights even though they are members of society solely because they do not reside in a “home”. The homeless are a vulnerable and victimized population as they experience personal and economic hardship as well as discrimination and exclusion because of their housing status.

    Read More

  • Homelessness in Canada

    881 Words  | 2 Pages

    Homelessness is a condition of people who lack regular access to adequate housing. As this condition becomes a growing problem in Canada people are forced to deal with the issues. Who are the homeless? They range from children to adults and even in some cases, families. Why are they homeless? Poverty, lack of jobs or well paying jobs, decline in Social Services, domestic violence, mental illness, and chemical dependency contribute to the majority of the homeless within our society. What effects does being homeless have on members of the family? It contributes to many physical and mental health problems for both parents and their children. Homelessness is a world-wide issue, yet zeroing in on Canada, the majority of the homeless live on the streets of Toronto and Vancouver where they seek shelter anywhere from a park bench to dark alleys. The fact remains that homelessness will always be a problem yet over the years, the number of homeless people has been on the rise and something must be done. Homelessness, specially in families, is a devastating experience. It disturbs nearly all aspects of family life, damaging the physical and emotional health of family members. In addition, it interferes with children's education and development and often results in the separation of family members. It is hard to say exactly who the homeless are because it is usually a temporary circumstance and not a permanent condition. -2- Therefore more appropriate manner of estimating homelessness is to look at the number of people who are currently experiencing homelessness rather than the number of "homeless people". WHO ARE THE HOMELESS Homeless people range anywhere from 11 to 65 years of age. Most studies show that homeless adults are most likely to ...

    Read More

  • Homeless Problem Essay

    510 Words  | 2 Pages

    The homeless population is growing in America. There are more and more Americans living in boxes, sleeping on park benches and panhandling on the streets each day. These people tend to make us, the non-homeless, feel uncomfortable and unsafe. They are also placing increasing stress on the nation's economy. In short, the homeless are a burden on the rest of society. There needs to be action taken against them. "I shall now humbly propose my own thoughts, which I hope will not be liable to the least objection (Swift.)" I propose that all of the homeless be relocated to foreign third world countries. They can then be hired in American factories producing shoes, automobiles and other various goods at less than one dollar per hour.

    Read More

  • Homelessness in New York

    1887 Words  | 4 Pages

    Defining where the homeless stand in our society scale is one of hardest aspects in conducting a study of the population and understanding the definitions used in research is one of the most challenging tasks for people who want to use its results. Most would agree that people in Shelters or literally living on the street are homeless, but there is less agreement regarding people in the following circumstances: Youth on their own, with no permanent residence or even an usual place to sleep; children who have been separated from their homeless parents and are in foster care or are living with relatives; People living in stable but physically inadequate housing (having no plumbing, no heating, or major structural damage, for example) Which of these people should be consider homeless? There is no right answer; there can only be agreement on a convention. Homelessness is a term that covers a big territory. It seems that homelessness is at best an odd-job word, pressed into service to impose order on a hodgepodge of social dislocation, extreme poverty, seasonal or itinerant work, and unconventional ways of life.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Homeless Youth

    1305 Words  | 3 Pages

    Studies have shown that, due to the sheer stress and anxiety of being homeless, 30% of the population increase their use of drugs and alcohol. Many homeless people are employed either fulltime or part-time. According to the US Conference of Mayors2008 report, approximately 2% of the homeless population is employed for a period longer than 30 days. Most homeless people are men. The number of homeless families, single women, and unaccompanied youth continue to be a large growing group. Men currently make up 43% of the homeless population. (US Con. Of Mayors 2005). Homelessness is an issue that has become prominent within the last century because of government handouts and assistance programs. The homeless are more likely to be the victims rather than the perpetrators of crime. They are less like to commit crimes against persons or property. Crimes associated with the homeless population are non-violent and non-destructive crimes. At least one homeless person is murdered each month due to hate crimes.. Many of the homeless don’t even report crimes committed against them. Creating more shelters and programs for e homeless will only enable them to stay in their situation. The goal of projects and programs all over the

    Read More

  • Homelessness And Homelessness In Canada

    2168 Words  | 5 Pages

    Furthermore, as dominant discourse states that homelessness is due to individual failure much of the middle class and working poor criminalize individuals who are living on the streets. Therefore, it is crucial to recognize that in most cases homelessness is not the fault of the individual and directly related to the structural issues in society which it can then target any individual who may be in an economic

    Read More

  • Solutions To Homelessness

    1837 Words  | 4 Pages

    Many believe that a common thread among the homeless is a lack of permanent and stable housing. But beyond that, the factors leading to homelessness and the services that are needed are unique according to the individual. To put them into one general category ? the homeless- suggests that people are homeless for similar reasons and therefore a single solution is the answer. Every homeless person shares the basic needs of affordable housing, adequate incomes and attainable healthcare. But a wide range of other unmet needs cause some people to become or remain homeless which include drug treatment, employment training, transportation, childcare and mental health services (Center 8.)

    Read More

  • Homelessness In The Homeless Home

    1843 Words  | 4 Pages

    Homelessness can happen to anyone unexpectedly. Many poor people are at the risk of homelessness. The cost of living and trying to find affordable housing can be very difficult. Many who are homeless are in poverty, have a mental illness, or addictions. Homelessness happens from personal, as well as structural factors. Many aren’t able to make enough for rent, as well as, utilities, food, and other expenses each month. More than 6 million Americans pay more than half of their income towards rent (Reamer, 1989). The trend is once someone becomes homeless, it is likely they will be homeless repeatedly. To end homelessness, affordable housing will have to be created because it is peoples largest single expenditure (Anderson, 2013).

    Read More

  • Memo

    1312 Words  | 3 Pages

    Homelessness is one of the biggest issues society (Unites States) faces today. Homelessness is caused by lack of affordable housing, economic situations and decline in federal funding for low income families and the mentally ill. A homeless person is defined as an individual who lacks housing (without regard to whether the individual is a member of a family) including an individual whose primary residence during the night is a supervised public or private (shelters) facility that provides temporary living accommodations and an individual who is a resident in transitional housing. This definition of housing is used by the U.S Department of Healt...

    Read More

  • Homeless In America Essay

    1583 Words  | 4 Pages

    Many people debate on weather homeless people should receive guidance or just be abandoned. Do homeless people deserve our service and to be supported, or are they just lazy individuals trying to take advantage of people? Homelessness is a growing dispute in cities. It has became an extensive problem for the community. Homelessness can not and should not be ignored. The number of homeless people in the United States is quickly growing. It seems like no one cares to help them. Even our heroes like police officers show no sympathy towards the homeless. “Homeless people appeared on the streets of Bucharest in 1990. Since then, their number and the problems created by this phenomenon have steadily increased in all major

    Read More

  • Homeless Americans

    1386 Words  | 3 Pages

    In our current time of economic prosperity in the United States, many people are enjoying greater wealth, higher earnings, and profitable investments. Unemployment rates are reported to be low, and wages high. Yet there is still an extraordinary amount of homeless people living in the United States. In an article entitled “The Criminalization of Homelessness” Celine-Marie Pascale tries to convey how the homeless are being treated unfairly by society. Criminalization might be a little too strong a word to apply to the punishment of homeless people, but Pascale is trying to make a statement about the homeless situation in the United States today. I would like to take a closer look at this article and examine the points she is trying to make.

    Read More

  • Dealing with Homelessness in Australia

    1406 Words  | 3 Pages

    Homelessness is all our responsibility. Waking every morning in a warm bed in a secure house for some Australians is only a dream. Every day more and more people are becoming or are at risk of becoming homeless as the global economy crumbles away and monetary resources become harder to find. What is homelessness: the Australian Government Department of Health (2005) defines homelessness as a person who is without a conventional home. Homeless Australians have become disconnected from family and friend and has few, if any resource and very little prospect of achieving financial independence without Government assistant. This assessment will talk about Australia’s history with homelessness, it will go onto to talk about the Government’s role in preventing homelessness and the AASW view on the current social problem. An example of how human service delivery organisation are impacted by current political and society’s view. Homelessness has a face and now more than ever society must ensure that the Government fulfils promise made to all of its citizens.

    Read More

  • Pros And Cons Of Homelessness

    1925 Words  | 4 Pages

    Homelessness is a great problem at this time. It requires attention from people, governments, nonfinancial organizations and from everyone in the world to be solved. A homeless man is a person without permanent housing ; who might live in any place like streets, deserted buildings, vehicles, a shelter or any temporary situation. (National health care for the homeless council, 2015). There are several causes of this problem like living in poverty as poor people cannot pay for the everyday items they need to live like food, education, the rent so they end up in the streets. Another reason for homelessness is violence. There is a direct connection between it and homelessness; As some people like old ones or women could get subjected to different types of abuse. Physical, sexual or psychological abuse. So when they get abused ,they face the choice of leaving or staying and get abused so when they leave they have nowhere to go so they end up homeless. In addition to the causes there are also a lot of effects of homelessness like Restricted access to

    Read More

  • Causes and Effects of Homelessness

    813 Words  | 2 Pages

    Homelessness is a problem virtually every society suffers from. There are many things that cause people to become homeless, such as unemployment, relationship problems, and being evicted from ones domicile either by a landlord, friend or even a family member. However, with every cause there must be an effect. Some of the effects of one becoming homeless, besides the obvious change of lifestyle, are various health problems which often times may lead to death.

    Read More

More about Homelessness Essay

Open Document