..."I was homeless for about eight months, I refused to live with my dad or anyone for that matter. So I stayed somewhere that had no hot water, ever, no heat, I told myself I have to be strong and get through it on my own." (West).Youth homelessness is becoming an increasing problem in the United States. Youth are either forced out of their homes or leave because a combination of push and pull factors. There are many factors contributing to youth homelessness including abuse, addiction, family breakdown, and PTSD. Abuse in families or relationships is a factor of youth homelessness. "The current body of research indicates that abuse, breakdown, and disruptive family relationships are common contributing factors to youth homelessness." Children...
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...First night My life hit rock bottom as I lay on the pavement, in a shabby suit at the edge of China-town, alone on my first night of homelessness. At the bottom of a deep dark pit, engulfing every last ounce of hope I was holding for possible salvation for my commended fate. If you had seen me only months before, you would have never expected me to become homeless. An affluent lifestyle, grand house and a stunning wife, everything a man desires in life. However, alcohol was the problem. It being the third person in our relationship, minuscule until I insisted on avoiding work because of the hang overs and the absence of alcohol rots my brain. Co-dependent on my friend to talk and act for me when I needed him. I began to drink a couple of beers after work, and then started at home to cope with my wife’s nagging and...
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...that the attached paper, which was produced for the class identified above, is my original work and has not previously been submitted by me or by anyone else for any class. I further declare that I have cited all sources from which I used language, ideas and information, whether quoted verbatim or paraphrased, and that any and all assistance of any kind, which I received while producing this paper, has been acknowledged in the References section. This paper includes no trademarked material, logos, or images from the Internet, which I do not have written permission to include. I further agree that my name typed on the line below is intended to have, and shall have the same validity as my handwritten signature. Student's signature (name typed here is equivalent to a signature): Christopher Holland Introduction The purpose of this paper is to explore the homeless population in the United States while thinking critically. The research for this paper shall detail the history of homeless from its first noticeable conception. The paper will examine the time line of homelessness stating contributing factors as well as detailing the homeless struggle. This paper shall research the nature of the social problems or issues experienced by homeless people meanwhile showing the stereotyping and discrimination of homeless people. This paper will explore the different demographic groups along with common clinical issues and intervention strategies. After the research has explored the...
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...Fundamentals of Research Shannon Ladd April 21, 2013 BSHS/382 Vanessa Byrd This paper will define scientific method as well as give an explanation of how scientific research is used in a human services field. It will also discuss the steps in scientific inquiry and why those steps are important and an example will provide of scientific method in relation to the human services field. A description of quantitative and qualitative research will be given, explaining the differences in both model and how these methods relate to the human services as well as the scientific method. Further discussion will involve quantitative and qualitative research methodology touching on the definition of mixed method research. Finally summarizing how scientifically research sound supports the function of a human services manager. The scientific method is a method for research and study that is applied to investigate observations and to bring answers to questions. Researches can exploit the scientific method to search for cause and effect relationships. There are many different types of aspect to the human services field, no matter which one research is always needed. If there is a sudden increase in homelessness, child abuse, or joblessness, research offering results is required to answer the question that are related to the increase. The path to those answers can only be found through research. Scientific method according to the Merriam-Webster (2010), is “principles...
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...Wildeman (2014) explored the relationship between paternal and maternal incarceration and the prevalence of child homelessness. He found that paternal incarceration, not maternal incarceration, leads to child homelessness. The reason for this is because children whose mother are incarcerated are more likely to be put into foster care system, thus they are less likely to be homeless. On the other hand, paternal incarceration leads to a decline in governmental support, an increase in maternal stress and mental health issues, and an increase in financial instability in the family. Families lose one source of income when fathers are incarcerated, and African American men often have difficulties finding jobs after being released, thus increase the...
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...Homelessness in America Homelessness in America is a social problem that we are faced with on a daily basis. Despite the vast number of research done by Americans on homelessness, little is still known about the effect that it has on our society. The overall image that emerges from the effects of homeless people is negative: they’re seen as lazy, drug users, alcoholics, and worthless. This study recovers some of the homelessness perspective for an American audience through research, data, and an interview by a homeless person living in Georgia. This study will allow explanations and will challenge three widely held assumptions of the homeless people living in America: 1) Homeless people are lazy; 2) Homeless people are all drug and alcohol users and abusers; 3) Homeless people brought it on themselves. This research is to add nuance to our understanding about the social problem stated. Homelessness qualifies as a “social problem” because it doesn’t just affect the homeless but the nation as well. This paper will hopefully contribute more knowledge and understanding about the effects of homelessness in America. There has been a plethora of research done on homelessness in America since the 1980’s, but there has been changing quality and has left areas uninvestigated. According to Ravenhill (2011), In 2000 there was a survey done by researchers...
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...Homelessness in California Introduction Homelessness is a condition or a state where an individual or a family does not have a home to live in. Along with that, the person is deprived of the legal and the social dimensions making him emotionally weak and in the state of isolation. Since the year 1980s, there had been a great shock to the Americans due to the rising homelessness. This led to a burst in the studies and the rising stories related to the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act of July 1987. In this act, there was an interference allowed of the federal government into this policy of homelessness, which had created many issues. For many years after that, this issue of homelessness remained on the top of the line in the political issues face by the Californian government. Basically the non-profit organizations focused on improving the life quality of the people in the city, especially those who did not have a place to spend their nights. It is a fact that there should be some very efficient approach to eliminate this homelessness problem, the Californian government has taken some steps and brought in a modest change in their policies to attack this homelessness problem very obviously. Their main change in the policy was to provide housing to the poor and the needy people (Hombs, Mary Ellen, and Mitch Snyder, 1982). Despite this action which the government took, there had been a consensus in the year 1980 which reflected the fact that the homelessness in US...
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...Picture This: A Snapshot of Homelessness David Mello HCA430: Special Populations Instructor: Monica Vargas May 2, 2015 Picture This A Snapshot of Homelessness Imagine if you will, for one moment, a reflection of your daily life. For most, it began like any other day; you awoke from your warm and comfortable bed, showered, chose your outfit for the day, ate breakfast, and then went to work or school. As the day came to end, after earning a solid days wage, you went home to a nice warm dinner ready on the table, a bed with fresh linens awaited your tired and heavy eyes, and for the rest of the evening and into the night you slept on a pillow of dreams. This is in essence the American dream is it not? To have the basic needs that to some may come as a surprise, many Americans do not have. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, “In January 2014, there were 578,424 people experiencing homelessness on any given night in the United States” (National Alliance to End Homelessness, 2015). Many people would be in agreement that the above noted agenda is fairly normal; shelter, food, clothing, education, and family are all blessings and amenities that we take for granted but nonetheless are things that every individual deserves to have. Unfortunately, these are things that many people must suffer without. Scholarly research that spans over the course of two decades has continually and firmly established the emergence and persistence of indigent and homeless...
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...Youth: Research, Intervention, and Policy by Karen Spuriel Coleman- MBA Abstract Homelessness among youth in the U.S. is disturbingly common, with an estimated annual prevalence of at least 5 percent for those ages 12 to 17. Although homeless youth appear throughout the nation, they are most visible in major cities. Rigorous research on this special population is sparse, making it difficult to capture an accurate and complete picture. Despite its limitations, recent research describes homeless youth as a large and diverse group. Many homeless youth have multiple overlapping problems including medical, substance abuse, and emotional and mental problems. Literature suggests that comprehensive and tailored services are needed that address both the immediate and long-term needs of homeless youth. Where appropriate, services should include assistance with meeting basic needs as perceived by youth as a gateway to other needed services. In addition to serving those already homeless, interventions are needed to prevent homelessness among at-risk youth. Lessons for Practitioners, Policy Makers, and Researchers • As used here, the term “homeless youth” focuses on minors who have experienced literal homelessness on their own—i.e., who have spent at least one night either in a shelter or "on the streets" without adult supervision. On occasion, where warranted by the research being discussed, the term is also used to describe homeless young adults up to age 24. • Homelessness among...
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...Every single time I drive through the Lincoln, or over the George Washington, I know that I will encounter homeless people at some point. The city is filled with them. I hate this and it hurts me incredibly. I thoroughly enjoyed doing this research paper because my mind was opened to the devastating realities of being homeless. With this paper and our class trip to Lawndale, I am becoming more aware of what it looks like to love God. God calls us to care for His creation and to do so by loving for the poor and marginalized. This research has affected my personal vocation in many ways. But specifically in the areas of how I care for people. Caring not only homeless people, but also all of God’s creation. From reading devastating stories of people living on the street for years, I came to realize that we live in an extremely broken world, and one that God did not intend. But because I experience God in my own life, I believe that it is necessary to share that love to all His people around. This is an easy step to take and one that Goddard is taking each and everyday. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind...
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...between their own individual lives and the society around them. The process of interpreting your individual life in the context of your community or the society in which you live is called the sociological imagination. In this research paper, I will discuss how being a homeless person have an impact on society, I will explain how being homeless can affect a person mental and physical health, it can have an impact on the crime rate, and it can have a major impact on the taxes that are paid by citizens. Sociology is the study of society and the human social interaction. Sociology is also the way of studying the social status and the social structures of society, social change, and social movements, and the breakdown of society through crime and through revolution (www.newworldencyclopedia.org). Scientist who study Sociology do research on this subject to get and understanding on how and why people live the way they do and is it a result from the environment they live in. The study of Sociology can establish a balance between theories and facts successfully using scientific methods to study social actions, its outcomes such as social institutions and social groups which are subject to both continuity and change (www.sociologyguide.com). Homelessness is increasing each and every day in today’s world. This social problem is on the rise and has yet to be resolved. How does being a homeless person affect society and how does society affect the homeless? In the year 2011, the...
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...When I began a search for an area of concern that affects a child’s development, I remembered a movie that I had watched the previous year called Beyond the Blackboard and while researching this subject, I found out about how homelessness can affect children’s educational development while they are homeless. At the time, I did not even understand that homelessness can affect children since I had thought only adults were homeless. Looking back, it seems very thoughtless that I only thought adults were affected and my research into this subject led me to see that whole families can be affected by homelessness. Throughout this paper, I plan on talking about the causes of homelessness, the prevalence of homeless, signs that children might be homeless,...
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...E2 6 May 2011 Homelessness/ Poverty in the United States A very important issue in our country is homelessness and poverty. This is important because poverty and homelessness have psychological effects on individuals. We can see this issue in Jeannette Walls’ The Glass Castle because the Walls family is always moving around. Homelessness affects your appearance severely. The Walls family doesn’t have enough food to go around. Research shows that the rate of homelessness and poverty is high. The government is trying to reduce the rate of homelessness and poverty. Many Americans have gone through poverty or will go through poverty at some point in their life. In my paper, I will attempt to inform you that homelessness and poverty is a topic which should be taken seriously. Homeless ness and poverty have psychological effects on individuals. In website http://ic.galegroup.com, homeless in the United States swelled for a variety of reasons during the 1800s. Such examples are: migration to the frontiers; displacement caused by the Civil War; immigration from Europe; seasonal employment in agriculture; construction, and mining. This is important because these are some causes of homelessness. Isn’t sad to know that there are so many reasons why there are homeless people out there? In 1929 the Great Depression triggered a new wave of homelessness, as many people lost their jobs. This is important because the Great Depression is yet another cause of homelessness! To address the...
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...Ethnography Study: Personal Identities of Homeless People This paper is an ethnographic study of the personal identities of people who are homeless and living in Chicago, Illinois. People who are homeless are portrayed in and thought of in negative light. Much too often do people group homeless people into one category in terms of judging their background before meeting them; their state of homelessness has been offered as informative of who they are. Their voices and perspectives rarely contribute to broader knowledge about who they are as people. As such, the forced ‘homeless identity’ has resulted in placing them as ‘different’ than the ‘normal’ people with homes. An August 2014 analysis by Chicago Coalition for the Homeless estimates that 138,575 Chicagoans were homeless in the course of the 2013-14 school year. This is 19.4% more than the 116,042 people who were homeless a year earlier . With the recognition that homelessness is continuously increasing every year come important questions about how this happened, what could be done about it, and who are the people experiencing homelessness. This ethnography is concerned with this last question. This thesis centers on the personal identities of people experiencing homelessness. I want to understand how they see themselves on an individual level. Identities matter. Identifying people on the basis of their homelessness influences how they are thought about, and thus responded to by policy makers, service providers...
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...Complete a research paper on Homelessness in Ireland. Write a reflective paper, with maximum 2000 words including references, discussing and reflecting on – The causes of homelessness – The issues that Homeless people face – Solutions to Homelessness – The Simon Society in Ireland Homelessness in Ireland Homelessness is one of our biggest problems in the word and also in Ireland. According to the statistics there are 3808 homeless people living in Ireland. Those include the people who are sleeping on the street, the ones who are staying in refugees or alternative hostels, people who live temporarily in bed and breakfast, or with their family or friends or illegally in squats. Figure 1 1 Figure 2 In the Figure 1 you can see how many homeless people each city or region has and the Figure 2 shows us the statistic categorized in homeless male and female living in a accommodation and the ones who don´t have a stay. But what causes the homelessness? Unfortunately most people think that homelessness is mostly caused by they own fault. A lot of people think after some personal failures the people loose control about their life caused by alcohol or drug abuse and become homeless. Although the personal failures named before also affect homelessness there are more personal reasons that caused homelessness and also most people forget to think about the structural reasons that also affects the homelessness. Some personal or social issues that can cause homelessness are individual...
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