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Investigate a Social Issue

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Investigate a Social Issue

Janell Tongue

Professor Rabinowitz

SOC-100

June 3, 2012

Introduction This paper is an overview of homeless veterans in the United States. I will discuss how this issue fits into the field of sociology while determining which sociological theories from our text apply. Next, I will explain what is known and unknown about America’s homeless veterans. Then, I will discuss the value of sociological research into this issue. Finally, I will determine if there are practical implications of sociological inquiry. There is a serious homeless problem that plagues many Americans, including those Americans that fought for our country. Although we tend to hold servicemen in high regard, many people are very insensitive to those veterans that become homeless. Most people believe that homelessness is due to controllable factors such as laziness or refusal to work. Nothing can be further from the truth. Veterans not only make up a disproportionate percentage of the homeless population, but also stay homeless for longer. In fact, veterans are at a greater risk of becoming homeless due to a number of factors including unique military skills not needed in the civilian sector, combat-related health issues, minimal income due to unemployment, and a shortage of safe, affordable housing. Prior to becoming homeless, many veterans at risk of homelessness have suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder or have acquired addictions during their military service. “At least 45 percent of homeless veterans suffer from mental illness, while over 50 percent have substance abuse problems. Many are dually-diagnosed, which especially challenges existing service-delivery systems”(Sternheimer, 2011). Veterans’ family, social, and professional networks may have been broken due to extensive mobility while in military service or lengthy periods away from their hometowns and civilian jobs. These problems are a direct result of their military service or to their return to civilian society without reasonable transitional support. Each of the previously mentioned issues prevent veterans from keeping a job, saving money and thus finding a home. The theory of sociology that applies to this issue is functionalism, which is defined as the theory of the mind in contemporary philosophy, developed largely as an alternative to both the identity theory of mind and behaviorism. “Functionalism interprets each part of society in terms of how it contributes to the stability of the whole society. Society is more than the sum of its parts; rather, each part of society is functional for the stability of the whole society”(Crossman, 2010). The different parts are organized to fill different needs, and each is dependant upon each other. Each part plays a role in forming the shape of society. Functionalists tend to focus on discovering the functions of human behavior. This theory is very relevant when it comes to the homeless veteran’s issue (Anderson and Taylor, 2009) Most facts about the homeless veterans in the United States are common knowledge. It is known that many veterans have issues with finding and maintaining substantial employment. Additionally, it is known that homeless veterans often acquire mental and physical ailments as a result of duties performed as a member of the armed forces. Unknown to most, is the fact that the amount of homeless veterans in the United States is steadily decreasing. This is due to the plethora of agencies designed (as of lately) with the specific purpose of eliminating this problem. The National Coalition of Homeless Veterans is an example of an organization whose primary goal is to improve the homeless problem among former members of the armed forces, in particular. This organization has undergone expansions in the past ten years which were constructed to lessen the homelessness among veterans (Selnick, 2007). Sociological research is very prevalent in reference to this issue. Society plays a great role in how veterans are perceived and how homelessness can lend a negative connotation to persons that would ordinarily be seen in a good light. The research conducted proved that fortunately the problem is declining. I believe that organizations such as Volunteers of American and the aforementioned National Coalition for Homeless Veterans has brought awareness to society and opened many people’s eyes to this serious issue. The analogy holding respected servicemen and homeless veterans in the same light has definitely helped many of the closed minded members of society to open their minds and recognize that these two can be one and the same. This confirms that there have been and will continue to be practical implications of sociological inquiry. In conclusion, the problem of homelessness, veterans in particular, is a major problem in a functionalistic society. The issue is very well known throughout society and the things that are unknown are being delivered to us via agencies like the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. Research has concluded that the homeless vet issue is fortunately improving in American society.

References

Anderson, M.L. and Taylor, H.F. (2009). Sociology: The Essentials. Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth.Anderson, M.L. and Taylor, H.F. (2009). Sociology: The Essentials. Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth.Kenneth I. Pargament (1999). "The psychology of religion and spirituality? Yes and no". International Journal for the Psychology of Religion 9 (1): 3–16. Bottom of Form
Anderson, M.L. and Taylor, H.F. (2009). Sociology: The Essentials. Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth.
Crossman, Ashley (2010).Three Major Functions of Sociology,Functionalist Theory. Sociology.
Selnick, Darrin (2007). Faith-Based Organization Collaborations Expand Resources. National Coalition For Homeless Vets.
Sternheimer, Karen (2011). Homeless Vets. Everyday Sociology.WW Norton and Company.

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