Homelessness as a Deeply Inherent Problem - Research Paper Example

?Homeless Homelessness is a deeply inherent problem all over the world which has plagued the lives of the ones who undergo such torrid extremes. Homelessness is a problem that has become more of a stigma in this day and age. When one speaks of the superpower nation of the world, the United States of America, the problem would tantamount to even further. Homelessness has come out in the open because people are being deprived of having their separate homes and thus there is a dire need to settle this problem once and for all. However, on the flip side some people do not support the homeless because they believe that these people should work their way through the difficult extremes within their lives and hence make both ends meet through hard work and dedication. There are individuals who absolutely cherish the idea of being homeless because they are able to fulfill their obligations through the helping hand of the society. However, this is a very wrong approach that has been taken on by these individuals who would not like to make their way through the tough times and be completely reliant on the donors and organizations which would give them shelter, food and clothing – their most basic needs in essence. Being homeless in the tough times of today is such a severe problem that it is hard to ascertain a remedy for this problem. What is even worse is the fact that being homeless is not something that one does or chooses by choice. It just happens in the nick of things and brings on more trouble for the people who do not have a shelter to live under. Hence being homeless is a stigma that has been attached with individuals who are not that affluent and have a tough time making both ends meet. It also creates issues of joblessness, poverty and health related concerns which are raised time and again. What is even sickening to know is the fact that the state of homelessness brings with it problems of expounding proportions. These problems do not just remain attached with the poverty domains yet are engulfed with more grave concerns, most of which are related with the ways and means under which people stop becoming mature and are shelved into a box from where they cannot escape (Khan, 2010). They simply let go off the feeling of thinking in a better way for their own selves, and this results in their complete subjugation of activities and tasks which they ought to do time and again (Gudauskas, 1999). One must remember that homelessness is not a sin, yet it is a circumstantial happening which comes about when there are problems which an individual cannot face up to and hence becomes a part of the unwanted picture that has developed with the advent of time. Some estimates suggest that around 200,000 to 500,000 Americans live without a permanent shelter. The US Department of Housing and Urban Development quoted more than 600,000 sheltered and unsheltered homeless individuals within America, as of January 2009 figures. Moreover, approximately 1.56 million people were making use of an emergency shelter or even a transitional housing program between October 2008 and September 2009. For some, homeless becomes a blessing in disguise. This is because they believe homelessness gives them a sense of being unattached with the responsibilities that they would have to take had they owned a house. They are therefore dependent on the state and its people for their shelter needs. Similarly, they have gone one step ahead and relied on their food and clothing regimes as well. The need is to establish their psyche more than anything else. This is the reason why they are living in an age of destitute where they have just about nothing with them yet they are undertaking minimal efforts to make do with the changing times. These are important considerations which need to be understood and which shall pave the way for future growth and development regimes of such individuals. The society therefore takes the brunt of such individuals who do not want to do anything yet remain at the behest of the people at large. The state has therefore the responsibility to take care of such individuals who would like to do nothing yet remain at their mercy for their ulterior motives. Perhaps they are too busy in their own worlds to realize the gravity of the situation at hand. Or maybe they just do not want to depend on their arms and body, and emphasize more on what the society would give them automatically. Yet in the third world, such individuals are at the complete mercy of the donors because they believe that the donors and care giving organizations are there to provide them just about whatever they require, and thus their pertinent role is minimal within such settings. When one compares homelessness with poverty, the link is obvious. This is because poverty leads one to lose his home and hence the tyranny begins from there alone. What is needed under such perspectives is a ray of hope to do some things right and through availability of resources at the end of the individual under question. Since poverty makes a man fall flat completely, the role of this tangent is all the more significant to understand. It is one of the reasons why homelessness is on the rise all over the world and there is absolutely no reason denying this fact. Also the role of the state within such discussions is an imperative one because it needs to find out why homeless people are being treated shabbily and what counter measures could be drafted to bring solace within their lives. An understanding of sorts needs to be developed and this can only be done when people believe in the premise of bringing about a solid change not only within their own lives but also the ones who live right next to them or in close vicinity (Banks, 2003). Since homelessness adds up pressure on the family, the concerned individuals also have to face the brunt through the actions of the society and thus a stigma is attached to their personalities without any doubt. The role of the society similarly is a very important one because it wants the people to have their own homes and enjoy the different luxuries that life has to offer to them regularly. Homelessness has been a problem for quite some time all around the world. The ones affected by it have to go through serious difficulties which others might not be able to feel. The ones who live in posh houses, extensive apartments and villas can never estimate the amount of trouble and tension that homeless individuals go through on a regular basis. The role of the government within USA is a strong one since it must dictate its process in a very definitive manner. This is of paramount significance because the homeless individuals are always at the mercy of the government and the nonprofit organizations alike which have to decide which course of action to adopt so that sanity prevails within the related ranks without much fuss. The leaders always a word to say when they are getting elected with regards to the homeless souls living within USA. However, they forget their responsibility once they are elected to power and the problem thus continues (Teasdale, 2010). The leaders’ role is pertinent to note within the homelessness domains because they decide what actions to take and what policies to enact so that the common man and woman on the street does not suffer and reaps the benefits of these policies, codes and rules which have been thus drafted. The government must not forget its due role because it sets the basis for a number of good things that come about in the changing times of today. In essence, it is always an issue that demands more and more attention on the part of just about everyone. The reasons are imperative to comprehend because homelessness is a problem that should be addressed to by the people who matter the most within a societal setting and not to forget the due role of the government indeed. Then again, the person under question is also to be held accountable for the fact that he must get his act right and go about finding a new direction which shall bring solace to his shelter needs (Wasserman, 2011). The homelessness aspect is such a big one that it can literally make or break individuals right from the outset of such discussions. All said and done, the role of the society is an important one because it has to enact ways and means to let these people heave a sigh of relief because the pressure is immense and cannot be easily digested by the homeless people. In the end, the debate will be summed up by stating that homelessness is not a stigma and should not be treated as such by the people at large. With a little effort and kind consideration, the homeless people would see the light of the day and turn their dreams into realities as well. Works Cited Banks, Garry. A view from the street: homelessness, begging and drug misuse. Safer Communities, 2(1), 2003 Gudauskas, Jeremy. Homelessness is not a sin: An analysis of homelessness, the response by religious institutions, and the differing theologies under the personal/structural paradigm. North Central College, 1999 Khan, Arooj. Catch 22: a study on the link between homelessness and institutionalization. Housing, Care and Support, 13(2), 2010 Teasdale, Simon. Models of social enterprise in the homelessness field. Social Enterprise Journal, 6(1), 2010 Wasserman, Jason. The Medicalization of Homelessness and the Sociology of the Self: A Grounded Fractal Analysis. Studies in Symbolic Interaction, 37, 2011 Read More