Issue of Homeless People in California - Research Paper Example

Homeless People in California Homelessness is the issue faced by the state of California in a higher ration than any other state. Yet the action taken by the state and the central government has not been so strong that could deal with the problem on a direct basis. Instead of reducing the number of homeless people, the number is constantly increasing. There have not been any annual surveys or analysis to keep a check on this increase, neither has there been a constant effort to get rid of this problem. It is a matter of prime concern that government should look into the reasons that are constantly leading to the increase in the issue. It is very important to keep in mind that there are categories in the homeless as well, the ones who have temporary shelters and the others who have nothing at all to reside in. According to a survey conducted by an organization called Housing California during the year 2007-09 reported that more than 62% of the homeless people belonged to the latter category i.e. Having no shelter at all. It was also discovered that not all of the homeless people were not unemployed; the 42% of homeless people were employed. Also, the homeless people were mostly the older ones. The homeless people need to be taken care of; it leads to have an impact on the overall social community and lifestyle of the people. Also, it tends to have an impact on the economy and the development of a certain state and a community in itself. In order to help the people who do not have shelter to protect themselves, it is very important to know the main causes that lead to this problem to a greater level. The process can go on with step by step sequence, where first a generalized research gets conducted in order to find out what are the reasons that lead to such problems. Once the general reasons get identified, it becomes easier to locate those within the targeted areas. Furthermore, it makes you look at the overall picture and allows you to figure out what generates these issues. The survey of getting the exact number of people who are facing the problem is the next step. Before going on with the conducting of surveys, there should be a list made. This list should be formulated keeping in view the causes that you first spotted to check that which ones of those are acting in your target area. This would not only provide you with the exact number of the people but also with the data that will tell you the most reoccurring problem or problems that need to be tackled instantly. The major fault at the government’s part in California is that despite the increased number of homeless people, no surveys have been conducted on annual or monthly basis to keep a check. The implementation of any act to tackle the issue would go pointless if you do not keep a track of statistics, only this calculated data can help you figure out if the implemented action was worthwhile or not. Hence, it is immensely important that the government should start keeping a check on the number of people who do not have a home. And along with that they will know if the issue is increasing, decreasing or is constant throughout, the basic reasons behind it and the kind of people who are facing the issue. It is the duty of government to serve its people with the best of its abilities and to form the policies to benefit them to the maximum level. It is not possible to do so, until there is a complete record of each activity is kept and decisions are accordingly made. The government needs to put in keen interest and effort in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle of the people. It must also be taken into consideration that along with the economical ones there are emotional causes to the homelessness as well, and it must not be forgotten that such cases are needed to be taken care of even more than the ordinary ones. (Shlay and Rossi, 1992) Here, the problem does not stay confined to the homelessness but goes beyond that, for instance, let’s say the person went through a serious tragedy and lost the mental balance. Such person residing on streets is a danger sign for the other people who are living in surroundings. Such problems also tend to have consequences on the following social circles. Apart from this the increased homelessness leads to the higher level of insecurity amongst the citizens and social stability gets under higher risk. The crime rate also increases with an increased number of shelters less people. All aspects of a problem, the reasons behind its formulation and the consequences that it brings to an individual, a community and to a society as a whole. Government needs to have an in depth analysis of all these problems and then suggest a solution or take measures to face it accordingly. Homelessness has become a supreme issue in California; it is the state to have largest number of shelter less people over the last few years. This problem is rapidly increasing the social status gap between the rich and the poor. There are organizations who are willing to work on the solutions, but that can only be brought into action if the problem, its location, cause and impact are completely known. Any random act cannot be brought into action just on the basis of an assumption that things are going to work out and have an impact. The causes for homelessness are more than one in overall United States, and California is no exception to all those. The very basic reason, that it is not that more than the income of the higher class getting increased, the gap between the lower continues to increase, creating a misbalance. There is always a line that defines income above or close to the poverty line, based on the survival surveys that are conducted to see the economic condition of a country or a city or state. As soon as someone reaches near or on the poverty line, the survival becomes a struggle, if they are able to provide for daily necessities with the income he has, the idea of having a shelter with all those, just becomes too ideal. In such scenarios, even the employed people are not able to afford for a shelter. Apart from such issues, majorly homelessness is the consequence of a sudden accident or a natural disaster that is usually unexpected. For example, if someone loses his job suddenly due to some issue and is unable to keep up with the finances, he is likely to go homeless too. Increased divorce rate is also a reason for sudden fall in the overall income of a family and somehow becomes a reason for the homelessness, if the gap is too big to be filled. Natural disasters are also one of the biggest reason that lead to the homelessness, the destruction period is usually too fast depending on the intensity of the disaster but the rehabilitation usually takes up quite a longer time. Talking about California State in particular, the increased rents and the lower income level is also gradually becoming a cause of homelessness. The gap is growing wider; the price of survival is greater than the earning of survival of people. The cost of living with all basic needs including a roof on your head is becoming too high with every passing day that the percentage of homeless people is increasing. Social factors that contribute to the issue of having more homeless people around. People with mental disorders, or the ones who are indulged in the socially unacceptable activities like over consumption of alcohol, drug addiction etc. (Burt and Cohen, 1989). Such people are usually found residing on streets, and they also tend to exploit the overall social harmony of the community. Increase in the drug and alcohol abuse has also increased the number of homeless people in the state of California. The mentally unstable people are also added to the list of those who are thrown out on streets, such people need to be taken care of in proper institutes that should be equipped with the experts and facilities to deal with their issues. Since there are not enough institutes to cure such cases and they are not kept in proper homes, eventually the street becomes their destination. People who have intense disorder are likely to cause damage to the public property and the people around leading to bring an overall negative picture for the entire society. Such activities give rise to the crime rate and also make the urban space unsafe for its users, consequently causing it to lose the charm that it has. Not keeping the mentally ill people under the certain care is called the deinstitutionalization of these people. This has had a greater influence on the overall number of homeless people all over the state. Another reason that is adding up to the problem in this state is the cost of housing that is offered for the people at different classes. Generally, the cost of housing is dependent on the income of the majority of the people who are falling under the certain category, for instance lower class, middle class, depending on the quality of housing that is available. The cost of housing units is increasing so rapidly that it is becoming nearly impossible for the lower income status people to survive. The maintenance cost is reaching its peak, if one manages to meet up the demands of affording a house, the maintenance simply becomes impossible. Majority of the housing units are being made to keep up with the demands of the upper and middle class people. And they have a choice between owning a house or renting one depending upon the income and requirements. (Hansen C. 1996) But on the other hand the threshold that is being defined for the people with lower income leaves them with a choice where they can choose between the minimum level of quality that is available for housing or homelessness. In this case the latter one appears to be more feasible for the people, the reason being that in order to catch up with the minimum housing facilities that are available to them, they tend to spend all their resources on it and eventually are unable to meet the expenses for the other necessities of life. Therefore, with this choice the one that they tend to make is the one with no home that would simply mean no expenses on its maintenance or survival struggle. The policy of making better housing units and keeping up with the increased competition across the globe is not intended to encourage homelessness but as discussed in the beginning not having through information on the problem leads to the execution of such acts. Also, the homelessness in this state is just not because of the high price but because of the reason that there is no quality offered in such high prices. Hence, the people who can even afford to have a house just decide over not to buy it. Over the last three decades the problem of homelessness has become severe in the region of California. The reasons behind the increased level of homelessness are plenty like increased cost of housing, lower incomes, the divide between the rich and the poor, deinstitutionalization of the mentally ill, an increased amount of socially abusive behavior and natural disasters to some extent. The last one being inevitable, but the other ones can be taken care of if the government intervenes and tries to deal with the problems on more direct basis. Also, keeping a record and knowing the number of people who are homeless before the policy is applied would help to know before and after effects of the act. References Quigley, J. M., Raphael, S., & Smolensky, E. (2001). Homelessness in California. San Francisco, Calif.: Public Policy Institute of California. Burt, M. R., & Cohen, B. E. (1989). America's homeless: numbers, characteristics, and programs that serve them. Washington, D.C.: Urban Institute Press ;. Hansen, C. (1996). 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