Health Care Needs of Homeless and Runaway Youth - Case Study Example

Table of Contents Cover page------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1 Executive summary--------------------------------------------------------------------------3 Introduction-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------3 Discussion-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4 Recommendations----------------------------------------------------------------------------8 Conclusion-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------8 List of references------------------------------------------------------------------------------10 Proposal Word Report Executive Summary The acute desperation, deprivation and chaos visible in homelessness have destabilized the lives of many people across many communities. Los Angeles remains the capital of homelessness for many adults in United States. Because of this, various transformations have been made in the past years in an attempt to solve the stalemate. The paper is a platform, which provides an analysis of various transformations that have prevailed in order to solve the adult homelessness stalemate. Introduction Shelter is one of the basic needs of people; however, it remains a nightmare for some. It is in this regards that various bodies and social movements have been formed to provide the much-needed shelter. One area where the social movements have done significant work is in Los Angeles. Through the Los Angeles Adult Services department, people’s cases of homelessness have been solved. The Los Angeles sheltering strategies builds up from other policies such as the integrated homeless strategy of 2000 according to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development of 2009. In as much as there are several financial underpinnings that have faced various bodies involved with provision of homes, Los Angeles remains one area that has maintained severance. Los Angeles homeless services authority is a joint power initiative responsible for the provision of housing facilities through care homes as well as foster homes (Browne & Bassuk 2007, pp 263). Some of the main tasks of the body include responding to direct emergencies, which need transportation or relocation to other places. These include emergency referrals involving unaccompanied adults not forgetting the youths. Consequently, the body offers assistance to other social service bodies, which are responsible for the provision of like services. Discussion Homeless adults have many issues that need unique attention. Neglecting such people does not only prove to be a non-ethical activity but also acts on non-appreciation. For instance, the healthcare needs for the adults supersede other people due to the complications they emanate. The medical or psychological Vance illness also compound to the health complications for the non-insured adults a factor that needs care (U.S. Department of Urban and Housing Development & Department of Veterans Affairs 2011, pp. 112). These are among some of the factors that call for caring of homeless adults, which undergo various problems. These include lack of food and better clothing as well as transport services. In Los Angeles, various factors contribute to lack of housing in Los Angeles for the adult population. Many people often wonder as to the reason why adult people lack fair treatment. To start is the high cost of housing which got left for the working and high-class population (American Medical Association 2009, pp. 1169). Consequently, it is the momentous attention required by the adult population. This drains their financial resources leaving them with nothing to buy the high costing houses. It is also vital to note that lack of qualifications in America leave people in low paying jobs hence having no substantial savings. Notably many young people receive the assistance of their parents while acquiring houses (Browne & Bassuk 2007, pp 262). This is through various processes such as sighing contracts and guaranteeing properties. Some even receive the houses from their parents. On the other hand, people with no parents or people who have a parent who are not able to guarantee property end up homeless hence contributing to the aggravated number of homeless people. Education is a basic requirement in the recipe of success (Whitbeck & Hoyt 1999, pp. 231). Lack of proficient education propagates poor employment, which contribute to low income. Such people with insufficient education often lack the momentum to settle down due to the non-livable wages. The lack of education is partly contributed by school dropouts created by dire poverty not forgetting peer influence. A trail in the lives of such people often provides a satisfying answer as to the presence of many homeless adults (Courtney & Dworsky, 2006, pp. 278). In as much as there are many homeless adults, the central concern should not be what brought such problems, but the solutions and the means of preventing such scenarios in the future. L.A is similar to NYC in many ways with the main one being homeless population (Schwartz & Savio 2003, pp. 238). The only difference that exists between the states is that Los Angeles has an outstanding population of homeless adults who do not appear to be having mental, alcohol or drug problems. Notably, many homeless adults on Los Angeles are dreamers who make plans with no financial viability (Greenberg & Rosenheck 2008, pp 175). These adults remain in such scenarios due to the fantasies they emanate they cannot fall in such predicaments. This remains despite the fact that they lack employment, useful experience or viable collage degrees. The main question, however, is the reason why these people move to LA while in actual sense; they have the ability to sustain themselves in native homes. Saving is part of every person; however, people remain grappled as to reason why the adults cannot save for future life. According to Los Angeles resource centre, approximately 1.3 million adolescents run from homes becoming chronically homeless. This also contributes to homeless adults. This because the adolescents ((Friedman 2000, pp 80). Because of the propagating number of homeless adults, many transformations have been observed. For instance, the number of homeless rose from 750,000 in 2005 to over 2 million in 2011. Many questions remain asked without probable answers. Consequently, many policies as well as steps have been applied to curb the homelessness problem. This has only provided limited solution to the wide-ranging problem. According to studies, 45% of youths in foster homes age out into the streets adding the number of homelessness (Malone 2009, pp 225). This is due to the compounded difficulty in supportive services associated with education and health. Los Angeles Services Authority (LAHSA) is an emergent organization because of joint powers, which got established in 1993 (Browne & Bassuk 2007, pp 262). The independent agency is mainly responsible for the provision of the solution to homelessness in the city of Los Angeles. The lead agency has continuum care managing over $70 million dollars at county, federal, state and city levels. This is with the sole aim of providing adequate housing. With over 100 non-profit partner agencies, the body has achieved substantial outcomes. For instance, since its establishment, it has created independence as well as stability in the provision of permanent housing solutions (Monsma, S & Christopher 2006, pp. 287). Consequently, through the partner agencies, it has also established outreach programmes targeting community members in the transitional, continuum programmes. Subsequently, the organizations have also established access centers assorted with emergency shelters for the provision of temporary affected adults. Apart from initiation of safe housing, LAHSA together with the assorted agencies have initiated the formation of safe heavens providing tools and equipments necessary for the establishment of shelter (Maclennan & Alison 2007, pp 134). Apart from dealing with homelessness issues, LAHSA also helps in combating other problems, which contribute to homelessness. This is despite the fact that the issues do not concern their field. Some of the homeless related problems that the organization help in dealing with include mental illness, domestic violence, job training, family strengthening, substance abuse and mainstreaming benefit enrollment (Friedman 2000, pp 78). Consequently, the body also provides solutions health problems hence dealing with long term and short-term housing complications. In February 2009, the president of United States signed Government Act aimed at providing a solution to the Homeless population. The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 allocated $ 1.5 billion towards the homeless prevention fund. According to Act, the fund changed name to Homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing program, which was to be segragated with the help of Emergency shelter programmes. With reference to United States history, this was a significant step towards providing a solution to the homeless Americans. Considering the urgency of housing in Los Angeles, the move was to solve vast housing problems (Browne & Bassuk 2007, pp 262). This is because Los Angeles is a capital for homelessness leading among the many American states. Apart from the ascension of the Act that was to help in solving the homelessness problem, the United States congress responsible for formulating legislation and policies also made landmark achievements. The congress, for instance, gave $ 25 million through the McKinney-Vento homeless grants for effecting re-housing programmes. This significantly helped in reducing homelessness (Pastor 2001, pp 748). In a bid, to further, solve the homelessness 2009 also marked a year of advancement. For example, in 20th may 2009, president Obama also signed legislation for homeless, emergency assistance offering a chance for rapid transition of homes. The legislation known as HEARTH Act, which got turned into a public law number PL 111-22 was, to help in modulating homes to solve homelessness (Arefi 2003, pp 351). The act authorized HUD’s homeless assistant programmes to use various means of settling people. Consequently, it was part of the save homes Act, passed in the previous years, to help in saving houses. The act allows for prevention of homelessness allowing for rapid re-housing as well as consolidation of housing programs. Accordingly, eighteen months after signing of the contract, HUD was to make various regulations for implementation of McKinney program (Urban Institute, 2000). In the late 2009, various advocacy organizations also got initiated to curb homelessness problem. These included the national coalition of for the homeless, which was to work hand in hand with HEARTH in providing solutions to Homelessness (Browne & Bassuk 2007, pp 275). In art shell, progress in solving homelessness has been done not only in Los Angeles but also in the rest of America. This has helped in solving housing problems. Recommendations Various recommendations prevail in an attempt to solve housing problems. This is because of the vital nature of the basic want. These include allocating more resources for building houses as well as promoting access to financial housing services. Consequently, education and employment should also get priority to help in solving the sensitive matter in Los Angeles. Conclusion While concluding, Los Angeles has remained the capital of adult homelessness; however, it has also realized various changes. In as much as the transformations have significantly reduced the problem of homelessness, it is evident that more still needs to be done. This can help in reducing the number of homeless adults. References American Medical Association (AMA) 2009, ‘Council on Scientific Affairs. Health Care Needs of Homeless and Runaway Youth’, Journal of the American Medical Association, vol. 262, pp. 1158. Arefi, M 2003, ‘Revisiting the Los Angeles Neighborhood Initiative (LANI): Lessons for Planners’, Journal of Planning Education and Research vol. 22, no. 4 pp. 384-399 Browne A & Bassuk SS 2007, ‘Intimate Violence in the Lives of Homeless and Poor Housed Women: Prevalence and Patterns in an Ethnically Diverse Sample’, American Journal of Or-thopsychiatry, vol. 67, no. 2, pp. 261–278. Courtney, M.E. & Dworsky, A 2006, ‘Early outcomes for young adults transitioning from out-of-home care in the USA’ Child and Family Social Work, vol. 11, pp. 209-219. Friedman DH 2000, Parenting in Public: Family Shelter and Public Assistance. Co-lumbia University Press, New York. Greenberg , G.A. & Rosenheck , R 2008, ‘Jail incarceration, homelessness, and mental health: A national study’, Psychiatric Services, vol. 59, no. 2, pp. 170-177. Maclennan, D & Alison M 2007, ‘The future of social housing: Key economic questions’ Housing Studies, vol. 12, no. 4, pp. 531-547 Malone, D.K 2009, Assessing criminal history as a predictor of future housing success for homeless adults with behavioral health disorders’, Psychiatric Services, vol. 60, no. 2, pp. 224-230. Monsma, S V. & Christopher S 2006, Faith, hope & jobs welfare-to-work in Los Angeles. Georgetown University Press, Washington, DC. Pastor, M 2001, Looking for Regionalism in All the Wrong Places: Demography, Geography, and Community in Los Angeles County’ Urban Affairs Review Vol. 36, no. 6, pp. 747-782. Schwartz, R. & Savio, A. R 2003, Homeless resources and programs. Rainbow social services directory. Oxford printing press, Los Angeles, CA. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) & U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). (2011). Veteran homelessness: A supplement to the 2009 annual homelessness report. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) 2009, The 2008 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress. Minnesota, Washington, DC. Urban Institute 2000, A new look at homelessness in America. Retrieved on October 30, 2003 from http://www.urban.org. Whitbeck, L. & Hoyt, D 1999, Nowhere to grow: Homeless and runaway adolescents and their families, Aldine de Gruyter, New York. Read More