Vulnerable Populations: Focusing on the Homeless - Essay Example

Download file to see previous pages... Stewart B. McKinney defined a homeless individual as a person who “lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence”. According to McKinney, a primary night time residency includes a publicly or privately supervised dwelling which serves as a temporary living accommodation; an institution or charity that provides temporary shelter for individuals who need to be institutionalized; and a public or private place that is not intended to serve as a shelter for human beings. In addition, a person who is imprisoned under a state law is not a homeless individual (U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Economic and Community Development, 1996).In the past 25 years, two trends could be attributed to the rise in homeless individuals, namely: the shortage in the cheap rentable dwelling; and the concurrent increase in poverty. In general, individuals living in poverty are more likely to become homeless.The ethnicity of the homeless population is different depending on the geography. Rural areas have higher numbers of homeless Caucasians and Native Americans (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1996). In 2004, the U.S. Conference of Mayor conducted a study in 27 U.S. cities and found that the homeless population comprised of 49% African-America, 35% Caucasian, 13% Hispanic, 2% Native American, and 1% Asian.In 2003, 39% of the homeless population were children below 18 years of age, while 42% of those children were below 5 years old. Moreover, 5% of the urban homeless population were unaccompanied minors....
Department of Agriculture, 1996). In 2004, the U.S. Conference of Mayor conducted a study in 27 U.S. cities and found that the homeless population comprised of 49% African-America, 35% Caucasian, 13% Hispanic, 2% Native American, and 1% Asian (U.S. Conference of Mayors, 2001). Age In 2003, 39% of the homeless population were children below 18 years of age, while 42% of those children were below 5 years old. Moreover, 5% of the urban homeless population were unaccompanied minors. It was also recorded that there were higher numbers of homeless children in rural areas. In 2004, individuals from 25 to 34 years old comprised 25% of the homeless population; and 6% were individuals from 55 to 64 years old (U.S. Conference of Mayors, 2005).. Family Homeless families with children have increase significantly in just a short period of time. In a 2005 survey of 25 cities in United States, 33% of the urban homeless population were families with children (U.S. Conference of Mayors, 2005). In rural areas, families, single mothers, and children comprise majority of the homeless population (Vissing, 1996). Due to the increase in homelessness and decreasing number of affordable housing, incapable families end up staying for extended periods in shelter systems. In the 1990s, New York families were found to have stayed in shelter systems for an average of 5 months. Much worse, current stays average 7 months, while some studies recorded up to a year in stay average (U.S. Conference of Mayors, 2005). Domestic Violence Individuals experiencing domestic violence are forced to decide on whether to stay in abusive households or be homeless. It’s physical and psychological effects on the victim could cause the ...Download file to see next pagesRead More