Poverty and homelessness - Essay Example

Poverty and Homelessness” Poverty could be defined as the condition where the possessions like material and money are scarce or deficient. Under the severe condition of poverty, which is defined as absolute poverty, the basic amenities encompassing food, health care facilities, education, proper clothing, clean and fresh drinking water and habitat or home to reside or shelter are also lacking. Although, poverty is existing since the dawn of human civilization and its significance has been changing with time.

Advent of industrialization has further segregated the poverty discrimination. Industrialization paved the way for mass production of goods, leaving the small scale industries and small businesses with little space to survive in the market. Globalization further captured the market creating unemployment for less educated individuals. On the other hand individuals like potter, blacksmith etc are not getting enough opportunities to get work and earn their livelihood. This holds true for other business leading to the low income and struggle for existence.

Poverty leads to denial of educational opportunities for children leading them to be deficient in capability to contribute efficiently in society. Family suffers a lot because of scarcity of food, clothing, shelter, school or clinic, laying the foundation of economic insecurity, helplessness as well as exclusion of persons from houses and societies. Making them vulnerable to violence, due to insecure trivial or frail surroundings.Poverty is responsible for poor income sources, inaccessibility for materials and services which are otherwise important for endurance with decorum.

Poverty is responsible for deprived access to health and education, sanitation and clean water, poor nutrition causes physical weakness and their voice remain unheard. Further, making the individual inapt to survive in the competing world. All these circumstances enhance the risk of homelessness.Homelessness is the result of various factors encompassing unemployment or underemployment, poor health care facilities, social abuse, war, natural calamities encompassing flood, earthquakes or hurricanes, disorder related with mental health, disability, due to substance abuse, domestic violence, re-entry into the society after prison release, mortgage of house, family disputes, separation or divorce, joblessness, lack of availability of low cost houses.

Augmentation in rural poverty has generated the jeopardy of homelessness. Distribution of wealth is uneven across the world. It displays the progress made by the developed nations and also the struggle of developing or third world nations. In terms of individuals or groups, the affluent class has better access to education and amenities and therefore they have better job prospects in turn they are able to improve their livelihood on the other hand, individuals who suffer due to poverty lags behind due to unavailability of resources.

Wealthy individuals have more assets and minimum liabilities while the poor have more liabilities then assets so the ratio of wealth is opposite. Although attempts are being made to have a redistribution of property, either by means of taxation or regulations. Social reforms and socialism attempt to diminish the unequal distribution of wealth.Social and economic forces perpetuate class difference. This was well supported by the sociologist Edward Banfield, according to him, "the cultural outlook of the poor tends to keep them in poverty".

This was contradicted by Psychologist William Ryan, according to Ryan, "attacking the culture of the poor for the conditions that surround them is a form of blaming the victim" (Does "Lower-Class" Culture Perpetuate Poverty?). Affluent class can hire hands to get their job done with meagre wages, thereby they spin great profit on the other hand, poor are socio-economically lagging so have to follow the instructions of employer and work for them. Poverty and homelessness go hand in hand in majority of the cases.

Poverty brings greed for money and may germinate the seed of corruption in the minds of those who are struggling with poverty. It is a general psychology of every individual to lead a life full of luxuries and facilities and to accomplish such a dream individual may adopt unfair means like robbery, theft, bribe etc. which may turn deleterious for self and the dependent family. Essentially it must be inculcated in the mind of individuals that a life full of self-worth and respect is the biggest wealth and hard work pays.

With hardships and honesty one can lead a life of reverence and dignity and can gain admiration. Understanding self-worth prevents inclination towards substance abuse and stress leading to mental disorders. Various investment schemes enable one to have a better savings and lead a secure life.ReferencesDoes "Lower-Class" Culture Perpetuate Poverty? Available at http://glori.kenan-flagler.unc.edu/airspace/NUSarchive/English/Takeside.html. [Accessed on 2nd December 2011].