Is Homelessness in Britain a Predominantly Youth Problem - Research Paper Example

Table of Contents Table of Contents 1 Research Plan 2 1 Aims and Objectives 2 1 Aims 2 1.2 Objectives 2 2 Methodology 3 3 Timetable 4 2Annotated Bibliography 4 3 Learning Account 7 4 Summary of Progress 9 5 References 11 1 Research Plan The dissertation will centre on the question of whether homelessness is a young person’s problem, with `young person’ defined as the under twenty-five age group. While the research shall primarily focus on the variables influencing homelessness in the Luton Borough, the situation across the United Kingdom shall be qualitatively and quantitatively researched, discussed and analysed. The purpose of, and strategy for, doing so are outlined below. 1.1 Aims and Objectives The importance of the study ultimately rests upon its aims and objective and, the degree to what the researcher has satisfied them. 1.1.1 Aims Determining whether homelessness in the United Kingdom, with specific focus on Luton, is predominantly a young person’s problem; Researching the causes of homelessness in the under 25 year old age group Establishing a hierarchy of causes, ordered according to the value of their contribution to the problem, as based upon theoretical propositions and empirical research; Researching potential solutions and the efficacy of their implementation. 1.1.2 Objectives Uncovering homelessness statistics and establishing the percentage of youth homelessness; Establishing the percentage of homeless youth who are care leavers, products of “problem families” (Welshman, 1996: p. 447), members of marginalised minority groups and victims of unemployment/economic circumstances. Settling the question regarding whether on not homelessness is a predominantly youth-related problem; Drawing conclusions on the leading causes of youth homelessness; Forwarding a viable and effective solution to the problem, highlighting the role of social workers therein. 1.2 Methodology Within the context of the current research, and following an exploration of various research methodologies and approaches, the researcher has determined the utilisation of all of the exploratory, descriptive and explanatory approaches. In addition, the research shall combine between the positivist and the phenomenological approaches and, between the quantitative and qualitative, within a deductive framework. In specific reference to the research strategy, data shall be collected both through a desk-based, library-research approach and a survey method. Sources for the former shall primarily be books, scholarly journals and government papers on homelessness among youth in the United Kingdom. As regards the latter, semi-structured interviews shall be carried out with an, as yet, undetermined number of homeless youth in the Luton Borough area. As a means of establishing the reliability of the research findings, which Sekeran (2003) defines as integral to any research activity, the researcher shall utilise construct validity tools. As Saunders et al. (2000) explains, construct validity entails the establishment of accurate operational measurements for the research’s core concept. This is done by establishing a chain of evidence throughout the data collection process; by verifying key information through the use of multiple sources of information; and by presented informants with a draft of the study for review. As may have been deduced from the above, the research shall adopt a mixed methodological approach. The selection of the aforementioned and above explained methodology was imposed upon the research by the nature of the phenomenon under investigation, the multi-layered nature of the research problem and the imperatives of satisfying the study’s diverse, but interrelated, objectives. 1.3 Timetable Timetable expressed in weeks Dates are Mondays November December January February Event 1 8 15 22 29 5 12 19 26 3 10 17 24 31 7 14 21 28 Collection and reading through of Literature                                     First Assessment Task                                     Prepare guidelines for semi-structured interviews                                     Chapter 1: introduction                                     Chapter 2: Literature Review                                     Chapter 3: Methodology                                     Chapter 4: Discussion                                     Chapter 5: Conclusion                                     Acknowledgement, Abstract, etc.                                     Revision                                     2 Annotated Bibliography Barn, R. (2001) Black youth on the margins: A research review. York, JRF. There is a inarguable gap in the literature on homelessness among ethnic minority groups in Britain; a fact which makes barn’s study all the more valuable. Focusing on black children, almost exclusively within the 13-16 age range, Barn’s study covers the causes of homelessness among this group, signaling out familial social isolation and poverty as the primary culprits. A review of available figures indicates that care leavers also comprise a significant ration of the homeless black youth population in Britain. The importance of this study, at least within the context of the dissertation, emanates from the fact that it fills in an important gap in the literature on youth homelessness in Britain and provides an excellent account of its causes, at least among this minority group. Commander, M. et al. (2002) A comparison of homeless and domiciled young people.’ Journal of Mental Health, 11(5), pp. 557-564. In a study which compares the homeless youth in Birmingham with the domiciled ones, Commander et al. successfully uncover a number of important causes. Their study indicates that the majority of the homeless population tends to be white male youths who, as compared to their domiciled peers, performed poorly at school, had spent time in institutional child care, were unemployed and, largely, unemployable and, had a substance abuse problem. The article will invaluably inform the research, not only as relates to the causes of homelessness but through its presentation of nation-wide statistics on homelessness among British youth and the way in which it orders the causes of the problem. Hall, T. (2000) At home with the young homeless. International Journal of social Research Methodology, 3(2), 121-133. The study examines the strategies which the ethnographer may employ to research the problem of homelessness among British youth. The researcher, as Hall contends, is expected to maintain his distance, hence objectivity, from the subject of his research even as he is required to understand their world, and their situation, from their point of view. As may be determined from this brief overview of Hall’s study, the article will guide the researcher in the collection of primary data through semi-structured interviews, invaluably advising one how to maintain objectivity yet, empathize with the respondents/interviewees. Hall, T. (2003) Better times than this: Youth homelessness in Britain. Pluto Press, London. The book can best be described as an ethnographic study which contains a wealth of data on the causes of homelessness from the perspective of homeless youth in Britain. Throughout the study, Hall takes his readers on a journey into the minds of the homeless, their life and the way in which they interact with their care givers, as in homeless youth hostel staff and administrators. The value of the study rests on the fact that Hall functions as an objective communicator of the reality. He completely distances himself to the extent that the reader hardly hears his voice and, instead, allows the homeless to express themselves. Mendes, P. and Moslehuddin, B. (2006) From dependence to interdependence; Towards better outcomes for young people leaving state care. Child Abuse Review, 15, pp. 110-126. Proceeding from the premise that a significant percentage of care leavers join the homeless youth population, Mendes and Moslehuddin examine the underlying causes of the stated. Their research leads them to a number of important findings, among which are that this group of youth are among the most disadvantaged in British society, whether evaluated from the perspective of education, employment opportunities or post-care support. Accordingly, the researchers insist that solutions to the youth homelessness problem in Britain are inextricably linked to the reformation of the institutional child care system itself. Insofar as the dissertation is concerned, the primary value of this study lies in its analysis of both causal factors and possible solutions. Wright, N. (2002) Homelessness: A primary care response. Royal College of General Practitioners, London. Wright examines the phenomenon of chronic homelessness among British youth, as compared to periodic/episodic homelessness. His study indicates that those who suffer from chronic homelessness are, almost without exception, substance abusers or suffer from one form, or another, of mental illness. Accordingly, as Wright asserts, the solution to this particular cause of homelessness lies in the provision of a state support system, as would provide this group with the requisite professional consultation and psychiatric treatment. This study will contribute to the research both as regards the causes of, and solutions for, chronic homelessness among British youth. 3 Learning Account As I approached the dissertation stage of my studies, I naturally began to reflect upon the personal qualities which would facilitate the completion of this stage and those which could obstruct the satisfaction of this objective. One of the first areas of weakness which confronted me was indecisiveness. I was hesitant about settling on a topic and when I finally did, I was too overwhelmed by the vastness of the selected topic to decide upon a specific focus and approach. During this period my supervisor’s advice was invaluable, whether in guiding me towards the selection of homelessness as my research area and homelessness among youth as my research focus. If my initial indecisiveness functioned as an obstacle to my settling on a topic, my determination to succeed motivated me throughout my literature collection stage. It further incited me to read as much of that literature as needed for the acquisition of a sound understanding of the topic. Accordingly, my strengths and weaknesses ultimately balanced out. My supervisor’s advice was not limited to guidance on topic selection, which I had initially proposed to do on a mental health issue, but extended to advice on research aims, objectives, methodology and readings. Much of the literature which I was advised to access and read gave me the impression that there was hardly an area of homelessness which had not been investigated, let alone its causes and consequence. My advisor suggested a focus on homelessness among youth and following my readings on that specific aspect of the homelessness problem, I realised the extent of the problem, its long-term consequences upon society as a whole and, most importantly, gained an insight into the complex nature of its numerous causes. In other words, the importance of researching whether or not homelessness was chiefly a problem among the youth and its leading causes was affirmed by the statistics I came across. From my readings, and in affirmation of the importance of the research, I learnt that the United Kingdom has the highest homelessness rate in the European Union and, one of the highest in the West. One out of every 250 people is homeless. Of this figure, it is estimated that, at least, a quarter of a million youth are living on the streets (Hall, 2003). London is the most affected area with homelessness rates twice the average for all other areas across the United Kingdom. In Luton, the focus of the study, statistics released by the Luton Borough Council indicate that there are at least 1,150 homeless households in the area, with studies indicating an undeniable potential for growth (`Homeless strategy,’ 2003). In other words, and as learnt during initial researching, the problem is a serious and important one, well-worth investigating. As the first task concludes and I approach the dissertation writing stage, I feel quite confident that my learning from other modules will guide me through this stage. This is especially true regarding the Research Methods module. This is not to claim that assignments and researches carried out for other modules are identical to the upcoming research task as, there is no doubt that dissertation research is much more complex because it needs to be highly focused, unfold within a strict methodology, fulfil its stated aims and objectives and have contributory value. Nevertheless, other assignments and research provided invaluable training for the dissertation, whether as regards data collection methods, articulation of research methodology and the structuring of an argument. Proceeding from the above stated, therefore, I feel confident that my readings to date and the learning I bring from other modules will guide me towards the successful completion of the dissertation. 4 Summary of Progress At this stage, I’m prepared to proceed with the collection of the requisite primary data and the writing of the dissertation itself. As the literature has mostly been collected and read through, I find myself quite knowledgeable about the selected topic and eager to begin the study itself, especially as I find it a highly interesting, not to mention, critically important one. Needless to say, this was not my position at the outset. I had, as previously stated, considered writing my dissertation on the social/communal implications of a specific mental health problem. When my supervisor suggested a change in direction, I felt somewhat overwhelmed given the vastness of the proposed topic. Even following an initial research of the topic, I could not clarify my focus. This was primarily because I thought that the subject of homelessness had been so thoroughly researched that I would not be able to contribute much, if anything, to the field. After selecting my area of focus, the causes of youth homelessness, I began to feel that I had a much clearer aim and objective. It was at that point that I began a more focused selection of the literature and eventually reached the present stage of readiness. Having read through much of the literature I’ve accessed and especially after thinking about and completing this first task, I’m now decided on my central research question and my research hypothesis. The question, as earlier stated, is: Is homelessness in Britain a predominantly youth problem? My hypothesis is; Homelessness is a predominantly youth problem, primarily among care leavers, because they have not been afforded the education, mental health care and post-care support required for them to become independent and productive members of society. Having overcome my earlier difficulty regarding area of focus and decided upon my aims, objectives, research question and hypothesis, I am now ready to proceed to the next stage. 5 References Barn, R. (2001) Black youth on the margins: A research review. York, JRF. Commander, M. et al. (2002) A comparison of homeless and domiciled young people.’ Journal of Mental Health, 11(5), pp. 557-564. Hall, T. (2000) At home with the young homeless. International Journal of social Research Methodology, 3(2), 121-133. Hall, T. (2003) Better times than this: Youth homelessness in Britain. Pluto Press, London. Homelessness strategy (2003) Luton Borough Council. http://www.homelessnessact.org.uk/files/forums/293-LutonStrategy.pdf Mendes, P. and Moslehuddin, B. (2006) From dependence to interdependence; Towards better outcomes for young people leaving state care. Child Abuse Review, 15, pp. 110-126. Saunders, M.N.K. et al. (2000). Research Methods for Business Students. Prentice-Hall, London. Sekaran, U. (2003) Research Methods for Business – A Skill-Building Approach. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York. Smith, J. (2006) Housing, homelessness, and mental health in Great Britain. International Journal of Mental Health, 13(1), pp. 22-46. Welshman, J. (1996) In search of the `problem family:’ Public health and social work in England and Wales, 1940-1970. Social History of Medicine, 9, pp. 447-465. Wright, N. (2002) Homelessness: A primary care response. Royal College of General Practitioners, London. Read More