Causes and Solutions of the Issue of Homelessness - Research Proposal Example

Perceived Causes and Solutions of the Issue of Homelessness in Research Introduction Similar to other social issues in the world today, homelessness seems the kind of problem that is deceptively easy to address; but despite the vast attention, efforts, and resources allotted by so many different sectors, homelessness remains a misunderstood social problem. Hence, the impact that homelessness has (or does not have) remains a topic of ongoing debate in various sectors and social actors, such as those belonging in the academia, homeless professionals, service providers, government, media and the general public. Relevant studies about homelessness encourage relevant and responsible research that would make a valuable contribution to society and to institutions. This takes root in few studies devoted to examining the extent of homelessness as a problem, its underlying causes and the solutions that appear to be multifarious yet controversial. Moreover, what was considered apparent from the studies surveyed was about finding a common ground in defining homelessness. Conflicting or contradictory definition is already said to either undermine or enhance the health of the homeless, or that solutions may be difficult to apply due to conflicting position about this social issue (Renedo & Jovchelovitch, 2007). Finding the close to bridge the gap between the perceived causes and solutions to homelessness among researchers and practitioners will be the subject of this proposed research. It is the belief of this researcher that understanding the perceived causes and potential solutions to the social problem is important if social researchers and service providers or homeless professionals are to successfully bridge whatever gaps may exist. As what may be considered the more important purpose of this study, translating the findings in ways that are understandable to broader audience and concerned parties will be more appreciated when these findings relate to a phenomena that matters to the message receivers. This researcher is also concerned at answering the following research problems: 1. What are the meaningful gaps that exist between the perceived causes and solutions to homelessness derived from research and practice? 2. What efforts may be applied to bridge any perceived gap in understanding the causes and solutions to the problem of homelessness? 3. What could be the implication of our findings for the homelessness researchers (academics, etc.) and homelessness professionals or service providers? Homelessness research, where derive To understand what homelessness means, it is said one must postpone any attempt to do so without first inquiring into its history. Homelessness must be looked at as a phenomenon, and as such it must not be considered as a timeless thing that is wanting of change and variety. Like all the other realms of human experience, it must be remembered that homelessness research has its history; therefore, one's understanding of its growth must be sensitive to those changes. Relative to this discussion are the views of Weber and Nietzsche during their time. For Weber (1864-1920), “definitions can be attempted, if at all, only at the conclusion of the study.” Meanwhile, Nietzsche (1844-1900) held that “only that which has no history can be defined.” To understand then homelessness studies, we look first into its history. Pascale (2005) discussed that homeless as a term was not immediately the attribute assigned to people who are unable to afford housing through the early 1970s. Studies cited by Pascale preferred to use the terms drifters, transient, vagrant and bum to those who could not afford housing (Blau, 1992; Campbell & Reeves, 1999 in Pascale, 2005). Discourses about homelessness only emerged as increased visibility of the so-called homeless people became more profound. The usage of the characterisations homelessness and the homeless were used as shorthand in the 1980s for this social and economic phenomenon that was emerging (Pascale, 2005). As discourses about homelessness increased, Pascale suggested the perceived gaps in understanding this social issue might be attributed to the perspective used. For example, sociological and psychological researchers may appear contradictory to the economical way of looking at the construct of homelessness as something caused by poverty (Pascale, 2005). The sociological scholars may have to look at homelessness' cause, solutions and social responses based on the framework of sociology as a social problem. Meanwhile, cultural studies may be more concerned with the production of homelessness concept and deconstructing its significance based on media narratives, semiotics and images; in effect, the economic explanation of poverty will be de-centred here. Other areas of cultural studies that may be undertaken involves studies on the formation and cultural representations of home, history and ideology of houses and homes and more (Pascale, 2005). Meanwhile, Renedo & Jovchelovitch (2007) are more concerned with the underlying problems of homeless as an outgrowth of the unstable and contested meanings that were arrived at. They argued that the problem of homelessness could be solved through arriving at a clear understanding of how the issue is framed by different stakeholders and social actors. The controversy about homelessness, according to Renedo and Jovchelovitch (2007) remains in full force unless the wide gap in the conceptualisation and framing of homelessness by different social actors will be closed. For the practice of resolving homelessness after learning from the research about this, will help homelessness professionals or service providers to engage with the pressures of providing a humanising approach to the social problem, and deal with the demands coming from the statutory sector (Renedo & Jovchelovitch, 2007). Without a closure on perceived causes and solutions, and of course of the meanings and definitions of homelessness, care-related practices, interventions and treatment of the homeless that are deemed appropriate may pose more challenges to health professionals. Hence, if there is in fact a meaningful gap between homelessness research and practice, closure may be arrived at if the concerned practitioners change their knowledge transfer and/or knowledge production processes. Perhaps, practitioners may only change these processes if proposed solutions fit their perceptions of the problems. Perceived Causes and Solutions to Homelessness In the Report on Homeless in Sudbury, Kauppi and Belanger (2001) cited in their report some perceived causes of homelessness, which include substance use disorders, mental illness, unemployment and low wages, domestic violence, family issues, poverty and lack of affordable housing. Primary perceived solutions cited are: 1) government funding for welfare, social services and programs to support homeless people; 2) establishment of shelters; 3) job assistance, and 4) affordable housing. Meanwhile, the report on the perceived causes and solution to the problem of homelessness in the London Borough of Croydon, the Homelessness Strategy 2008-2010 Client Consultation Report (2008) documented the causes to family breakdown, drug and alcohol abuse, criminality, bereavement and mental health issues. The study said that it was discovered that most of the homeless experienced not only one but sometimes the combination of two or three of these cited causes. The perceived solutions that respondents to the study claimed include: an accessible rent deposit scheme, a list of recommended landlords who accept Housing Benefit, support in dealing with landlords and assistance to cover high rents, advertising in projects by foundations and protocols with private landlords that would ensure fair treatment of tenants. In the Promoting the Social Inclusion of Homeless People study of the causes and effects of homelessness in Northern Ireland (2004), the report identified some of the key causes of homelessness. These include: neighbourhood and racists’ harassments, resettlement of the homeless, intimidation, housing segregation and others. The same paper, however, indicated some of its proposed approaches to resolving homelessness. These include the launch of a Shared Future project, that aims to address the following: elimination of sectarianism and racism; reduce conflict at interface areas, support the development of integrated/shared communities and shaping of policies and practices that would enable trust and good relations. The report suggested that the government can do more in assisting people to resettle after homelessness through different ways of supporting the former homeless in accessing benefits, health and community care services, establishing social support and social networking and more. Family breakdown as the perceived cause of homelessness was zeroed in by the paper, Breakthrough Britain Ending the Costs of Social Breakdown, Vol. 1: Family Breakdown Policy Recommendations to the Conservative Party. Smith and Callan (2007) identified the continued decline of family stability in Great Britain, citing as perceived solution to this problem the benefits of marriage and committed relationships, and the merits of supporting and encouraging them. Proposed Methodology As a means to better understand beliefs regarding the homelessness research-practice gap and what should be done about it, this paper will employ the qualitative data research approach that uses semi-structure personal interviews to survey the attitudes, beliefs, experiences of homelessness professional or service providers and researchers concerned with this study in the academia, particularly sociologists, psychologists and media studies experts. Data gathering will be conducted through the collection of unstructured interviews, and will be used to measure the independent variables and dependent variables. However, instrument that the researcher will prepare must first have to pass through validation and the supervisor of the research will be requested to approve the instrument before administering the same. The help of statisticians may be sought to make the statistical analysis. Once the results are gathered, a preliminary analysis of the results of the survey and interview will be conducted. This researcher will seek the supervisor to check the preliminary analysis before conducting the personal interview. For the interview part, the open-ended questionnaire will be used to gather the interviewees' feelings about the research topic. Questions to be asked will be based on the research questions for this paper. The personal interviews will be recorded, transcribed and then read individually. The transcription will be reviewed, refined and approved by the supervisor. Following this, the researcher will design a semi-structure interview. At this stage, interviewees will be encouraged to clarify vague statements and to further elaborate on brief comments. To ensure the paper's credibility, the interviewer will not share his/her own beliefs and opinions. The procedure for analysis will be grounded in qualitative data analytic procedures to find and build theories that will explain the relationship of one variable with another variable through qualitative elements in research. Since qualitative research model is multi-method in focus, it will be expected that this paper exhibit an interpretative and naturalistic approach to its subject matter (Seidel, 1998). In view of this, researcher using qualitative method will study the subjects in their natural settings to attempt to interpret and make sense of phenomena in terms of the meanings that people may bring to them. Methods to be employed are varied and may be interconnected at qualitative research methods, thus, allowing this researcher to get a better fix on the subject matter under scrutiny. This researcher will afterwards provide a summary of all the information obtained, make a conclusion based on the hypotheses, and then prepare recommendations. To ensure that the proposed study will meet all ethical standard applicable in conducting research studies, such as integrity of the researchers and the samples to be used for the study, this paper will adhere to the inherent principles of validating and clarifying the procedures and the instruments to be used. Use of coding in evaluating and analysing the results of the procedures must also be addressed keenly to provide an objective and minimise the subjectivity of the use of tool, hence affect the overall credential of the resources uses and the research outcome. Meanwhile, the resources that will be used in the whole course of the study may not immediately be quantified in financial terms, however, these can be identified. In this regard, these items may include the following: 1) travel expenses to social welfare houses for the homeless where the samples will be selected; 2) a single room that will be rented during the whole course of the sampling; 3) audio recording tools; 4) print-outs of all necessary testing materials; 5) audio recording equipments in the conduct of the semi-structured interview; 6) interview transcription services; 7) food and beverages to be given during testing hours; and 8) statistician services. As a social research design, this paper adopts the stages proposed by Blaikie (2000) about the two linear progression of the physical handling of the research process and the linear sequence of decisions. As such, this paper then commences with the identification or formulation of the research problems, statement of hypothesis, generation of measuring instruments, selection of sample, the collection of the data, analysis of the data, and the preparation of the report. The sequence pertaining to decision-making will follow thereafter. Implication of the Proposed Research Method This paper projects that interviewees who took part in this research and responded to our survey – no matter what their job, experience, location, or other defining attributes may be – do perceive a gap between homelessness research and practice, who may or not be somewhat concerned about it. It may also be discovered that no matter how the questions were phrased and how the data were split, majority o the respondents might agree to our assumption that a research-practice gap exist. This researcher is also aware given the nature of the research design and instrument that our interviewee samples will likely have some selection biases. But there is a likely pattern of concern among the sample researchers and practitioners who were involved in this research. This paper then assumed that through the methodology employed, our research questions and hypotheses will be resolved, and that actions may be taken to mend or bridge the perceived gap between the cause and solution to homelessness. As this paper is eagerly anticipating, the interviewees would tend to identify different causes and different solutions to our subject. Cited References Blaikie, N., 2000. Preparing Research Proposals and Research Designs. Designing Social Research: The Logic of Anticipation. Cambridge: Polity Press. Briefing Paper No. 7: Community Safety & Criminal Justice Promoting the Social Inclusion of Homeless People, 2004, December. Addressing the Causes and Effects of Homelessness in Northern Ireland. Groundswell, 2008, May. London Borough of Croydon's Homelessness Strategy 2008- 2012 Client Consultation. Groundswell, UK. Hakim, K., 1987. Research Design: strategies and choices in the design of social research, London: Unwin Hyman. Kauppi, K., & Belanger, J.M., 2001, May. Report on Homelessness in Sudbury: Comparison of Findings (July 2000 and January 2001). Pascale, C., 2005. There's No Place Like Home: The Discursive Creation of Homelessness. Cultural Studies Critical Methodologies, 5(2). London: Sage Publications. Prokopyev, O., 2011. Conceptualizing electoral revolutions: challenges and promises. [online] [Accessed 24 August 2011]. Renedo, A. & Jovchelovitch, S., 2007. Expert Knowledge, Cognitive Polyphasia and Health: A Study on Social Representations of Homelessness among Professionals Working in Voluntary Sector in London. Journal of Health Psychology. London: Sage Publications. Siedel, J.V., 1998. Qualitative Data Analysis. Qualis Research. [online] Available at . [Accessed on 24 August 2011]. Smith, I. D., & Callan, S., 2007, July. Breakthrough Britain Ending the Costs of Social Breakdown: Vol. 1: Family Breakdown Policy Recommendations to the Conservative Party. Social Justice Policy Group. Read More