Students, to further our conversation regarding the topic of homelessness, look
ID: 3499478 • Letter: S
Question
Students, to further our conversation regarding the topic of homelessness, look into how a sociologist might see homelessness from a cultural context. As you continue to reply to your classmates initial post, think of a global perspective of homelessness and how it influence our perception of homelessness in America. Furthermore, what resources in your state or local community would you contact if you or a family member suddenly found themselves homeless? Would you start with a government agency or a charitable organization? Why or why not? Are the solutions to homelessness different when it is an individual situation versus when it is on a wide spread scale such as the homelessness from a tornado, hurricane, or refugees from war? Students, your initial post is very important. Make sure to answer the topic. Cite your scholarly sources following APA format. This class requires APA reference format.
Explanation / Answer
Global perspective on homelessness relates to 'The Great Recession' and its effects on homelessness throughout the world. The Great Recession was an economic crisis, which took place in the year 2008, and engulfed the world. It motivated local government municipalities to analyze their strategies for dealing with the crisis. The repercussions of recession were reducing wages of the middle and low income earners and high unemployment. It also produced unsheltered homeless in New York City, rough sleepers in London and sans-abris in Paris and poblacion callejera in Mexico City.
The labor market conditions in the United States started worsening drastically, since December, 2007. Unemployment in the U.S. reached a high of 10.1 percent in 2009 from a pre-recession low of 4.4 percent, making it the largest post-war increase in the unemployment rate.
The definition of homeless in the U.S. is comparatively narrow, including only the 'literal homeless'. These literal homeless are known to reside in places not to be utilized for human habitation. These places include streets, parks, commuter stations, vehicles and abandoned buildings. The U.S. Housing and Urban Development agency has neglected the 'grievously housed' in the definition of homeless (like those residing in motels). It is important to note that almost 40% of households in the U.S. have been facing the repercussions of unemployment or negative home equity or foreclosure, etc. An increase has been noticed in children residing in unstable housing.
In my state or local community, i would contact a charitable organization for a homeless family member. Government agencies fail to provide quality and timely accomodation to the homeless. Charitable organizations are comparitively more efficienct and flexible, more independent and have narrower focus.
The solutions to homelessness are different when it is an individual situation, than when it is on a wide spread scale such as homelessness from tornado, hurricane or refugees from war. Any change on a wide spread scale is globally more noticeable, grab the eye balls of the world media and therefore require immediate and quick attention and action. More the number of people affected, more will be the noise created and more will the consequent disturbance. In case of an individual, his homelessness can go unnoticed, making him suffer for a long period of time.