Introduction
The gradual improvement of the quality of people’s lives is the most critical global concern nowadays. The United Nations, along with the governments of all civilized states, focuses on helping people to improve their living conditions and enjoy various benefits. However, despite numerous attempts to resolve most complex issues, numerous systemic problems remain. Homelessness is one of the concerns of this cohort.
Millions of people live without shelter and suffer from numerous adverse effects associated with the condition. For this reason, the global community takes numerous steps to address it. Homelessness is a global social concern caused by numerous factors, while substance abuse is the leading one, which means that addressing the issue and resolving it will significantly improve public health.
Significance
Homelessness can be defined in numerous ways, depending on the perspective on the problem. Thus, one of the generalized definitions views homeless individuals as people with no permanent home (Sleet & Francescutti, 2021). Several factors evidence the topicality of the selected problem. First, recent statistics show that around 1.6 billion people live in inadequate housing conditions globally (United Nations, 2020). This means they face a higher risk of multiple adverse effects. These include deteriorated mental and physical health, substance abuse, physical abuse, reduced lifespan, and increased crime rates (Sleet & Francescutti, 2021).
Moreover, there is a threatening tendency to evidence that despite numerous attempts to manage it, homelessness has increased in recent years (Sleet & Francescutti, 2021). This means that if left unaddressed, the problem might become more significant and substantially impact the states at the national level. For this reason, there is a critical need to find effective ways to improve the situation.
Homelessness also predicts public health and the quality of people’s lives. The issue directly correlates with the significant decline in individuals’ physical and mental health (Sleet & Francescutti, 2021). People with no permanent home have high rates of HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis A, mental illness, tuberculosis, and cardiovascular diseases (Sleet & Francescutti, 2021). They also suffer from racism, discrimination, abuse, and biased attitudes existing within society (Sleet & Francescutti, 2021).
In healthcare, homelessness is associated with an increased number of visits to the emergency department and high rates of new visits because of the lack of shelter to recover from the disease (Sleet & Francescutti, 2021). It increases costs, meaning that funds necessary for promoting public health are spent on managing the outcomes of homelessness. In such a way, the problem of homelessness has numerous negative impacts on society and all its institutions. It explains its significance and the need for addressing it to improve public health.
Causes
As stated previously, homelessness is a complex issue associated with numerous factors. Moreover, they evolve in terms of the current situation in the world, peculiarities of global economics, and dominant values. Nowadays, research shows that the problem is mainly associated with three factors such as substance abuse, domestic violence, and mental illness (Zhao, 2022). The causes might also include economic factors and unemployment, which substantially impact individuals (Zhao, 2022). However, today, recent investigations show that homelessness is strongly associated with substance abuse (Zhao, 2022).
Two-thirds of homeless people state that drugs or other addictive substances are the central reason for their current state (Zhao, 2022). It is explained by several factors impacting all spheres of an individual’s life. First, addicted people acquire difficulties in communicating with family and close people, which might lead to abuse and homelessness (Zhao, 2022). Second, addicted individuals might have financial difficulties and lose their jobs because of the decreased performance and health issues caused by the addiction (Zhao, 2022). As a result, they cannot afford shelter and start living on the streets, which impacts their physical and mental health.
Furthermore, substance abuse is closely related to other causes of poverty and often works as the factor triggering the development of others. In families with a drug-addicted partner, the risk of domestic violence increases significantly compared to healthy relations (Zhao, 2022). It means that addiction leads to the emergence of numerous conflicts that have adverse impacts on individuals’ lives and their ability to socialize.
Additionally, drugs are expensive, meaning that more money is required, while the sources of income are not stable (Zhao, 2022). As a result, an addicted person suffers from numerous stressful factors and faces a high risk of becoming homeless. In such a way, the problem is complex as causes impacting its emergence are interconnected and require a systemic approach to address them.
In such a way, the problem of homelessness can be associated with the pandemic of substance abuse affecting contemporary society. The high stress and uncertainty caused by the recent COVID-19 pandemic, fear, and complex financial situation worsened the situation (Abramson, 2021). As a result, substance abuse became one of the coping strategies used by numerous people (Abramson, 2021).
At the same time, it led to a dramatic increase in the number of homeless individuals. In such a way, stress, fear, and the complex global situation might also be viewed as the causes of homelessness. This means that designing the solution requires much attention from governments and changing the existing system to ensure that individuals are provided with the necessary assistance and feel relief from stress.
Possible Solution
The difficulties of addressing the problem of homelessness and its persistence can be explained by the impossibility of introducing a universal solution. As stated previously, the problem is caused by numerous factors and causes, meaning that a systemic approach is required to alter the existing situation. At the same time, it is vital to address the significant factors associated with the emergence of one of the central factors, such as substance abuse, causing financial difficulties. It can be achieved by introducing governmental programs to support those in need and who struggle against the first signs of addiction. Unique jobs and coping programs should be offered to improve the situation and ensure it is possible to manage it effectively (O’Regan et al., 2021). Otherwise, there is a high risk of facing undesired outcomes and further sophistication of the question.
Conclusion
Altogether, the problem of homelessness is one of the most important social concerns of the modern age. It is a global issue requiring much government attention to ensure progress and reduce the number of people living without shelter. The question’s significance is evidenced by its negative impact on public health and the nation’s well-being. Numerous factors cause homelessness, while substance abuse is one of the first among them. The solution might imply using a systemic approach to address all possible aspects, such as high levels of stress, complicated access to sources of income, and support to substance-addicted individuals to help them quit.
References
Abramson, A. (2021). Substance abuse during the pandemic. American Psychological Association, 52(2), 22. Web.
O’Regan, K., Ellen, I., & House, S. (2021). How to address homelessness: Reflections from research. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 693(1), 322-332. Web.
Sleet, D. A., & Francescutti, L. H. (2021). Homelessness and public health: A focus on strategies and solutions. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(21), 11660. Web.
United Nations. (2020). First-ever United Nations resolution on homelessness. Web.
Zhao, E. (2022). The key factors contributing to the persistence of homelessness. International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology, 30(1), 1-5. Web.