Introduction
The issue of homelessness has been quite acute and widespread for many years. In particular, it is especially significant in New York. On the one hand, it is difficult to “stay afloat” in this city and earn enough money. On the other hand, even though they are homeless, people have many opportunities to find housing and food. Therefore, it is necessary to look at this problem from different angles and come up with different ways to reduce the rate of homelessness in New York. This paper describes articles that have a significant attribution to this issue.
Literature Review
First, it is crucial to understand what affects and causes homelessness. Shapiro (2006) pays special attention to the problems of inequality in society. He argues that in the 21st century, it is more important than ever to uphold freedoms and human rights. One of them is homeownership, which makes people feel secure. This work’s value lies in its modernity and attentive attitude to people regardless of their racial and ethnic characteristics. Mabhala, Yohannes, and Griffith (2017) argue that homelessness is not just a lack of a place to live: it is a complex phenomenon from the field of sociology and public health. Therefore, the approach to addressing it must begin by examining the underlying causes of homelessness. Unhealthy lifestyles and poor relations with government officials are the main drivers of home loss. Therefore, it is necessary to identify and address these psychological and physical problems to improve the population’s living standards.
Rising levels of homelessness are closely related to social change. Tumin (1953) argues that the ideas causing racial and ethnic stratification are archaic. On the other hand, this phenomenon is so widespread and familiar that it undoubtedly possesses some reasons and consequences necessary for humanity. Tim describes the processes that lead to this division, such as people’s different talents and needs. Undoubtedly, this can positively affect people, but it also leads to adverse outcomes such as homelessness. Aldridge (2020) notes the dramatic change in the number of homeless people and writes that this reflects society’s general state. Consequently, the acuteness of the issue of homelessness is associated with the growing problem of social division. Rich people become more successful, while poor people have fewer earning opportunities. Thus, knowing the severity of the problem, people can understand the importance of dealing with it and take the necessary measures.
Researchers note the breadth of problems faced by homeless people. For example, Alowaimer (2018) notes three major obstacles: poverty, hunger, and loneliness. Indeed, homeless people cannot find enough means to live and feed themselves. They also feel rejected by the world around them. This causes a significant number of psychological problems that can manifest themselves even after improving living conditions. Steen (2018) also notes that homelessness complicates learning and training. Homeless people are prone to victimization, health problems, and difficulties in finding a job. Homelessness also affects society: it requires significant expenses on free medicine and the growth of crime.
There are more particular issues related to homelessness in America and worldwide. For example, Morton et al. (2018) examine a particular aspect of homelessness: youth homelessness. The problem is especially acute among young parents, representatives of national or gender minorities, and people without education. The study reflects the relationship between social status and the psychological state of people. Community pressure influences young people to leave their homes. Therefore, it is necessary to work on preventing these situations and help young fugitives. According to the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (2018), youth experiencing homelessness have multiple challenges. They are related not only to basic human needs but also to developmental tasks of adolescent people. Without having enough education and support, they cannot develop properly, which causes problems in their future lives.
Researchers often turn to the issues related to finding new places to live for homeless people. The article by Rodriguez and Eidelman (2017) looks at ways to help the homeless: rapid and transitional rehousing. According to the study, the relocation pace does not affect the likelihood of returning to a past life. However, many homeless people do have different psychological characteristics; consequently, they are often drawn to return to a past life. This work can help in the design of rehabilitation and assistance programs for the homeless. Shaefer, Edin, and Talbert (2015) study the phenomenon of the high level of poverty, in which people receive no more than $2 a day. This issue is especially pronounced among children who do not have the opportunity to receive a stable income. Their parents, as a rule, also have low-paying jobs. This work is revealing in that it portrays the frightening statistics that are the reality for many Americans. This forces researchers to look for ways to deal with the problem and help the described people.
Conclusion
Homelessness is a multifaceted and complex problem. Researchers consider different aspects of it but agree that many social and cultural factors influence this. Homelessness is associated with inequality, lifestyle, moral principles, and other aspects of life. Therefore, it is important to influence them as the root of the problem to get rid of homelessness. Then people will feel safe and live a stable life. They will not want to perform illegal actions and will feel that they have rights. It will help them save their homes and be protected.
References
Aldridge, R. (2020). Homelessness: A barometer of social justice. The Lancet: Public Health, 5(1), E2-E3.
Alowaimer, O. (2018). Causes, effects and issues of homeless people. Journal of Socialomics, 7(3). Web.
Mabhala, M. A., Yohannes, A., & Griffith, M. (2017). Social conditions of becoming homelessness: qualitative analysis of life stories of homeless peoples. International Journal of Equity and Health. Web.
Morton, M. H., et al. (2018). Prevalence and correlates of youth homelessness in the United States. Journal of Adolescent Health, 62(1), 14-21.
Rodriguez, J. M., & Eidelman, T. A. (2017). Homelessness interventions in Georgia: rapid rehousing, transitional housing, and the likelihood of returning to shelter. Housing Policy Debate, 27(6), 825–842.
Shaefer, H. L., Edin, K., & Talbert, E. (2015). Understanding the dynamics of $2-a-day poverty in the united states. The Russell Sage Foundation Journal of the Social Science, 1(1), 120-138.
Shapiro, T. M. (2006). Poverty, justice, and community lawyering: Interdisciplinary and clinical perspectives. Washington University Journal of Law & Policy, 20.
Steen, A. (2018). The many costs of homelessness. The Medical Journal of Australia, 208(4), 167-168.
Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (2018). The healthcare needs and rights of youth experiencing homelessness. Journal of Adolescent Health, 63(3), 372-375.
Tumin, M. M. (1953). Some principles of stratification: A critical analysis. American Sociological Review, 18(4), 387- 394.