Introduction
Homelessness is among the rapidly changing and complicated issues in the United States. This problem affects not only adults and the elderly but also minors, stemming from a lack of support and the influence of poverty. In his book What the Dog Saw, Malcolm Gladwell emphasizes that homelessness is a major social issue since people afflicted by such circumstances “need time and attention and lots of money” (Gladwell, 2009, p.144).
Main Body
When discussing the issue, it is noteworthy that many government agencies have diverse definitions of the word “homelessness” that are important and have evolved. To better serve the needs of their particular subpopulations (such as homeless single people, homeless minors, or homeless families), agencies might modify definitions of homelessness to reflect those variations (Permanent Supportive Housing, 2018). A person or family that lacks a stable, consistent, appropriate residence, including those residing in shelters, transitional housing, or locations not intended for occupancy, is considered to be homeless (Permanent Supportive Housing, 2018). Therefore, a lack of proper housing and stability in people’s lives makes them homeless.
Prevalence
While the definition of homelessness can alter, the overall trend in the social issue remains the same, with more people becoming homeless. According to Yarvis and colleagues (2023), about 568,000 persons were homeless as of 2019, based on the 2019 Annual Homeless Assessment Report submitted to the United States Congress. As per another source, the one by Sleet and Francescutti (2021), there were 580,466 homeless persons in one night in January 2020, approximately 18 out of every 10,000 individuals, a 2.2% rise over the previous year. Such statistics highlight how, within a short timeframe, the number of homeless people increases by thousands. More than 226,000 persons, or 61% of the homeless population, were living in unprotected streets, abandoned houses, or other areas unsuited for occupancy (Sleet & Francescutti, 2021). This emphasizes how the trend in homelessness continues to remain the same, with more people becoming afflicted by a lack of housing and, therefore, access to equal opportunities. The issue will only persist with proper interventions, affecting thousands more people.
Way to Address Homelessness
Lastly, it is crucial to emphasize how the issue of homelessness can be addressed. A number of fundamental economic and social problems, including impoverishment, a lack of affordable accommodation, poor mental and physical well-being, issues with addiction, and community and family disintegration, contribute to the complexity of the social problem (Yarvis et al., 2023). By addressing these factors, it will be possible to prevent and minimize occurrences of homelessness. For example, a holistic approach to tackling homelessness can involve a counseling services program. First, such a program will involve financial counseling, which will help vulnerable populations receive support and solve issues of stable housing and income. Second, the program can involve mental health and substance abuse counseling, allowing individuals to lead a healthier lifestyle and reduce the likelihood of instability and homelessness.
Conclusion
Finally, life skills training can be involved in the program, which will address the issues of self-care and personal development, contributing to the vulnerable population’s independence and security. Overall, the program prevents and tackles homelessness through holistic approaches that offer support in the context of housing and employment as well as basic life skills and health counseling.
References
Gladwell, M. (2009). What the dog saw and other adventures. Little, Brown and Company.
Permanent supportive housing: Evaluating the evidence for improving health outcomes among people experiencing chronic homelessness. (2018). United States: National Academies Press. 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), 1-6. Web.
Yarvis, J., Lukic, A. N., & Babbs, D. W. (2023). End homelessness. In E. L. Weiss & R. P. Maiden (Eds.), Social work education and the grand challenges (pp.138-172). Taylor & Francis.