Studyspark Study Document

Victims of Homelessness Research Paper

Pages:5 (1359 words)

Sources:8

Subject:Personal Issues

Topic:Homelessness

Document Type:Research Paper

Document:#74972177


Homelessness is an issue that has persisted in the United States because of the ever-changing demographic factors and economic circumstances. The composition and size of the homeless population in the country continues to change due to these varying factors. Over the past decade, homelessness has attracted public attention given the dramatic increase in the number and composition of victims. While numerous efforts have been undertaken to address the issue, homelessness remains a major problem for policymakers and the public. An important element in dealing with the problem of homelessness is understanding victimization and its contributing factors. Through understanding victimization, policymakers and other stakeholders will develop suitable policies and approaches to address homelessness. This paper explores street crime victimization of homeless women and children.

Importance of the Issue

According to Stanley et al. (2016), homelessness is an ongoing problem facing the United States as the size of the homeless population continues to increase dramatically. The United States has witnessed a dramatic increase in the number of the homeless population, which has attracted public attention. This population is vulnerable to various issues including high morbidity and mortality rates, poor health conditions, stigmatization, and victims of crime. Recent studies have shown that approximately 49% of homeless people have been victims of violent crimes while 62% have witnessed violent attacks on another homeless individual (Stanley et al., 2016). Therefore, addressing the plight of homeless people is a major public policy issue, particularly in the field of criminal justice and social work. Policymakers and other relevant stakeholders are faced with the need to develop suitable policies and approaches to address the ongoing problem of homelessness in the country.

Existing statistics demonstrate that women and children are the most affected people groups. Women and children are more likely to become homeless in comparison to men. For example, in 2015, more than 31,500 adults and children flew from their homes to seek refuse in homeless shelters and others because of domestic violence (Family & Youth Services Bureau, 2016). 80% of these adults fleeing their homes were mothers with children. Domestic violence accounts for 30% of contributing factors to homelessness among women and children. Bendix (2019) states that homeless populations have increased in more than 10 states in the past decade. States with the highest homeless populations include Washington, DC, New York and Hawaii. While some states have witnessed more than 35% increase in the…

Some parts of this document are missing

Click here to view full document

…women and children and others. Currently, various federal, state and local agencies exist to provide social services and promote the welfare of these populations. Some of the existing agencies include state and local police agencies, Office of Homeless Services, federal Department of the Homeless, and various homeless services programs. Moreover, homeless women and children can obtain support from the Family and Youth Services Bureau.

In conclusion, the issue of homelessness is an ongoing problem in the United States exacerbated by the dramatic increase in the size and composition of homeless populations. As shown in this analysis, women and children are the mostly affected populations while domestic violence and drugs and alcohol abuse are the major contributing factors. Homeless women and children have continued to be targets of street crime victimization and violence that results in adverse health events. The high rates street crime victimization of these populations can be addressed through concerted efforts between various stakeholders including policymakers, law enforcement personnel, and social workers. This would entail making changes to the social environment of homeless people, improving the current housing system for these populations, and policy changes to provide safe homes for victims of domestic violence. The multi-faceted nature of…


Sample Source(s) Used

References

Bachega, H. (2018, October 8). Homeless in US: A Deepening Crisis on the Streets of America. BBC. Retrieved November 22, 2019, from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-45442596

Bendix, A. (2019, November 18). The 9 States with the Worst Homelessness Crises Reveal How Bad the Housing Crunch Has Gotten in US Cities. Business Insider. Retrieved November 22, 2019, https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-homelessness-states-worst-crises-2018-11?IR=T

Ellsworth, J.T. (2018, December 3). Street Crime Victimization Among Homeless Adults: A Review of the Literature. Victims & Offenders: An International Journal of Evidence-based Research, Policy and Practice, 14(1), 96-118.

Family & Youth Services Bureau. (2016, June 24). Domestic Violence and Homelessness: Statistics (2016). Retrieved from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/fysb/resource/dv-homelessness-stats-2016

Norris, S. (2019, September 9). Women Fleeing Abuse Are Being ‘re-traumatized’ by the Housing System. City Metric. Retrieved November 22, 2019, from https://www.citymetric.com/politics/women-fleeing-abuse-are-being-re-traumatised-housing-system-4769

Stanley, J.L., Jansson, A.V., Akinyemi, A.A. & Mitchell, C.S. (2016, November). Characteristics of Violent Deaths Among Homeless People in Maryland, 2003-2011. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 51(5), S260-S266.

Turner, M.M., Funge, S.P. & Gabbard, W.J. (2018). Victimization of the Homeless: Perceptions, Policies, and Implications for Social Work Practice. Journal of Social Work in the Global Community, 3(1), 1-12.

Tyler, K.A. & Beal, M.R. (2010). The High-risk Environment of Homeless Young Adults: Consequences for Physical and Sexual Victimization. Violence and Victims, 25(1), 101-115.

Cite this Document

Join thousands of other students and "spark your studies."

Sign Up for FREE
Related Documents

Studyspark Study Document

Homelessness in the United States

Pages: 35 (10814 words) Sources: 12 Subject: Family and Marriage Document: #62881185

" How many people are homeless? The number of homeless is difficult to ascertain because estimates vary depending on the methodology used. Numbers also vary substantially depending on whether a measurement is taken on a single night or is extrapolated to a given year. One approximation of the annual number of homeless in America is from a study done by the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, which estimates between 2.3 and

Studyspark Study Document

Homelessness in the United States

Pages: 20 (6190 words) Sources: 10 Subject: Family and Marriage Document: #11591517

Crime is not the only issue where homelessness is concerned, however, and homelessness in and of itself can be very difficult for someone to deal with, especially if the homelessness was unexpected or there are many familial obligations that suddenly will not be met (such as in the case of a single mother, for example). When homelessness occurs this way and causes these kinds of problems, there can be very

Studyspark Study Document

Homelessness Due to Unemployment Today's

Pages: 3 (1014 words) Sources: 5 Subject: Sociology Document: #54431292

Being poor means being an illness, an accident, or a paycheck away from living on the streets" (the National Coalition for the Homeless, 2002). Statistics of federal agencies revealed however, that throughout the past few months, the number of middle-class professionals and families seeking refuge in the state shelters has drastically increased. In the Los Angeles County for instance, former lawyers, pre-med students, real-estate agents, business owners and other highly

Studyspark Study Document

Homelessness in America and Why We Should Help Them Especially Homeless Women...

Pages: 7 (2237 words) Sources: 1+ Subject: Sociology Document: #85743854

Homelessness in the United States has been a growing social concern. It has also become clear that measures to deal with the problem have not been significantly effective. Specifically vulnerable to this problem are women, often the sole care takers of young children. The problem then imprints itself not only on the unemployed, but also upon those who depend upon these individuals for their livelihood. Homelessness then becomes a vicious

Studyspark Study Document

Homelessness in Canada Is Considered

Pages: 5 (1320 words) Sources: 5 Subject: Sociology Document: #56113510

The government in Canada did make attempts, in the fashion of 'too little, too late' to "contain the rapid growth of homelessness with homeless shelters and other short-term crisis-based services." (Laird, 2007; p.,6) This is a failed strategy according to Laird (2007); Huff (2006); Hargrave (2005); Pollack (2008). The Government of Canada has reported in its' March 17, 2008 report that it is assisting families and individuals who "are

Studyspark Study Document

Homelessness in Orange County

Pages: 6 (2673 words) Sources: 4 Subject: Disease Document: #68215575

Homelessness in Orange County California Homelessness in Orange County - II The natural history of disease refers to the progress of the disease process in an individual over time and in the absence of intervention (Figure 1.1). Knowledge of the natural history of a disease helps us to understand the effects and mechanism of actions, potential interventions, and the different levels of the prevention of disease. Natural history of disease Source: based on

Join thousands of other students and

"spark your studies".