Victims of Homelessness Research Paper

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…

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…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…