StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Homelessness in Modern Society - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
This essay "Homelessness in Modern Society" focuses on homelessness in modern society that is not a new thing as it existed even in earlier times, but experiences and perceptions of the homeless have changed. Homeless people tend to be desperate to find a place to call home…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER95.5% of users find it useful
Homelessness in Modern Society
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Homelessness in Modern Society"

Homelessness in modern society is not a new thing as it existed even in earlier times, but experiences and perceptions of the homeless have changed. As such, persons who are homeless tend to be desperate to find a place to call home, and their state of despair usually leads many astray in relation to crime. As a result of this, I cannot say that all my experiences with the homeless have been good, but neither have they been bad. Some of the homeless people I have interacted with are into petty crime in order to cater to their daily needs while making just enough money from regular activities to afford motel fees.

On the hand, there are the homeless that I have had good experiences with in that they barter their services for accommodation. This makes them very industrious and friendly with anyone interested in addressing their plight, as it shows not all homeless people are evil. A personal opinion on homelessness points to two issues as the chief cause of homelessness, where one cannot help but first point a finger at society for its structures. As such, the breakdown of social structures is to blame for the high rate of homelessness and even homelessness in itself, where social senses of responsibility have been disregarded.

It is as a result of this there is no one to look after the needs of the homeless by even offering accommodation except for homeless shelters, but then again, these are not entirely social structures but institutions. On the other hand, there is also the individual part of the issue, where some are just comfortable living off free accommodation in homeless shelters, while others just lack the ambition to get an improved life. This way, they do not have credentials to get jobs or even look forward to getting jobs of their own.

This makes it an individual issue in that homelessness is directly affiliated with the personal factors of an individual and his/ her general outlook in life. Institutions in the issue of homelessness have a hand in that it is up to them to curtail the proliferation of homelessness following the inherent nature of the issue in being individualistic, as well as structural. This is because institutions such as families need to stay close-knit in order to look after their own and ensure that their members are not out on the streets.

Consequently, there are other institutions such as charities that look after those that do not have families by establishing homeless shelters such as those started by urban authorities and other religious institutions to address the lack of accommodation for the poor or those that lose their homes due to poor financial decision making. Financial institutions also have a role in the issue of homelessness in that they act as part of why the issue exists through the repossession of people’s houses to compensate for loans and poor investments by their clients.

This way, social institutions have a key role in homelessness in that some cause it, while others attempt to tackle the issue. Different social theories provide different perceptions of homelessness in that their focus lies on different aspects of society. As a result, the functionalist theory focuses on the concept of an orderly society, where all institutions are functional and efficient (Kendall 368). As such, homelessness is perceived as a failure by some institutions to fulfill their part in society such as family in keeping its members protected, and the government in providing adequate housing for its people.

Homelessness becomes a social issue created by people through the social structures they create. The conflict theory, on the other hand, views society as being in a consistent power struggle, thus in this case, homelessness becomes a struggle for the poor in society to establish stability, while the rich seek to keep this away from them. This is because it takes away their power, thus the status quo must remain with the rich being rich and the poor, poor. Other theories such as the symbolic interactionist theory perceive homelessness as an individual issue, which can only be understood by understanding the homeless people one at a time and their unique circumstances (Kendall 367).

This way, tackling the issue would involve empowering each individual on his or her own level to overcome homelessness as it focuses on individual differences. The postmodernist theory has its own perception of homelessness in that it opposes the academic generalization of other theories, thus making homelessness an issue brought about by numerous factors coming together such breakdown of social structures, segregation, inequalities, and economic, as well as political oppression. This way, homelessness is brought out as an issue with its core in society and all its problems brought together, making homelessness part of its own cause.

In conclusion, homelessness is a social problem that can be analyzed using theories and with each theory standing for its own set of ideas. This way, homelessness gains multiple dimensions from which it can occur and be tackled. 

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Homelessness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words”, n.d.)
Homelessness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/sociology/1482553-homelessness
(Homelessness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 Words)
Homelessness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 Words. https://studentshare.org/sociology/1482553-homelessness.
“Homelessness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/sociology/1482553-homelessness.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Homelessness in Modern Society

Homelessness in the United States

homelessness in THE UNITED STATES Name: Institution: Despite the United States being the richest economy in the world with low unemployment and a high per capita income, it is still dogged the problems of homelessness.... This problem worsened during the great depression where even warehouses holding as much as 4000 people were not sufficient; thus began the modern problem of homelessness in the United States.... The federal government responded to homelessness for the first time through the McKinney Homeless Assistance Act of 1987 (P....
3 Pages (750 words) Essay

Homelessness in United States

This research paper aims to discuss the problem of homelessness in United States, that is gaining polarized debate.... This research paper explores on various issues relating to homelessness in the United States.... homelessness in the United States is gaining polarized debate.... The homeless suffer from various diseases and this poses danger to the society at large.... This problem therefore seeks solutions since it is one of the major crises facing the society today....
4 Pages (1000 words) Research Paper

HIV and Homelessness

The subsequent essay will as a result explore the relationship between HIV/AIDS infection and Homelessness in Modern Society rural and urban society.... In almost all countries in the world, both HIV/AIDS infections, as well as homelessness in rural and urban areas, are widespread and interrelated (Beijer and Andreasson, 2009).... The paper "HIV and Homelessness " highlights that the understanding of the relationship and factors that result in homelessness and HIV/AIDS in society will therefore help in the identification of the most appropriate means of dealing with the identified social problems....
19 Pages (4750 words) Term Paper

Housing and homelessness

The members of social care services provide affordable housing to people to secure their life and reduce health issues that lead towards the development of a healthy society (Department of Housing and Public Works, 2014).... It will be vital to mention that in this present day context, the issue concerning homelessness must have ‘no place in the society'.... The basic needs of individuals are often ascertained as In the present day context, homelessness along with housing need is considered to be a social issue, which hampers the economic growth and stability of a country at large....
16 Pages (4000 words) Coursework

Homelessness

hile it is understandable that homelessness affects all sectors of the society, Watson (2010) argued that the older adults withstand the worst of the effects of homelessness.... A more general description of homelessness could entail many issues.... This paper focuses on various homelessness issues including the scope of the problem and solutions to the problem.... In addition, the paper looks at the problem from a theoretical homelessness is a serious issue across the globe as it affects numerous numbers of people....
5 Pages (1250 words) Research Paper

The Social Problem of Homelessness

Clearly the homeless are not well-respected in our modern society.... In order to prevent and eliminate homelessness, it is important to understand how and why homelessness has become so prevalent in our society?... This work "The Social Problem of homelessness" focuses on people's reactions to homelessness, recommendations for solving this problem.... We should form new organizations that can help in the fight against homelessness, there is also a need for a change in the perception....
6 Pages (1500 words) Term Paper

Problems of Homelessness

This work "Problems of homelessness" describes the main aspects of homelessness life, its problems, reasons for being homeless, actions of the government in support of these people.... The author outlines a strike at the core factors contributing to homelessness and the situation in the USA.... million people experience homelessness each year (NSCAHH).... There are three types of homelessness.... Primary homelessness refers to the situation whereby people are living in deficit buildings, staying on the streets or using cars as a temporary shelter....
8 Pages (2000 words) Term Paper

The Effect of Homelessness on Society

A vast number of research works related to the various spheres of science were dedicated to studying the problem of homelessness in various countries.... A vast number of research works related to the spheres of sociology, anthropology, economy, politics, and psychology were dedicated to studying the problem of homelessness in various countries and the effective ways to address it.... The paper "The Effect of Homelessness on society" underlines that the contemporary empirical and theoretical studies conducted by the specialists in various spheres and dedicated to the problem of homelessness provide little information concerning its impact on present-day society....
9 Pages (2250 words) Coursework
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us