Conflict Theory Of Homelessness

Area of Conflict Homelessness can be understood in the perspective of conflict theory, which holds that capitalism is one the main reason for homelessness.

“Capitalism is a social system based on the recognition of individual rights, including property rights, in which all property is privately owned” (Ayn Rand).

There are many reasons why a person becomes homeless, an increasing number become homeless each year, with up to 5,000 people becoming homeless every year. Generally the experiences that lead to homelessness are determined by poverty and structural inequality. Causes can be divided into the following. Structural Causes: These can include poverty, unemployment, and lack of good quality, affordable housing. More people are now at risk

Also people leaving prison or mental health institutions with nowhere to go to on their release/discharge can end up homeless. Services need to ensure that when people are leaving institutional care that they have a place to go. Relationship Causes: This can include an abusive relationship or family breakdown. Either way, one or more people may need to leave the home and may have nowhere to go. Death in a family can also be a cause of homelessness as the person may not be able to afford accommodation on one income. Personal Causes: This can include mental illness, learning difficulties, problematic alcohol or/and drug use. If a person has one or more of these problems, they may find it difficult to manage the home they are in or it may lead to other problems such as losing job and inability to pay mortgage/rent or relationship breakdown and have to leave the home. Generally it is a combination of these factors that result in a person becoming homeless. For example, if someone lost their job and their relationship broke down, they may have to leave the family home but not be able to afford to rent alternative

Starting in the 1980s, successive governments encouraged local authorities to sell off social housing, which has not been replaced. The private construction sector has so far failed to increase supply in response to soaring demand("Simon Communities in Ireland > Homelessness > Causes of Homelessness," n.d.).

Step Five: Recommend and Implement Solutions

IT sounds overly-simplistic, but the ¬solution to solving Ireland’s accommodation crisis is to build more houses and apartments.

The availability and affordability of housing are the biggest issues facing businesses and workers in Dublin.

Everyone agrees the government needs to begin building houses again. This means the State would license the building of essential housing where most needed.

Generally, there are not enough houses being built to meet the needs of Ireland’s growing population and economy.

This is a particular problem when it comes to social and affordable housing as neither the Government nor industry can deliver these types of homes in the current