Homelessness Trauma

Homeless in the United States (U.S) as a Vulnerable Group Vulnerability, the propensity to harm, is caused by an interaction flanked by the obtainable resources to persons and communities as well as the life problems they encounter. However, vulnerability develops from developmental challenges, individual incapacities, underprivileged social status, insufficiency of interpersonal systems and supports, tainted neighborhoods and settings, and the multifaceted contacts of these aspects over the life course. However, the priority given to unreliable vulnerabilities/their neglect reflects social values. Vulnerable group include racial and ethnic minority, uninsured, underinsured, low-income children, frail older adults, mentally disabled, and homeless among others (Clapham & Clapham, David, 2015).

These factors include, but are not limited to, lack of affordable housing, economic insecurity, behavioral health, etc. Research has found that the main contributing factors for children living in homeless families are the lack of affordable housing, poverty, and domestic violence (Aratani, 2009). Similarly, mental illness, substance abuse, and lack of affordable housing are the top contributing factors of homelessness among unaccompanied youth (Aratani, 2009). In addition to analyzing the factors that can cause homelessness, the article explores the impact that homelessness can have on youth. For example, homelessness can often lead to food insecurity since food supplies can be scarce, which can then have a negative impact on the child/youth’s overall health.

(Koegel, Melamid, Burnam, 1995) For example, family homelessness has been increasing in the United states in Recent years. Now, more schools and communities are challenged to serve students whose lives are touched by the uncertainty and instability that homelessness brings. (Miller, 2015) People are forced to live destitute without daily necessities like healthy or sanitary food, housing or substantial clothing.

The vulnerable population that sparked my interest are the homeless population. The homeless population is growing at an incredible alarming rate. According statistical data from National Coalition for the homeless, “there are over 3.5 million homeless Americans, it includes approximately 1 million children of these more than 300,000 are homeless children on any given night.” Some include street children, runaway teenagers, young adults who might have been thrown out of their homes or released from jail are most visible living in our cities streets, towns, subways, underpasses and highways.

“Overall, researchers were able to document a ‘poverty-related effect’ on children’s mental health and behavior” (Bassuk 499). In the state of Michigan there were more than 38,000 homeless children attending public schools in the year 2013 (Seidel A2). Homeless children are at increased risk of dropping out of school because their parents are not aware of the federal law that was passed in 1987 specifically to prevent homeless children from dropping out of school. The law is called the McKinney-Vento law. Prior to 1987 homeless children were unable to meet enrollment requirements in schools because they could not show proof of residency, and did not have school and health records.

Homelessness can be a detrimental experience as a result of being exposed to constant stress and unpredictable weather. It may lead to families and individuals having to find a temporary refuge in an unsafe environment, or obtain food from resources that can be harmful. Individuals and families caught in these predicaments frequently are ineptitude in areas of housing stability, managing money skills, coping skills, and support systems which would be significant in helping them modify hardships. As a result, a vast proportion of homeless families, individuals, and children have been exposed to a variety of traumatic occurrences such as childhood abuse, domestic violence, combat-related trauma, sexual assault, and the like.

Homelessness is one the most ignored problems in the United States with citizen and politician. Homeless people are walked by and ignored. Nobody ever thinks that they will be homeless. Due to the economy, people live paycheck to paycheck making house payments very difficult. Most people will want to believe most homeless people are drug addicts or alcoholics, but most people will be surprise to know that it is no all true. Veterans with PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder) have a high risk of becoming homeless. Homelessness is cause by drug and alcohol dependencies, the economy and veterans who suffers from PTSD or other forms of mental illness.

The vulnerable population of homeless children

Do you know that according to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), there are over 138,000 homeless children under the age of 18 in the United States of America? Many of them are unaccompanied as well. 4. As per the National Centre for Homeless Education, in public schools itself, there are over one million homeless children in America who have been forced to share accommodation with

Homeless youth are always dealing with poor nutrition, victimization, substance use, and abuse. Unfortunately the services provided are very limited and cannot help a huge chunk of the homeless youth. Homeless youth experience more substance abuse and drug addiction than non-homeless youth, this causes them to be mentally unstable and unable to be a functioning member of society. There are many temporary services provided such as shelters, drop-ins, meal programs, literacy improvements, and counselling programs; although these are available and there to help the youth, they are all flawed in their own ways. What the government does not take into consideration is the long term solutions to put youth in poverty to an end.

The issue of homelessness in America has been evident since the early 1600’s. Across the country men, women and children spend their nights on the streets not knowing when or if they will ever find a permanent home. States and federal officials or city councils have tried to alleviate or at least reduce the number of homeless over the last several decades at a city, state or national level but it continues to be an ongoing problem. There is a multitude of factors that account for the growing homeless population that affects each state in the country differently. Though there are many contributing factors that contribute to the amount of people living on the street at any given night in the U.S.

Abuse and neglect are one of the top three leading causes of youth homelessness. “Studies show 70 percent of homeless youth have suffered some form of physical, sexual or emotional abuse” and “45.7 percent of street

Our Tired, Our Poor, Our Kids :Summary In “Our Tired, Our Poor, Our kids”(2001), Anna Quindlen claims that “There are many homeless mothers and children”(332).Quindlen addresses this issue by needing to find homes for many children the past month (“thousands”) ,as well for those families that wait by their belongings until found a room to sleep. The population of homelessness people isn’t decreasing it’s increasing rapidly. She reveals these problems in order to inform people the outrages numbers of homeless families ,and also “explains some of the effects of homelessness on children,emphasizes the importance of affordable housing,and touches on the effects of welfare reform on homelessness”(329).

The article titled “School Where Homeless Find Haven”, was written by the author Seth Myans. In this article, the author highlights a major problem that was happening at the Coeur d’Alene Elementary school in Los Angeles; the problem being on how to help the numerous transient students attending their school. These homeless children are constantly moving from school to school due to their family needing to travel around to finds jobs and lodging. One teacher comments saying, “We see the children come in, then leave in two or three weeks, then come again and leave again, It's very frustrating”. Because of this constant moving to different schools their education is being damaged.

Among the homeless youth population is also a higher risk for depression and thoughts of suicide, which can be contributing factors to nonadherence. Another reason for nonadherence is that homeless individuals may feel a sense of achievement and an extreme self-reliance due to their methods of survival that mainstream society would more than likely be unable to accept or get used