According to Aykanian and Lee (2016) individuals who are homeless are often “common targets of policing when their behavior, especially behavior performed in public spaces, is viewed as offensive and deviant” (p. 184). A related point to consider is that some who experience homelessness do engage in criminal activities, but one shall not combine all members in a generalization. Hence, the image of having individuals who are homeless is not ideal for the people in communities, but it does not take into account people who are experiencing
Homeless people are viewed as the rats and inferior people in society; often ignored and looked down upon, homeless people have the deficit of not being able to have many of the comforts in life that we may have. This is not only hurting our society morally, but it also helps us economically since there are people that aren’t buying/selling things or working. This is a major issue, since in the meanwhile, we as a society are throwing away things that still have worth or can be used. This is elaborately described in Eighner’s essay “On Dumpster Diving,” where he narrates his life of homelessness, detailing the struggling and analytical life of homelessness. During his narration, he emphasizes the fact that he has been able to survive due to
In Social Problems, Anna Leon-Guerrero (2016) she states, “… The functional perspective, examines the functions or consequences of the structure of society. Functionalist use a macro perspective, focusing on how society maintains social order” (13). Society has created expectations on what is viewed as acceptable or unacceptable behavior and this can include criminal behavior. This is any deviation from the social norms that are agreed by the majority of the community and the violation of any existing laws that is passed by legislation. For an example, a single parent losses’ his or her job and are worried whether the rent is covered with his or her last paycheck or whether they will qualify for food stamps.
There’s no way in this world that I would allow myself to see my brother or my sister live on the streets. No one is born into homelessness; some have just been through a series of unfortunate events in their lives that led them to live as homeless individuals. For others, it's a case of psychological problems. No matter what family you come from, everybody is born for a reason. I believe that we all have one purpose in this life on our quest to becoming better people, and that is to take care of one another here on earth.
The homeless are often used as scapegoats for problems in society, such as criminal activity. This is similar to how people in Puritan society blame Hester for any troubles that happen. Both groups face scapegoating because they are seen as different in society, making them easy targets. Nowadays, politicians, as a means of trying to improve society, have been criminalizing the homeless. This in turn stereotypes the homeless and perpetuates the misconception that all homeless people are criminals.
I think many homeless people are happy to be homeless. Some primary causes of homelessness are lack of affordable housing, unemployment, poverty, and low wages. Homeless adults seem more likely to become homeless because of both choice and circumstance. Children, however, are most likely to be homeless because of circumstances, such as their parents. Rose Mary and Rex choose to be homeless.
The surveys taken within the publication lack insight, and only prove to reinforce stigmas and stereotypes about the homeless, therefore canceling out my claim. For example, “...” The source is over 10 years old, leaving the data outdated and subject to alteration. The logos found within the piece help to prove the vast importance and emergence of the issue. It is widespread.
The current government is creating a situation where more families along with their children are experiencing homelessness. An individual may be considered homeless when they lack permanent housing and have to stay in shelters, abandoned buildings or vehicles, on the streets, or in other forms of unstable situations. Many homeless people start out with jobs and stable residences, but then social and economic factors intervene, causing a rapid change in their living situation causing them to leave, and live on the street. Even with the population of homeless keeps increasing, the government does not aid nor benefit the homeless because they only worsen the homeless problem by having laws that go against homelessness, not helping mentally ill homeless population, and having the lack of subsidized housing.
Homelessness is a product of social inequalities. Karl Marx stated that the capitalist society produces two prominent classes which are in conflict with each other, bourgeoisie and proletariats. The bourgeoisie are the oppressors who own the means of production and the proletariats are the oppressed workers who labor for the bourgeoisie. Capitalism is distinguished not by privilege but instead by individuality of property ownership and that those who create the conditions of the oppressed group express this power in the form of laws that function to serve the bourgeoisie’s interests (Marx, 2004, p.129).
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.
Each year, a pool of thousands of homeless youth get commonly overlooked and misjudged throughout the United States. “In the 2013-2014 school year alone, it was reported that there were approximately 1.3 million homeless youth enrolled in the public-school system” (United States). Despite the enormous number of children homelessness affects, the public eye remains ignorant on the topic. Some people try to go blind to the number while others decide to look down upon those it hurts, rather than assessing and improving the situation. Until society gains knowledge of both the causes and effects these adolescents face daily, the ever-growing epidemic will continue to show no signs of improvement.
In all fairness, I had those same ideas too. Many people have driven or walked past a group of homeless people and ignored them or gone out of their way to not make contact. It’s just part of our culture. Homeless people are shunned and looked down upon. Over time, the word homeless has taken on a very negative connotation, and those labels such as, criminal, lazy and addict have taken over our perception of who homeless people are.
More people suffer from homelessness than we realize. We often take for granted having a home to go to. I completely agree with Anna about her feelings on homelessness. I often see the homeless on the side of the road and I normally refer to them as homeless people but what I fail to realize is, that “homeless person” has a name, that “homeless guy” is a human being just like the rest of us longing for certainty, stability and privacy. Those “homeless people” are human beings without a home.
New York City is seen as a beautiful place to visit but the reality is there’s an ugly side to the city and it’s known as homelessness. In New York it is so common to see a homeless person in the train station or on a train and on the streets sleeping. This problem has been increasing ever since the Great Depression and we need to do something to decrease the number of this population and put a full stop to it. The majority of the New Yorkers just walk past them and instead of giving them left overs they decide to throw out the food and keep moving. Not only are these people suffering due to hunger, extremely poor hygiene and inhumane living conditions but they are also victims of assault and discrimination.
It is a large complex ongoing societal problem throughout communities that no one can stop. All societies have homeless people and, on the contrary, all have rich people; It is just how a society works. In my eyes, the richer of society are much more appreciated than the homeless. Because the people with money can afford to pay for housing, living, and nice things, society favors them and pushes aside the homeless. I do believe that if society took more notice of homeless people the situation could change.
