Table of Contents Homelessness Essay OutlineIntroductionHistorical BackgroundCurrent TrendsChallenges and SolutionsConclusionHomelessness Essay ExampleHistorical BackgroundCurrent TrendConclusionHomelessness Essay OutlineIntroductionIntroduction to the Problem of homelessness in AmericaMention of the scope of the problem, including veterans, children, and adultsHistorical backgroundHistorical overview of homelessness in AmericaDiscussion of factors contributing to homelessness in the pastExamining policies and approaches to combating homelessness homelessness in different erasCurrent trendsAnalysis of the current state of homelessness in AmericaRole of social workers in combating homelessnessCollaborative efforts with various stakeholdersChallenges and solutionsIdentifying challenges in combating homelessnessDiscussion of homelessness need adequate fundingRole of social workers in providing services and psychological supportConclusionSummary of historical and current trends in combating homelessnessEmphasis on the importance of collaboration and support for social worker initiatives . Homelessness Essay Example Although the problem of homelessness may seem of low analytical value among researchers, this challenge has been considered catastrophic in America. With approximately 60,000 veterans, 2.5 million children, and 2.5% adults experiencing homelessness, respectively, there is no denying that homelessness is a significant challenge in America (Henwood, 2015). As a result of this challenge, a fundamental change occurred; that is, ending the problem instead of managing it. Over the past decades, the government has failed to even manage this challenge, simply because interventions to help this population are tied to meeting individual needs. In other cases, it is because the homeless have been inappropriately defined as criminals, people who are uneducated and who voluntarily choose to stay on the streets, making it difficult to find a solution to amicable. It is for the above reasons that the profession of social work has been found to be important and compelling. The article will therefore focus on exploring historical and current trends in social protections and policy legislations to discover how they have responded to the above challenge. In this way, the study will be able to justify the need for a social protection system; especially social workers to end the challenge. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essayHistorical BackgroundThe history of homelessness in America can be traced back as far as history can tell. However, reference is often made to the 18th century, when this problem became well known. During this period, the homeless problem was attributed to the industrial revolution. Americans would migrate to urban areas to seek newly created job opportunities in established manufacturing and production industries. Conversely, industrialization contributed to displacement. Other factors that facilitated displacement include civil wars, natural calamities, racial inequality, and disenfranchisement policies. For example, in 1920, massive flooding in Mississippi displaced approximately 1.3 million people (Gonyea, 2010). Throughout American history, unlike social organizations, policymakers have focused more on the homeless “undeserving poor,” neglecting the worthy poor. The poorWorthy refers to people who are poor simply because of perversity, stubbornness, and laziness. On the other hand, the indeserving poor refer to people whose poverty is beyond their control. Although these categories are considered a biased thing of the past, they have been used to define the neediest homeless people who should receive priority assistance. For example, in the 20th century, the government adopted a practice known as "transmission" (currently known as bus therapy) to help widows, immigrants and orphans. Later, this practice was criticized for being unfavorable and biased (Toro, 2007). After the trumpet sounded louder, there was the intervention of the Charity Organization Society (COS) which demanded moral treatment of the deserving poor. Remarkably, the 1930s to 1950s were characterized by numerous policies aimed at solving the homeless problem. One of the major policies was to establish “restricted neighborhoods” in inner-city neighborhoods. One example is Los Angeles, which was home to approximately 17,7000 homeless adults. Policymakers have also introduced loan programs to help people in these areas build small houses and single-room hotels. Nevertheless, the number of homeless people in urban areas has continued to increase, in part due to the decision of policy makers to renovate cities; which would see many small houses demolished to make way for the construction of modern buildings. This was not just a housing policy, simply because policymakers would force all homeless people to be relocated out of cities and only a few would be temporarily housed in organizations such as the Army of Hi. Even with the above-mentioned settlements, urban areas and housing policies, social services seemed unhappy with the government's assumption that the homeless problem had significantly reduced. However, the government has not clearly defined its affordable housing strategy. Additionally, the period between the late 1960s and mid-1970s was characterized by difficult economic times, also known as the "Great Depression." This means that because the majority of homeless people could not afford the cost of housing, they moved to public places, that is, to other cities and disadvantaged neighborhoods. In 1976, even the shelters built were unable to accommodate the homeless population. Bachman (2010) estimates that by 1977, the number of beds had increased from 275,000 to 609,000 in the same sheltered accommodation (Leginski, 2007). . At this time, the issue of homelessness was redefined as a challenge that requires immediate attention from social services. This first happened when several social forces called on the government to address the problem of homeless veterans; which have been largely neglected and to address the challenge of the growing number of people living in sheltered accommodation. It was during this same period that the social work discipline began to research and document the scope of the problem. More importantly, social research organizations have made considerable efforts to define the nature of the problem. The Robert Johnson Foundation is an example of such organizations. Far from conducting research into homelessness, the foundation has also focused on creating media to raise awareness of the nature of the problem. These include the characteristics, causal factors and consequences of the problem (nature). Equally important, the foundation would encouragethe government to “bury” the old myth of the unworthy and worthy poor. Following strong "wind" from welfare groups, the government amended the Homeless Assistance Act of 1987. The law was to see that emergency shelters and birthing accommodation were created specifically for people with disabilities. Nonetheless, the law made it easier to establish support programs such as basic skills training for the homeless, creating more employment opportunities. These initiatives were later replaced by the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. One of the major actions taken by TANF was to reduce housing spending from $90 billion to $30 billion in 2000. Nevertheless, the homeless problem continued to intensify according to the study by researchers from various disciplines. These researchers include Spellman (2007), who found that the number of homeless people increased from 6.2 million in 1970 to 8.6 million in 2000. The Economic Policy Institute attributed such a challenge to the reduction of the minimum wage. The institute produced a statistical report indicating that, since 1979, wages have declined by approximately 26% despite the fact that manufacturing industries have maintained working hours. Yet social groups and unions were limited in number and did not have much power to influence the political system (Wilkins and Anderson, 2007). By the late 1900s, social institutions were almost convinced that federal and local governments were incapable of providing an amicable solution. Social services began to accuse policymakers of not facing long-term structural problems. These social actors began to characterize the government as a failure; simple because it provided temporary and recurring solutions. The government has also failed to develop positive action to help the homeless in other interrelated areas of health, nutrition and education. Current Trend As the above study indicates, social workers have had little influence on the political system. This is simply because there were only a limited number of social unions with insignificant binding power towards the government. But at the start of the 21st century, the government is making significant change by building strong links and supporting social workers to capitalize on and eradicate homelessness (Henwood, 2015). An example of these methods is engaging social workers, either as individuals or as an organization, to provide an assessment file for homeless people. On the contrary, homelessness remains a persistent social problem today. For example, in January 2016, the Economic Policy Institute released one of the most questionable findings that on any given night there are approximately 549,928 homeless people in the United States. The study also found that of these people, only 68% are sheltered. Still controversial, the study indicates that, of this figure, there are 22% children, 69% adults, 10% veterans, 35% chronically ill people. But again, the involvement of social workers has significantly reduced homelessness nationally. For example, the number of homeless people has decreased by almost 15% since 2015 (Leginski, 2007) (see Figure 1). Most important is the way in which social workers have intervened to ensure affordable housing and adequate income, the provision of social services, prohibiting discrimination and advocating reforms to existing policies that lie at the root of the structural causes of homelessness. -shelter. For example, since 2008; At the time the federal government began.