Homelessness in the Region of Northern Virginia, Term Paper Example

As has been determined, homelessness in the region of northern Virginia is an escalating problem. In particular, the city of Alexandria, linked to the metropolitan area of Washington, D.C., is vulnerable to both an increase in homelessness and a lack of the proper means of addressing the issue, as larger cities typically lack the localized support of more communal settings.   Moreover, city environments tend to exacerbate the problem; housing in metropolitan areas is usually more costly, job competition is more keen, and the homeless themselves are  susceptible to the dangers of substance abuse and criminal activities, such as prostitution, a large city ordinarily makes available (Kornblum, 2011,  p. 280).  It is easier in such cities for the homeless to become an “invisible” minority.  Add to this situation the recent and dramatic downturns in the American economy, and it appears inevitable that the homeless dilemma in this area, as well as elsewhere, can only grow.

Clearly, measures must be taken to confront the problem. As was identified, the city of Alexandria boasts an organization known as the Carpenter’s Shelter, which is dedicated to providing various essential services to the indigent.  There are, as well, other facilities in the area, each seeking to alleviate the problems of homelessness to the extent that their limited budgets and mainly volunteer staffs allow. In Alexandria, as in the rest of the nation, homelessness as a social issue suffers from a great deal of misconception. As the problem is misunderstood by the general public, so too is it set aside, and the fear of the homeless created by misunderstanding and ignorance only adds to the dilemma.  No effective proposal can be offered without a basic understanding of this reality, as public support is essential in combating homelessness.

It must first be acknowledged that homelessness is never a single problem.  It is, in fact, defined by a wide variety of factors, which of themselves vary in individual impact.  Joblessness, substance abuse, and mental illness are several primary causes, and the causes also create myriad consequences which add to the helplessness of the individuals and the difficulty is reversing the circumstances. Ironically, perhaps the best road to comprehending the entire issue lies in viewing homelessness in the light of what it is not; that is to say, “home” carries with it associations of stability, consistent diet, protection against the elements, some manner of healthcare, and all the other fundamental needs of living, presumably set in place by a steady income.  Homelessness is the complete opposite of all of this, and it is crucial to understand this complexity of its composition before proposing new modes of assistance.  Shelter and food are critical elements in living, of course, and these demand immediate address. Nonetheless, the providing of these services only treats with current needs and does not go to eliminating the sources of the problem, which must be the individual’s inability to sustain themselves in a livable, self-sufficient manner.

Given the known parameters of the homeless situation in Alexandria, Virginia, it is evident that more assistance is needed, and of a variety of kinds. The following proposal seeks to meet this demand in a pragmatic and constructive manner, and in a way that fully takes into account the importance of focusing on generating wide support. As noted, lack of shelter and food are vital concerns, but but these are effects of homelessness, not reasons for it. Moreover, and essential to enabling a reduction in homelessness, an emphasis on healthcare must be made. Homelessness inherently creates health risks in terms of exposure, poor nutrition, and likelihood of disease; there is as well the issue of mental health, both as reason for homelessness and as impediment to ending it.  Schizophrenia, most notably, erodes a person’s ability to cope normally and frequently leads to a homeless situation (Collins, 1993,  p. 51).  All of these health factors must be directly and effectively addressed in a more successful assistance methodology.

The Carpenter’s Shelter and the other facilities for the homeless do address the most urgent considerations to the best of their abilities. Unfortunately, existing resources usually allow only for the barest meeting of those needs. The gap in existing aid is, in fact, several gaps. Homelessness itself can only be lessened through efforts which go to enabling the homeless to achieve independence, independence can only be had by healthy individuals, and the following is put forth to support such a necessary process.

Proposal

In presenting this proposal, it should be understood that the focus on Alexandria, VA, is not a random one. The reality is that this city is best poised to lead the way in advancing homelessness assistance, simply by virtue of its proximity to the nation’s capital.  Government aid is necessary if so widespread a problem is to be effectively addressed, and this advantage of being right on the government’s doorstep, in a manner of speaking, is too valuable to ignore. In fact, the National  Health Care for the Homeless Conference is taking place in Washington in June of 2011.  Healthcare experts from all over the country will be conducting workshops numbering in the dozens, and government officials will be participating and attending the variety of lectures and discussions over the five-day duration of the event. While this does not directly relate to the following proposal, it does reinforce how strategically situated Alexandria is to generate support and funding.  It should be remembered, as well, that Washington would not be averse to the recognition attained by leading the country in improving homelessness assistance programs, and this inducement should be employed to help solicit funding.

As has been noted, there is an assortment of facilities available for the homeless in Alexandria. The city of Alexandria website features a listing of services, including a sixty-five bed shelter sponsored by the Salvation Army, and accommodations in various churches during the harsh winter months (City of Alexandria). There are other facilities as well, not directly linked to the local government.  Most, however, reflect the city’s mode of offering assistance.  That is to say, they are primarily in place to address immediate deprivations. The city site does offer a child care center as well, to allow homeless parents to seek employment. This appears to be one of very few services provided that addresses long-term concerns.

By far, the most complex and largest facility currently in place is the Carpenter’s Shelter.  It is proposed that, rather than initiate more in the way of makeshift assistance centers, a focused effort to enhance every branch of this single organization be undertaken. The logic behind this approach is simple, if multifaceted.  For one thing, this shelter already has a firm standing in the community, as it is known to the government. Good intentions are important, but funding generally requires a measure of confidence in the institution to which it is going, and the Carpenter’s Shelter has a strong reputation of professionalism. In operation since 1982, the Shelter is by no means imposing in staffing or size, but, as the website reflects, it devotes serious attention to its financial responsibilities. Additionally, as its professional website demonstrates, it is committed to generating interest through media outlets (Carpenter’s Shelter).  Building upon the excellent work of the Carpenter’s Shelter, rather than an attempt to inspire other community outlets, is the most sensible way to proceed.

Proposal Detail

The stature of the Carpenter’s Shelter is a pivotal factor in its centrality to this proposal. The reality is that most people, while they may wish to help, are more drawn to established organizations with histories of actual progress.   So, too, would government aid more likely be forthcoming. While the Carpenter’s Shelter already invites media attention, it is no small part of this proposal that these efforts be increased. A great measure of public disinclination to help the homeless stems from, as noted, ignorance and fear; an organization as solid and as respected as the Shelter inherently eases such fears.  Consequently, its resources must be more directed to generating support from the community.  Already affiliated with the city of Alexandria, and with the support of several U.S. senators and congressman, the Shelter should exploit these connections as much as possible. As, for instance, many see the homeless as a threat of a kind, government aid to the Shelter could translate to votes, as the public would identify the officials aiding the situation and wish to endorse them.  In this scenario, self-interest also serves the greater good.

With regard to promotion and generating interest, the Shelter should also intently seek further media exposure.  One of the larger dilemmas with homelessness is the “invisibility” factor, even as it is commonly known that the condition blights an entire community in many ways. Public radio programs, Internet discussions, and town meetings should be scheduled to reinforce the message that the Carpenter’s Shelter, in alleviating homelessness, serves everyone in Alexandria and beyond. Minimal funding is necessary for this, and one technician – preferably a volunteer – skilled in Internet commerce could vastly increase the Shelter’s online presence. Moreover, the website must better expose its feature enabling contributions, and a technician could enable direct links from a variety of popular websites.  The average person today transacts a great deal of business online, and is comfortable in transferring relatively small sums of money through the Internet.   No matter what other online avenues the Shelter uses, it should immediately take advantage of the social networking websites, such as Facebook, where it has no presence yet. The extraordinary popularity of these sites generates exponential exposure, and the communal quality of the Shelter’s work would be a perfect fit with a social network.

Lastly, the businesses of the city must be more directly targeted. The Shelter should approach them in a way that conveys the advantages of helping to the businesses. Donations are, of course, tax deductions, but there are many more benefits to be gained. The local business that supports the Shelter is supporting the community and its customers, and evincing a sense of responsibility which would not go unnoticed. Then, it lends a humane aspect to a business, which is good for image.  Finally, there are few services or commodities which a homeless shelter cannot use to good purpose; a “dream list” of what the Carpenter’s Shelter most requires, be it beds, medical supplies, canned goods, or building extensions, should be devised to target the pertinent suppliers and trades, with the understanding that the donation would be publicly acknowledged.

All of the above serves another function: education. Everything the Shelter undertakes in order to generate support must be accompanied by, or driven by, information. For homelessness to be successfully reduced, it must be “brought into the light”, in a sense, and this can be best accomplished through the homeless themselves. One reason people do not assist the homeless is an invalid sense that the aid is going to waste, and merely perpetuating dependence. By actually employing assisted homeless persons as volunteers, several aims are accomplished. First and foremost, the stigma is eliminated, and for all parties; the average citizen sees that the homeless are real people attempting to reclaim their lives, and the transitional homeless person, in directly confronting the societal impression, loses their sense of shame. Then, this enables the assisted individual to “give back”, which in turn promotes their new status as a contributing member of the community. Finally, it provides the Shelter with a new source of volunteers, and ones presumably more motivated than any others to garner support for the organization.To this end, the transitional programs in place at the Carpenter’s Shelter should have built-in expectations of help from these individuals. A reward system would also be appropriate, as those bringing in more in the way of contributions and volunteerism would gain tangible benefits.

Lastly, the Carpenter’s Shelter must devote more attention to healthcare issues for the homeless. As admirable and comprehensive as its work is, this element is not prioritized, and it must be. Lack of healthcare vitally feeds into homelessness, and is self-perpetuating; there is no proactive approach possible when the individual has no home base from which to maintain their life: “People in these situations become ill first and then seek healthcare…Such behaviors…are emergency responses to the stimulus of illness” (Rosedahl, Kowalski, 2008,  p. 47).  There is also a disconcerting attitude from healthcare professionals in regard to treating the homeless, in that it is felt that such care is relatively pointless when the homeless conditions remain in effect. This has been disproved by studies, which indicate that the homeless are as receptive to healthcare, and as concerned about maintaining restored health, as other individuals (Twinn, Roberts, Andrews, 1996,  p. 295). The Carpenter’s Shelter must make a concerted effort to team with local hospitals, clinics, and physicians to make this aspect of their services both more pronounced and impactful.

The Shelter is also positioned, by virtue of its history and influence, to change the way this healthcare is perceived and implemented. It is essential that, in providing health care to the homeless, an ingrained policy of basic courtesy be evident.  This is not a minor consideration. Regrettably, research indicates that health services available to the homeless are not taken advantage of because the treatment received is disagreeably given. A 2002 study on homeless adolescent females, for instance, revealed that these girls were actively seeking instruction on caring for their own health because the clinics they visited were markedly disrespectful to them (Anderson, McFarlane, 2010,  p. 221).  Whether the issues are those of mental health or physical impairment, the Shelter must lead the way in redefining the work in this regard, as it must actively encourage professional healthcare support.

Conclusion

The proposal affirms that the best course in dealing with homelessness in Alexandria, VA, is to take advantage of a respected and well-affiliated facility already present: the Carpenter’s Shelter. Through increased efforts at expanding its visibility; in employing the Internet to both inform the public better and generate donations; in vigorously pursuing government aid from the officials already connected to the organization; and by making a concentrated effort to enlist professional healthcare services, the Shelter may set a standard for an evolving homeless facility.  In so doing, the increased prestige will exponentially attract more in the way of assistance.

References

Anderson, E. T., & McFarlane, J. M. (2010.)  Community as Partner: Theory and Practice in Nursing. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

Carpenter’s Shelter. (2011.)  Retrieved June 1, 20011, from http://www.carpentersshelter.org/what-we-do/programs/transitional-housing/

City of Alexandria. (2011.)   Human Services.  Retrieved June 1, 2011 from http://alexandriava.gov/humanservices/info/default.aspx?id=8192

Collins, J. (1993.)  Homelessness, Health Care, and Welfare Provision. New York, NY: Psychology Press.

Kornblum, W. (2011.) Sociology in a Changing World. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning.

National Health Care for the Homeless Council.  (2011.)  2011 National Health Care for the Homeless Conference and Policy Symposium. Retrieved June 1, 2011 from http://www.nhchc.org/2011conference/

Rosedahl, C. B., & Kowalski, M. T. (2008.)  Textbook of Basic Nursing. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

Twinn, S.,  Roberts, B., &  Andrews, S. (1996.)  Community Health Care Nursing: Principles for Practice.  Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Health Services.