Observing the Influences of Homelessness, Essay Example

Observing the influences of homelessness is an important issue in social psychology. The individual genetic and environmental influences that contribute to homelessness are important to consider because doing so will allow us to understand homeless individuals better, which could potentially contribute to the development of a solution that will allow the government and professionals to help them. Homelessness impacts many individuals and families across the country, and yet this is a problem that is generally ignored. When homeless people ask us for money, we are either frightened and ignore them or sympathize and provide them with money. However, the reality of the situation is that giving homeless individuals a dollar on occasion will not resolve homelessness. It will help the individual over the short-term, but the long-term crisis still continues; even though this person will be able to access food because of the money, they risk not having shelter during the winter, clean water when they need it, or security. It is important for us to consider that we have transformed homelessness into a sort of stereotype. We can’t help but judge the people who have fallen into it as lazy, possibly drug addicted, and other negative personifications. The problem of homelessness is therefore not just the problem of the individual who is homeless; it is the problem of the society that perceives these individuals as worthless as well. It is the problem of every individual.

It is important to consider that many different characteristics contribute to homelessness around the world. One interesting cause of homelessness is that many individuals on the streets were previously treated for mental disorders, such as schizophrenia. However, after being discharged from the hospital, they recognized that they couldn’t go home, perceived that their family would not want them to go back, or had no family to go back to. Since individuals with schizophrenia require care to function in most cases, they end up on the streets when this is lacking. They often do not have the means necessary to obtain medication for their disorder, so their symptoms become prevalent. They thus rely on donations from individuals that pass by, which helps them earn money for food and other necessities. A majority of people do not recognize the troubles that such people face on a daily basis. They are not only battling with the elements and the need for food, clothing, and shelter; they are also in a battle with their mind. Because of the symptoms of their disorder, they are often unable to think rationally or clearly, which prevents them from being able to make concrete moves to improve their lives. Many individuals with schizophrenia are not able to get or maintain a job, and are therefore unable to support themselves. It is therefore the responsibility of the government and general public to provide these individuals with housing and support so they are able to live a normal life.

Many individuals oppose to the idea of public funding for the homeless with mental disorders. These people believe that it would be too expensive to fund such a program and that homeless individuals do not deserve such help because they are lazy. However, it is less expensive for the city to provide housing and health support to these individuals in the form of preventative care than it would be to provide care for them in the case of a medical emergency. In addition, it has been found that many individuals with schizophrenia are able to return to work when they are given assistance in finding jobs and support to remain on their medication. Therefore, it is apparent that we can help increase the quality of life of currently homeless individuals with schizophrenia. It is important to fight the misconception that these individuals are lazy and instead fight to help them find housing and work.

Overall, this argument demonstrates that it is reasonable to support homeless individuals by helping them find housing. Furthermore, if these individuals need medication because they have schizophrenia or a similar medical disorder, it is beneficial to provide them with social workers who can supervise them and determine whether they are taking their medication. No one wants to be homeless, but people end up on the streets when they have nowhere to go or cannot take care of themselves. Thus, it becomes our job to take care of them. It is helpful for us to care for out most vulnerable members of our population because this will help us strengthen our society as a whole. Instead of thinking about homeless individuals in a negative way, it is important for us to consider how we would want to be supported if we found ourselves in this situation. Homelessness could happen to anyone, and it is our social responsibility to provide others with support when they are unable to gain this help from those in their lives. In doing so, we will be able to improve society, which will help protect us all.