Relationship Between Employment and Homelessness
- Specific Objective
The core goal of this study is to evaluate the relationship between employment and homelessness
1.1 Significance
By conducting a study in the relationship between employment and homelessness, the social workers will gain an understanding of how employment can take a part in reducing homelessness or how homelessness contribute to unemployment. In this case, the social workers will understand the relationship that exist between these two variable as well as the impact that one variable has over the other.
Background and Significance
A study by Shier, et al. (2010) showed that the homeless in the United States comprise of the largest population of poor people. To address this issue, government and employment programs have been developed to provide to these homeless people (Zuvekas & Hill, 2000). However, most of the homeless people face more barriers to work such as physical and mental disability, while others face drug and alcohol disorders (Shier, et al., 2010). As a result, the homeless people working cannot work for many hours in a day or all days of the week; thus they earn little income. In answering the research problem, the social workers will understand the problems facing the homeless people and identify the potential approaches to use and control them. By doing so, the social workers will attempt to improve the working capabilities of this population. Moreover, the social workers will understand important programs that can be used to stimulate the working power of the homeless people.
Social Condition
Homelessness remains a major issue in the U.S and many countries across the globe. Shier, et al. (2010) observe that the perception that society has on homelessness has changed from neglected men to a broader concept as it involves women, families, and younger people (Christian, et al., 2016). For instance, families with children in the United States represent the growing population of homeless people. These families constitute to 37 percent of the homeless in America implying that the number of homeless children is one out four homeless individuals (Cobb-Clark, & Zhu, 2015).
This is the case with the homeless people where only a single individual is working to cater for their housing needs (Shier, et al., 2010). National Coalition for the Homeless (2007) note that such a homeless family uses 40% of their income to pay for their rent forcing them to live in substandard housing. Importantly, homeless children and adults mostly experience physical and mental health problems, abuse, and victimization as they struggle to access adequate care (Cobb-Clark, & Zhu, 2015).
Relevance for Social Work
By evaluating the relationship between employment and homelessness, the social worker will understand the positive and negative impact that homelessness has on the contribution of this population. Moreover, by determining this relationship, the social workers will understand the approaches that can be used to improve the housing facilities to enhance the contribution of this population to the economy (Zuvekas & Hill, 2000). Besides, evaluating this relationship will enlighten the social workers of the appropriate resources to provide to this population and enhance their living condition; thus boosting their working capability. Lastly, the research will be of equal importance to the social workers by providing them will ideas of the appropriate programs to adopt and solve this prevailing social problem.
Prevailing Scientific Knowledge
According to Manthorpe, et al. (2013), it is a known fact that homeless people are faced with multiple and comprehensive needs, yet they are excluded from the social work support. Moreover, it is clearly known that homelessness is not a housing issue only but is a complex issue involving the social work in quest of meeting the needs of families, adults, and children. In this case, studies document that homelessness is an exclusion feature that leads to other problems, which later constitute to the difficulties and distress to the involved individuals (Manthorpe, et al., 2013). In addition, it is known that most of the homeless individuals suffer from mental illness; thus, they are not reliable. National Coalition for the Homeless (2007) claim that the 13% of the homeless individuals have jobs yet they are unable to evade homelessness implying that it is impossible for the employed individuals to evade homelessness. Correspondingly, the current competitive environment makes it difficult for the homeless people to get themselves a job.
Gap in Scientific Knowledge
Despite the known facts of the outstanding problem of homelessness, the research leaves a niche in the knowledge of the association of that exist between employment and homelessness. The fact that homeless individuals have mental and physical disabilities; studies have not assessed the impact that such disability has on the employment trend of this population (Manthorpe, et al., 2013). Conversely, the existing programs addressing homelessness does not concentrate on ways of improving the potential of this population.
Problems that Social Workers Encounter Due to the Gap in Knowledge
It is the role of the social workers to ensure that people attain a secure and healthy home as well as improving the social inclusion. However, due to the lack of knowledge, social workers fail to identify ways of improving the inclusion of homeless by improving their employment capability. As such, social workers fail to identify the appropriate programs and approaches of overcoming the barriers facing homeless population preventing them from working full time as well as why they are unable to improve their living condition despite having a job.
Methods of Study
List of Variables
- Employment
- Homelessness
References
Christian, J., Abrams, D., Clapham, D., Nayyar, D., & Cotler, J. (2016). Intentions to move from homelessness to social inclusion: The role of participation beliefs, attitudes, and prior behaviour. Social Inclusion, 4(4), 16-27.
Cobb-Clark, D., & Zhu, A., (2015). Childhood Himelessness and Adult Employment: The Role of Education, Incarceration, and Welfare Receipt. Retrieved from http://www.lifecoursecentre.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/2015-22-LCC-Working-Paper-Cobb-Clark-and-Zhu1.pdf
Green, H. D., Haye, K., Tucker, J. S., & Golinelli, D. (2013). Shared risk: who engages in substance use with American homeless youth? Addiction, 108(9), 1618-1624.
Lindsey, E. W. (2000). Social work with homeless mother: A strength-based solution-focused approach. Journal of Family Social Work, 4(1), 59-78.
Manthrope, J., Cornes, M., O’Halloran, S., & Joly, L., (2015). Multiple Exclusion Homelessness: The Preventive Role of Social Work. British Journal of Social Work, 45(2), 587-599. 10.1093/bjsw/bct136
Meltzer, H., Bebbington, P., Brugha, T., Farrell, M., & Jenkins, R. (2013). The relationship between personal debt and specific common mental disorders. The European Journal of Public Health, 23(1), 108-113.
National Coalition for the Homeless, (2007). Employment and Homelessness. Retrieved from http://www.nationalhomeless.org/publications/facts/Employment.pdf
Poremski, D., Whitley, R., & Latimer, E., (2014). Barriers to Obtaining Employment for People with Severe Mental Illness Experiencing Homelessness. Journal of Mental Health, 23(4), 181-185.
Shier, M.L., Jones, M.E., & Graham, J.R., (2010). Perspective of Employed People Experiencing Homelessness of Self and Being Homeless: Challenging Socially Constructed Perceptions and Stereotypes. Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare, 37(4). 13-38.
Zuvekas, S.H., & Hill, S.C., (2000). Income and Employment among Homeless People: The Role of Mental Health, Health and Substance Abuse. The Journal of Mental Health Policy and Economics, 3(3), 153-163.
