Download HOMELESSNESS THEORY AND RESEARCH 1 Homelessness

Running head: HOMELESSNESS THEORY AND RESEARCH
Homelessness Theory and Research
Christopher Malone
HHS 497
Instructor Michelle Wilson
January 31, 2017
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HOMELESSNESS THEORY AND RESEARCH
Homelessness Theory and Research
Describe two to three theories that relate to your topic area in some manner. To
accommodate the broad spectrum of social issues that might be explored, aim to find
theories that attempt to explain some the following areas:
The issue of homelessness is among the many social issues within the United States
that significantly affects people. Homeless individuals are mainly those that lack the ability to
attain and maintain permanent structures where they can reside. Certain theories exist which
mainly aim to explain certain aspects of homelessness and the reasons why it exists in the
society. A good example of these theories includes the Emile Durkheim’s Functionalism
Theory and Karl Marx Social Conflict theory. The social conflict theory, to begin with, refers
to a social theory developed by a German philosopher, Karl Marx. In his theory, Karl
explains that groups and individuals within a society interact with the conflict bases
compared to consensus. Theorists that utilize the conflict theory have attained a significantly
different view compared to other individuals, where they view conflict as an engine of
change. The theory explains that individuals have different ability to attain both material and
non-material resources. This aspect creates two main groups of individuals within the society.
These include the rich and the poor. Homelessness is simply identified with poverty. When
people are extremely poor, they lack the ability to attain and maintain permanent residence
and thus they become homeless individuals (Augusto, 2008).
Emile Durkheim’s Functionalism Theory, on the other hand, refers to a social theory
that was described by Emile Durkheim. In his theory, Emile explains that the society is a
system, which operates at a balance. A single change of how it runs therefore on one of its
sectors significantly affects another sector. If for example, a certain group of individuals
attains a lot of goods and resources, other people lose those goods and resources mainly
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because despite the change, that takes place within the society, material and non-material
resources within the society remain constant. Currently, many individuals have managed to
increase their wealth significantly. They have attained means through which they can amass
material wealth, an aspect that has made these people extremely rich. Since the society is a
system, however, the aspect of these individuals having too much wealth has made a
significant effect on other people’s lives. They have attained extreme poverty and thus lacked
the ability to attain and maintain a permanent house or facility where they can reside. The
changes in society where a certain group of people has attained too much wealth is thus the
main cause of homelessness according to of this theory (Willse, 2015).
Critically evaluate the theories described, taking into account their benefits and
limitations, as well as how health and human service organizations might use them to
better understand the scope of the issue.
The Karl Marx social conflict theory and the Emile Durkheim’s Functionalism Theory
have both similarities and differences in their ability to address and explain the social issue of
homelessness. The first similarity is the fact that both theories fully explain the aspect of
homelessness and the means through which it occurs within the society. The Karl Marx
theory explains class conflicts, where individuals in different classes compete for scarce
resources with individuals in other classes. This aspect leads to homelessness of some social
groups when they lose the resources they had to other social groups and thus lack the ability
to acquire permanent housing. The functionalism theory, on the other hand, explains that
homelessness is obtained when some people manage to attain too many resources within the
society and thus other people have to lose them in order to maintain balance.
One of the main difference between these two theories is their explanation concerning
homelessness. Functionalism theory explains the cause of this social issue as the response to
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the social system due to many people amassing wealth and thus others become poor, while
the Karl Marx theory explain that a group of people loose in the competition for scarce
resources and thus they become poor and homeless. Another main difference between these
two theories is the fact that one of the theories explain about individuals within the society
while the other theory base its explanations from groups within the society (Riis, & Leviatin,
2011).
Describe two to three examples of research studies that have explored the issue.
Due to the significance of this issue and the need to identify a solution, many
individuals have carried out studies that address some of its aspects. One study that provide a
clear explanation of the issue of homelessness in the United States is the journal article,
“Taking It to the Streets; Homelessness, Health, and Health Care in the United States,”
authored by Jeff Singer. This source explain about the effects of homelessness on the
homeless individuals. The author mainly focuses on the aspects of health and the many ways
through which the issue of homelessness causes negative effects on its victims. Homeless
individuals tend to lack the means through which they can safeguard and protect themselves
from poor hygiene and thus their health is significantly affected (Singer, 2003).
Another significant article that provides information concerning homelessness in the
United States is the article, “Epidemiology of Homelessness in the United States,” authored
by P.E. Kilgore. This article provide a study concerning the extent to which the problem of
homelessness has affected the United States. The authors obtain data from highly reliable
organizations among which include the National Coalition for the Homeless. The author
concludes the article by explaining that currently, the United States has this significant social
problem, which is increasing over time. It, therefore, requires being addressed. The aim of the
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research study was to determine the extent to which the social problem should be considered
a significant epidemiology within the United States (Kigole, 2013).
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References
Augusto, V. (2008). The institutional dynamics of homelessness: The United States of
America and Japan compared, Bingley: The International Journal of Sociology and
Social Policy. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.pc.maricopa.edu/docview/203708750?pqorigsite=summon
Kigole, P. (2013). Epidemiology of Homelessness in the United States: Annals of
Epidemiology.
Riis, J. & Leviatin, D. (2011). How the other half lives : studies among the tenements of New
York : with related documents. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's.
Singer, J. (2003). Taking It to the Streets: Homelessness, Health, and Health Care in the
United States. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 18(11), 964–965.
http://doi.org/10.1046/j.1525-1497.2003.30903.x
Willse, C. (2015). The value of homelessness : managing surplus life in the United States.
Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
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