The Homelessness in the United States: A Marginalized Population

homelessnesspaper x

 Research Paper and Presentation Spring 2021 Each student is expected to conduct a thorough literature review and a presentation about a marginalized group not specifically covered in the syllabus. Topics and presentation date will be assigned in class. Research paper Each student will submit a research paper exploring their topic in detail. This paper should be 4-6 pages long (APA style) and cover the following content: (1) socio-political history (e.g., immigration history, invisibility in mainstream society); (2) group norms, values, beliefs, and/or lifestyles; (3) socio-economic and/or psychological impact of oppression; (4) implications for clinical practice; (5) ways to make changes to assist this group both as a member of society as well as a psychologist; and (6) your own process while working on this topic, what you were aware of and what surprised you, your own reactions and how doing this presentation and paper impacted your thoughts about this group. You must use at least 5 peer-reviewed articles published within the last 10 years as references for this paper. As this is a research paper, you are expected to cite more than 5 articles total. The number of articles you cite will vary based on the amount of research there is on your topic. If you have difficulty finding articles on your topic, please contact your instructor well in advance for assistance. You can also get help from the library. 

THE

HOMELESS IN THE UNITED STATES

2

The

Homeless

in the U

nited States:

A Marginalized Pop

u

lation

Wh

at is

Homeless

ness?

· Lack of a safe

,

stable, and appropriate place to live

· May be sheltered and unsheltered

· Occurs when a cascade of economic and interpersonal factors converge in the lives of marginalized people

· Results in individuals living on the street, shelters, motels, tents, or other temporary enclosures

· (Galley, 20

1

9)

Homelessness Statistics

in the U

nited States

…

… 2

020 a total of

approximately

555

,

65

3

people within the united states

Homeless Population by State 2021

Homeless Population by State 2021

(worldpopulationreview.com)

In the

 

United States

, there are over half a million people experiencing homelessn

ess. These

individuals live in a temporary shelter or transitional housing or sleep in a place not meant for

habitation (like an abandoned building).

Overall, 66.7% of the total homeless population of the United States is single individuals, with

the remaining 33.3% being families. In recent years, homelessness increased nationally by

almost one percent. This number comprises unaccompanied children and

young adults, single

adults experiencing chronic homelessness, and people experiencing unsheltered homelessness.

Some populations have seen a decrease in homelessness. Dramatic reductions are amongst

families and the veteran community.

The state of

 

C

alifornia

 

currently has the highest homeless population, with about 151,278

homeless people. This is about one

–

fifth of the total homeless population in the United States.

This figure

is attributed to issues with providing affordable and adequate housing opportunities,

current drug laws, and the inaccessibility of important mental health resources.

Homeless Population by State 2021 (worldpopulationreview.com)

Underlying

C

auses

of Homelessness

· High unemployment rate

· Low wages

· Lack of affordable housing

· Lack of affordable healthcare

· Poverty

· Deinstitutionalization of the mentally ill

· Failures of correctional services, healthcare services, and child welfare

· Cuts to social services

· Gentrification of inner city and increase in property values

· Massive budget cuts to US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) resulting in inadequate supply of low-income housing

· Racial inequality

· Lack of mental health and addiction treatment services

· Domestic Violence

· Family Conflict (LGBTQ+)

· System Failures

· COVID- 19 crisis

(Galley, 2019)

Enumeration of the Homeless Population

· Per Continuums of Care (Jan 2019)

· 567,715 people were homeless, representing an overall 2.7 percent increase from 2018

· 37,085 Veterans were reported as homeless

· 53,692 families with children experienced homelessness

· Homelessness increased in California by 21,306 people, or 16.4 percent, accounting for more than the entire national increase

Marginalization due to homeless status

· Power differential

· Seen as a fault of the Individual

· A problem of the lower class (impoverished)

· Racial, ethnic, LGBTQ+ discrimination and ablism

· Mental illness

· Substance abuse

· Prior incarceration

· Immigration status

Resultant Impact on Mental Health

· Cognitive and behavioral issues

· Anxiety

· Fear

· Depression

· Insomnia

· Substance abuse

· Violent victimization

(Williams, 2017)

History of Homelessness

· 1850s lounging rooms for vagrants

· 1870s term homelessness was created, first became a national issue, tramp

· 1880 term hobo

· 1960s civil rights deinstitutionalization of the mentally ill

· 1980s modern homelessness, recession, Social Security Act of 1989

· 1983 reduction of hospital beds

· 1990s Housing opportunities for persons with AIDS

· 1997 Stewart B. McKinney Act

· 2002 Chronic Homelessness Initiative

· 2009 Next reauthorization of the McKinney Act

· 2010 USICH under Obama’s Administration

Unresolved Issues Facing the Homeless

· Housing initiatives fail to address root causes

· Persistent health inequities

· Family violence

· Social isolation

· Economic inequality

· Equal opportunity and justice

· Stigma of mental health services

· Lack of mental health services

Multicultural Implications

· Strength base clinical and assessment services

· Accessible settings

· Collaborations

· Advocacy

· Person-centered approach

Implications in Clinical Practice

· Primary health care

· Psychiatric services

· Public benefits

· Emergency shelter

· Disability documentation

· Food, clothing, sleeping Bag

· Transportation

· Cell phone

· Long-term case management

Role of a Psychologist

· Multicultural sensitivity and recognizing the strengths and unique characteristics of all people

· Research

· Training

· Advocacy

My Thoughts on Homelessness

· Starting over

· Preferred homelessness (Andrew and Robert)

· Fear and refusal

References

American Psychological Association. (2021). Health and Homelessness. American Psychological Association.

https://www.apa.org/pi/ses/resources/publications/homelessness-health

.

Galley, C. (2019, February 20). The Connection Between Homelessness, Immigration, and Displacement. Center On Human Rights Education.

https://www.centeronhumanrightseducation.org/connection-homelessness-immigration-displacement/

.

HUD Releases 2019 Annual Homeless Assessment Report. Homelessness Increase in California Offsets Combined Decrease in All other States; Continued Declines Noted Among Veterans and Families with Children. (2021, January

https://www.hud.gov/

Williams, J. C. (2017, January 10). The Politics of Homelessness in the United States. Oxford Handbooks Online.

h

ttps://www.oxfordhandbooks.com/view/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199935307.

001.0001/oxfordhb.

X;, T. J. G. (2019). Homelessness Among Immigrants in the United States: Rates, Correlates

and Differences Compared with Native-born Adults20. Public health.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30739834/

.

THE HOMELESS IN THE UNITED STATES

1

The Homeless in the United States:
A Marginalized Population

Wh
at is
Homeless
ness?

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nited States

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Homeless Population by State 2021

Homeless Population by State 2021 (worldpopulationreview.com)

In the

United States

, there are over half a million people experiencing homelessn
ess. These
individuals live in a temporary shelter or transitional housing or sleep in a place not meant for
habitation (like an abandoned building).

Overall, 66.7% of the total homeless population of the United States is single individuals, with
the remaining 33.3% being families. In recent years, homelessness increased nationally by
almost one percent. This number comprises unaccompanied children and
young adults, single
adults experiencing chronic homelessness, and people experiencing unsheltered homelessness.

Some populations have seen a decrease in homelessness. Dramatic reductions are amongst
families and the veteran community.

The state of

California

currently has the highest homeless population, with about 151,278
homeless people. This is about one
–
fifth of the total homeless population in the United States.
This figure

is attributed to issues with providing affordable and adequate housing opportunities,
current drug laws, and the inaccessibility of important mental health resources.

Homeless Population by State 2021 (worldpopulationreview.com)

Underlying
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THE HOMELESS IN THE UNITED STATES 1

The Homeless in the United States: A Marginalized Population

What is Homelessness?











Homelessness Statistics in the United States

…… 2020 a total of approximately 555,653 people within the united states

Homeless Population by State 2021

Homeless Population by State 2021 (worldpopulationreview.com)

In the United States, there are over half a million people experiencing homelessness. These

individuals live in a temporary shelter or transitional housing or sleep in a place not meant for

habitation (like an abandoned building).

Overall, 66.7% of the total homeless population of the United States is single individuals, with
the remaining 33.3% being families. In recent years, homelessness increased nationally by

almost one percent. This number comprises unaccompanied children and young adults, single

adults experiencing chronic homelessness, and people experiencing unsheltered homelessness.

Some populations have seen a decrease in homelessness. Dramatic reductions are amongst

families and the veteran community.

The state of California currently has the highest homeless population, with about 151,278

homeless people. This is about one-fifth of the total homeless population in the United States.

This figure is attributed to issues with providing affordable and adequate housing opportunities,

current drug laws, and the inaccessibility of important mental health resources.

Homeless Population by State 2021 (worldpopulationreview.com)

Underlying Causes of Homelessness







