Homelessness describes the condition of people
without a regular dwelling.
People who are homeless are most often unable to acquire and maintain regular,
safe, and adequate housing, or lack "fixed, regular, and adequate
night-time residence. The legal definition of
"homeless" varies from country to country, or among different
entities or institutions in the same country or region.
The term homeless may also include people whose primary night-time residence
is in a homeless shelter, a warming center, a domestic violence shelter, cardboard boxes or other ad hoc housing situation. American Government homeless
enumeration studies also include persons who sleep in a public or private
place not designed for use as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.
Homelessness, defined narrowly and strictly: not having a shelter in
which to sleep and to perform basic human activities such as bathing.
Definition of homelessness:
1. Not having a place to call ‘home,’ and thus being forced to sleep
outside or in a temporary shelter,
2. Having access to housing that is seriously deficient, in terms of
sanitation, safe water, security of tenure, affordability, personal safety,
and/or accessibility to employment, education, and health care.
Why People Become
Homeless
There are a range of factors which can lead
to a person becoming homeless which can be divided into the following -
Structural Causes can include poverty, unemployment
and a lack of quality, affordable and appropriate housing.
Institutional Causes can include people who have been
living in foster care and young people in state care, those who have been in
prison or in mental health institutions, people who have been in hospital on a
long-term basis or those who have been in the armed forces.
Relationship Causes can include people involved in
abusive relationships or family breakdown. It can also be due to a death in the
family.
Personal Causes can include people with mental health
issues, learning difficulties and problems with drug and alcohol use.
Effects of Homelessness
For many people being homeless can mean time spent sleeping
rough, living in hostels and/or moving between different types of
accommodation. It can mean not having a normal family life or social contacts
and a lack of belonging.
Long-term homelessness can impact on a person’s self-esteem
– how they feel about themselves, and it can mean that that person does not get
the opportunity to do well in education or employment. Imagine trying to start
a new job or to go to school if you are living in emergency accommodation, not
knowing where you will sleep that night. Imagine not being allowed into a café
for a cup of tea and a sandwich as you had spent a few nights sleeping rough.
Imagine having nowhere private to wash and shave each day.
Reference:
http://www.geog.ubc.ca/~ewyly/g350/homeless.pdf
http://www.simon.ie/uploads/File/Close%20to%20Home%20%20Homelessness%20Causes%20and%20Effects.pdf
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