Foundation of Social Research Number of Homeless

Question: Discuss about the Foundation of Social Research for the Number of Homeless. Answer: Introduction: The aim of this literature review is to determine the perceptions of homeless people and perception of other people towards them. Number of homeless increased in Australia in past few years. There are many other peoples who are just a step away of being homeless in Australia, people which are living in housing which is not secure for them. This becomes area of concern for professionals as well as for government. Being homeless is not a choice, people are homeless due to financial and emotional problems. Perception of people towards homeless people is important because public perception effect the legislation and seriousness of matter. Usually an individual who has not any permanent residence or who live on the streets are considered to be homeless. As per the Mackenzie and chamberlains definition there are three categories of homelessness: Primary homelessness, Secondary homelessness and Tertiary homelessness (Homelessness Australia, n.d.). Literature Review: As per the book Homelessness in Australia which is edited by Chris Camberlain, Guy Johnson Catherine Robinson, arrival of Britishers changed the context of Australia these three ways that is economic, legal spiritual. Aboriginal peoples have their houses till the time colonies arrived in Australia. Aboriginal peoples are the people who live on the land before the colonies arrived. Homelessness begin in Australia with the arrival of the first fleet in Australia. In 1992 Prime Minister Paul Keatings mention in his speech about the damage suffered by traditional owners not only spiritual damage but also economic loss (Chamberlain, Johnson Robinson, 2014). As per the new research conduct, one in 10 Australians experience to being homeless at least for one time in their lives. Researchers of RMIT found that 11.1% women and 15.1% men have experience of being homeless at least one time in their lives that means 2.35 million of population of Australia spend a night without a house. From this 2.35 million at least 1.4 million people have also slept in rough conditions or in dwellings. Results of the report are shocking because no one expected such big numbers. As per Professor Chris Chamberlain and Dr Guy Johnson said that this report clear the confusion that only few homeless people slept rough (Schetzer, 2015). According to the society there are several causes of homelessness which are economic condition, limited availability of jobs, drugs and mental illness. Few think that being homeless is the choice of homeless people and some says that they are willing to earn sufficient income and not working hard for this (Phillips, 2014). According to Amy Donley and Emmanuel Jackson there are several questions which are there as how people treat the homeless people and how homeless people survive and fulfill their basic needs regarding food clothes. After asking these questions from several people, they got results which are really disappointing. According to the answers 50% of homeless people say that other people who are not homeless perceive them negatively, they treat them worthless. Some respondents mention that people treat them well and in a positive way. There are many charities which provide food and clothes to homeless people and fulfillment of their basic needs rely on the charity of these organizations. People admit if they miss a meal provided by these charities then they did not have meal for the whole day. There are many peoples who do not have option of free meal and they have to struggle a lot for their meal. There are several peoples who are presentable and they want to hide the fact that they are h omeless but usually major population of homeless people does not care about the presentation and hygiene factors (Donley Jackson, 2014). Stigma: A client give statement in Hanover Client Survey 2008, that I am homeless is embarrassing as it makes me feel like Im some lazy bum with a drug and alcohol problem who doesnt do anything to help themselves. I overhear people talking and this seems to be a common opinion Homeless people have been stigmatized and blamed for the situation in which they are, they usually suffer stigmatization by their fellow citizens. Discussion on this topic begins with the theory of Goffmans (1963). According to Goffman definition of stigma is an attribute that is deeply discrediting. Homeless people are not accepted by the society. Society considers them in a negative way. Even statements of care made by the people towards homeless people includes stigma. Goffman divide stigma in three categories; physical disability, defect in character of person defects in particular tribal, national or religious group (Crossman, 2016). Homeless people are affected from all the areas of stigma mention by Goffman, as they are homeless society consider it the defect in their character and count them worthless. Stigmatization suffer by homeless people is not because of their being homeless but because of the mentality of their fellow citizens that homeless people are worthless. Recently homelessness becomes an area of concern for the Australian government, in 2008 Australian Government releases a white paper on homelessness that is The Road Home: A National Approach to Reducing Homelessness. In this strategy government take a three layer approach which is; providing improved services, intervention of experts for the people with high needs prevention at early stage. Both government and service sector understand the problem of homelessness and take measures to solve the problem but support and understanding from public is not there, which makes the situation more critical. Government requires support from community and also balance with laws of community. Research is conducted on communitys attitude towards the homelessness which results in mixed reviews such as choice and laziness and some says because of unaffordable houses (Betterham, Hollows Kollar, n.d.). As per the Barbara Schneider and Chaseten Remillard, treat the homeless people in the same way as you treat the other peoples who have home. Statements of care made by the domiciled peoples include stigma. Their studies reflect that measures taken to reduce the stigma are not as effective as they had to be, therefore they not offer any solution for the problem of stigma (Schneider remillard, 2013). Conclusion: This report contains the perception of homeless people and also the perception of their fellow citizens towards the homeless people. In this we talk brief about the history of beginning of homelessness in Australia from the setup of colonizers. Homeless people usually hide the fact of being homeless due to the attitude of society towards them. When people make statements of care for homeless people it also includes stigma in their statements. Stigmatization suffer by homeless people is not because of their being homeless but because of the attitude of society towards them. Community think people are homeless because of their laziness and choice. Government take preventive measures to reduce the problem of homelessness but public support are not there. References: Homelessness Australia, There is no one definition of homelessness, Retrieved on 29th august from: https://www.homelessnessaustralia.org.au/index.php/about-homelessness/what-is-homelessness. Schetzer, A. (2015). One in 10 Australians homeless at some point. Journal, (online). Available at: https://www.theage.com.au/victoria/one-in-10-australians-homeless-at-some-point-20151023-gkh5sv.html (Accessed 29 August 2015). Batterham, D. Hollows, A. Kolar, V. Attitudes to homelessness in Australia. Journal of hanover welfare services. Donley, A. Jackson, E. (2014). Blending In: The Presentation of Self among Homeless Men in a Gentrifying Environment. Journal of Homelessness.7(1). Chamberlain, C. Johnson, G. Robinson, C.(2014). Homelessness in Australia. Council to homeless person 2014. Schneider, B. Remillard, C. (2013), Caring About Homelessness: How Identity Work Maintains the Stigma of Homelessness. Journal of Homelessness. 33(1): 95 112. crossman, A. (2016). Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity. Journal of about education. (online). Available at: https://sociology.about.com/od/Works/a/Stigma-Notes-On-The-Management-Of-Spoiled-Identity.htm . (Accessed 29 August 2015). Phillips, L. (2014), Homelessness: Perception of Causes and Solution. Routledge. Journal of poverty. 19(1); 1-19.