Human Services Issues Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Human Services Issues - Research Paper Example It is shown in the articles of Bosman (2010) and Kaufman (2008) that since housing takes up the largest percentage of individual and family income traditional belief indicates that this whole population is in the verge of homelessness, and numerous do become homeless at some point in their poor life. Other, more definite roots of homelessness involve issues of employment, weakening public support, limited affordable housing, substance abuse, mental problems, domestic violence, and lack of health insurance (McNamara 2008). Any one of these issues is adequate to make a family or an individual homeless, and for numerous people, homelessness is the outcome of a personal conflict between being employed in a low-paying job with no health privileges and lack of accessible, low-priced housing. A family and individual in the aforesaid situations usually cannot pay for housing on their earnings from a minimum-wage employment, and they are not entitled to public support. This reality is accurat ely described by Bosman (2010) by stating that administration officials were surprised and demoralized by the marked increase in the prevalence of homelessness. Even the commissioner of homeless services, Robert Hess, declared that the city of New York is now feeling the enlargement in its massive shelter system several years ago (McNamara 2008). As cited by Bosman (2010), Hess declared, â€Å"And now we’re seeing the devastating effect of this unprecedented poor economy on our streets as well† (ibid, para 2). Statistics show that children make up 25% of the homeless in urban areas, and among the homeless adult, 14% are unmarried females and 47% are unmarried males (McNamara 2008, 52). Previous reports from the 1997 study of the U.S. Conference of Mayors of homelessness in urban areas suggest that 36% of the population of homeless people is made up of homeless families (McNamara 2008, 52). New York City, as clearly explained by Bosman (2010), is bearing the brunt of th e national recession. However, homelessness is not just an outcome of the declining economy; it is also brought about by the reduction in the number of low-priced housing alternatives to working and poor individuals and families in New York City. The article of Bosman (2010) gives the insight that in other corners of the United States individuals blame their homelessness and poor conditions on impoverished individuals. The traditional belief that poor individuals become poor due to their own weaknesses remains. This belief normally rules out children, who are regarded innocent, but it is difficult to support children without supporting their parents. Although Bosman (2010) obviously think that it is vital for individuals to assume responsibility for their own lives, it is also vital that in an affluent country for society to also assume responsibility. In several regions of the country, homelessness and poverty are quite indiscernible (McNamara 2008). Bosman’s (2010) article showed that the homelessness and poverty awareness of New York has raised a very developed knowledge of poverty and its roots. This article indirectly shows hard proof that the officials of New York understand the problem of homelessness. Meanwhile, the most