Homelessness
Order Description
Please be thorough on the instruction of the assignment.
9 resources include the video files to watch to do the homework.
If writer read the instructions of the assignment than he/she will know why.
One video is divided into 5 parts and one more additional clip to watch so it make total of 6 sources
and 2 readings.
*Besides citing the video you will need to cite at least ONE other source in your discussion and include a reference page.
Assignment Instructions
Readings
The Rich and Rest of Us (Smiley & West 2012) Chapter 4
Burt M. Aron L. Lee E. & Valente (2001). Helping Americas homeless: Emergency shelter or affordable housing. Chapter One. New York: Urban Institute
Press.
Directions: There are 2 parts to this post
Part One:
Watch the 5 part video series On Skid Row
Directed by Sam Slovick
February 17 2008
Good Magazine: On Skid Row Part 1: IntroductionGood Magazine: On Skid Row Part 2: Kids
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=karPGdnqljE=channel
Good Magazine: On Skid Row Part 3: Drugs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbxm5sCXZ_Y=channel
Good Magazine: On Skid Row Part 4: God
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGV_FpKP2ro=channel
Good Magazine: On Skid Row Part 5: Afterword
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3DmTX4H7wM=channel
AND
Nowhere To Go But Jail? OverCriminalized #3: Homelessness BRAVE NEW
FILMS: JUSTICE
Part 3Answer these questions:
1. Go to the following link and read the facts regarding criminalizing the homeless:
http://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/criminalization.html
2. Is the criminalization of the homeless necessary? Whats the alternative?
3. In the video it showed how many of the shelters are run by religious organizations. Do you think they can do a better job with the homelessness problem than
government programs?
4. How does Skid Row in LA compare to the homeless situation in New York?
5. What solutions would you offer to solve the homeless problem?
Part Two:
Often homelessness is not caused by one factor alone but results from a series of events. Concurrent unbearable conditions situations or issues also sometimes cause
homeless- ness. Therefore many seemingly unrelated issues are actually interconnected: they weave a web from which escape can be difficult. The challenges can be
overwhelming.
PROFILES
*Read each of the 4 profiles. Choose ONE and immerse yourself in it.
1. List and describe at least 3 organizations your profile person could turn to for help in their situation (you will need to cite the actual organization and provide
a url to their homepage).
2. Describe how you would feel if you were in their shoes. Is it easy to get back on your feet? Frustrating? Frightening?
PROFILE #1
VETERANS:
Im a Vietnam vet. Ive tried to put it all behind me but sometimes I just break down. Ive been fired from jobs several times. I wish there was someone I could turn
to. The friend I was staying with recently got back together with his wife so I cant sleep there anymore. I have nowhere to stay and no one will hire me because of
my history. Ive only got about a00 in savings.
YOU NEED THE FOLLOWING:
o A place to stay (at least temporarily) Mental health counseling
o A job of some sort
ISSUES TO CONSIDER:
o PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
o Inaccessibility of veteran services
o Lack of awareness of veteran services
o Employment
PROFILE #2
WOMEN WITH CHILDREN (FAMILIES):
I just loaded everything in my car and drove 600 miles to escape from my abusive ex-boyfriend. Im pregnant with our 2nd child and my doctor instructed me to work no
more than 4 hours a day because Ive been having some health problems. My son and I have been sleeping in the car for 2 weeks because the shelters are full and no one
will hire me part-time because I dont have daycare for my 3-year old.
YOU NEED THE FOLLOWING:
o A place to stay for you and your son
o Domestic abuse counseling
o A medical checkup
o Daycare for your son
o Job training (paid)
ISSUES TO CONSIDER
o Domestic violence
o Health care
o Economic instability
PROFILE #3
RUNAWAY YOUTH:
Im 14 years old. I ran away from home 4 months ago to get away from Dave my step- dad. He used to hit me and he always yells. The first time I left the social
worker brought me back because Dave promised that things would change. The threats and beatings only got worse after that because Dave said hed show me whos boss
since I thought I was so tough. So I bought a bus ticketthey cant bring me back if they cant find me. Its hard being on the street especially because Im a minor
so they wont let me into the shelter. Ive got pretty much nothing. I try to stay out of trouble but Im running out of cash and my friends I met here say the
easiest way to make money is to sell drugsor myself.
YOU NEED THE FOLLOWING:
o A safe stable place to sleep
o Legal counseling (for minors)
o Abuse counseling Education
ISSUES TO CONSIDER
o Child abuse by family member (sexual physical psychological)
o Delinquency
o Turning to prostitution (to support self)
PROFILE #4
PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS:
I suffer from major depression. My insurance doesnt cover mental health services and I cant afford the counseling and medication I need. I was a bus driver for 12
years until I got fired last month because I missed so much work. Often its just too hard to get out of bed much less leave the house. My rent is a month overdue so
my landlord is angry. My only family is my ex-wife and kids in Florida but I cant go to them for help. Its totally hopeless.
YOU NEED THE FOLLOWING:
o Counseling
o Medication (Mental) health insurance
o A job (income)
o A support system
ISSUES TO CONSIDER
o High cost of prescription drugs and therapy
o Lack of proper follow-up after mental health treatments
o Employment
Besides citing the video you will need to cite at least ONE other source in your discussion and include a reference page.
Here is another great source Chapter One of the following book: Burt M. Aron L. Lee E. & Valente (2001). Helping Americas homeless: Emergency shelter or
affordable housing. New York: Urban Institute Press.
Homelessness database of articles:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/homelessness/
MORE homeless articles
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/tag/homelessness/
NO Safe Place: The criminalization of Homelessness in US cities
The National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty
http://www.nlchp.org/documents/No_Safe_Place
Get answer