Family Homelessness Case Study
Amber Benton
Social Welfare 110
December 5, 2015
Family Homelessness
I. Problem Statement In 2013, 2,483,539 million children were without a place to call home in the United States -- a historically high rate in this country (Bassuk et al., 2014). Unfortunately this social problem isn?t showing signs of slowing. The number of homeless families is steadily increasing with a shocking eight percent increase from 2012 to 2013 (Bassuk et al., 2014). Even more troubling is the increase in homeless children, specifically. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, children account for 37% of the overall homeless population. This number saw an increase from 1.6 million to 2.5 million from 2010 to 2013, an increase of almost …show more content…
According to the NASW code of ethics, a social worker?s primary goal is to help those in need and address social problems. This intervention uses Mary Richmond?s theory of one on one practice?homeless families are experiencing serious and delicate situations and are in need of special attention. And finally, this intervention follows the idea of a person in environment approach, similar to the Ecosystem theory, which seeks to understand a person in the context of their families, communities, and personal characteristics. This strategy will allow for better identification of those in need and more organized allocation of resources, however, it may also have …show more content…
Social Workers have a voice that many of those they help do not, and it is important that we network with the NASW and other organizations to affect change in the current state of affairs. According to a study conducted by the National Center on Family Homelessness the most prevalent factor in determining homelessness is the extreme lack of affordable housing in the United States. Social Workers would be essential in fighting for policy that would call for additional funding for affordable rentals and regulation that would protect people from gentrification, with emphasis in metropolitan areas that are hot spots for family homelessness and soaring rental rates. Social workers would also be instrumental in spreading awareness of the issue and rallying/organizing community support. In Santa Clara County, for example, the Section 8 Housing application has been closed to new applicants for more then 5 years and those currently on the waiting list face wait times of up to 10 years (HACSC, 2014). Gentrification is causing families to be forced out of their homes for purposes such as business expansion and exponentially high rental rates. There is little attention to homelessness in families in legislation, land lords and corporations are practically unregulated and funds are not being designated in enough volume to create programs for emergency housing and to help families who are
Social Welfare 110
December 5, 2015
Family Homelessness
I. Problem Statement In 2013, 2,483,539 million children were without a place to call home in the United States -- a historically high rate in this country (Bassuk et al., 2014). Unfortunately this social problem isn?t showing signs of slowing. The number of homeless families is steadily increasing with a shocking eight percent increase from 2012 to 2013 (Bassuk et al., 2014). Even more troubling is the increase in homeless children, specifically. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, children account for 37% of the overall homeless population. This number saw an increase from 1.6 million to 2.5 million from 2010 to 2013, an increase of almost …show more content…
According to the NASW code of ethics, a social worker?s primary goal is to help those in need and address social problems. This intervention uses Mary Richmond?s theory of one on one practice?homeless families are experiencing serious and delicate situations and are in need of special attention. And finally, this intervention follows the idea of a person in environment approach, similar to the Ecosystem theory, which seeks to understand a person in the context of their families, communities, and personal characteristics. This strategy will allow for better identification of those in need and more organized allocation of resources, however, it may also have …show more content…
Social Workers have a voice that many of those they help do not, and it is important that we network with the NASW and other organizations to affect change in the current state of affairs. According to a study conducted by the National Center on Family Homelessness the most prevalent factor in determining homelessness is the extreme lack of affordable housing in the United States. Social Workers would be essential in fighting for policy that would call for additional funding for affordable rentals and regulation that would protect people from gentrification, with emphasis in metropolitan areas that are hot spots for family homelessness and soaring rental rates. Social workers would also be instrumental in spreading awareness of the issue and rallying/organizing community support. In Santa Clara County, for example, the Section 8 Housing application has been closed to new applicants for more then 5 years and those currently on the waiting list face wait times of up to 10 years (HACSC, 2014). Gentrification is causing families to be forced out of their homes for purposes such as business expansion and exponentially high rental rates. There is little attention to homelessness in families in legislation, land lords and corporations are practically unregulated and funds are not being designated in enough volume to create programs for emergency housing and to help families who are