SWP5PSW: Analysis of Homelessness as a Social Issue in Australia

This essay provides a comprehensive analysis of homelessness as a significant social issue in Australia, exploring its definition, causes, and various perspectives. The author utilizes the Australian Bureau of Statistics' definition of homelessness, emphasizing the lack of access to suitable acco...Read More

Running Head: ANALYSIS OF HOMELESSNESS AS A SOCIAL ISSUE
Analysis of homelessness as a social issue
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1ANALYSIS OF HOMELESSNESS AS A SOCIAL ISSUE
By putting into use the statistical definition of homelessness defined by the Australian
Bureau of Statistics (ABS), it can be said that the situation in which a person does not have
any access to suitable accommodation alternatives; other than an inadequate dwelling or a
dwelling that has no tenure, or short time of tenure that is inextensible and puts restrictions on
the dwellers in terms of having access to space for establishing social relations
(homelessnessaustralia.org.au. 2020). This definition of homelessness by ABS takes into
account the understanding of the concept of homelessness not as ‘roof’lessness, but
‘home’lessness. Its emphasis remains on the core elements of a home as per the Anglo
American and European definition of home. Some other features that are considered to be a
part of the essence of ‘home’ are a sense of security, stability, privacy, safety, and the ability
to control the living space (homelessnessaustralia.org.au. 2020). Hence, a lack of any of these
elements is also considered a state of being homeless. According to the definition of
homelessness by (Mackenzie et. al., 2016) three categories have been used for recognizing
diversity in terms of homelessness.
 Primary homelessness is known to be an experience of people who are
surviving without any conventional mode of accommodation, for example,
rough sleepers, and those who live in improvised dwellings.
 Secondary homelessness is the experience of people who are always on the
move as they transfer from one temporary shelter to another, such as
emergency accommodation, youth refuges, couch surfing, etc.
 Tertiary homelessness is the experience of people who live in
accommodations that are considered to be below the minimum community
standards, namely, boarding housing and caravan parks
(homelessnessaustralia.org.au. 2020).

2ANALYSIS OF HOMELESSNESS AS A SOCIAL ISSUE
Many organisations are dedicated to improving the situation of the homeless in
Australia. However, the AASW (Australian Association of Social Workers) is the only
national organization that consists of social workers in Australia. They are heavily involved
in several community services such as health, family, child-welfare income support, and are
not just restricted to the private sector- but work for the public and non-profit sectors as well.
Many of the members are directly involved in the planning or delivery of housing support for
the homeless community.
Since housing brings along with it an immense amount of stress that is directly
proportional to the health, education, employment, along with the emotional wellbeing of
people and their families, it is the sheer determination and sense of dedication that enables the
social workers to work with individuals or groups, and communities. By doing so, they can
achieve equity in terms of access to every social, economic, and political resource, along with
housing resources of Australia (Horsell & Zufferey, 2017).
One of the main reasons that contribute to the ever-growing problem of homelessness
is poverty. These two issues are highly interrelated. Other factors include several social
issues, namely lack of proper and relevant education, opportunities for employment,
diminishing physical health, malnutrition, and high risks of substance abuse that make the
homeless community even more vulnerable. The key issues identified are the existence of
various perspectives on the topic, such as the causes of homelessness, and the differences
based on gender in the community of homeless people, along with the process of
victimization of the homeless population (Heerde, et. al., 2020). The themes of discussion
include the accommodation and housing issues along with the concept of homelessness, the
health and the needs of the community in general. Differentiation based on the two
approaches towards homelessness- “linear” service model, and “permanent supportive
housing” has also been discussed (Horsell & Zufferey, 2017). The Australian government’s

3ANALYSIS OF HOMELESSNESS AS A SOCIAL ISSUE
support organizations have been undergoing immense change as noted in the literature in the
name of “public sponsorship” that has been developed in various developed countries that
also include the business incubators, breaks in taxes along with subsidies, and the public
venture capital. The underexplored mechanism reveals the fact that sponsorship that affects
any organization of the propensity of adopting any new practices.
The current roles and functions played by these organizations such as Homelessness
Australia, Mission Australia, StreetSmart Australia, Salvation Army, and St. Vincent De Paul
Society, etc. have been identifying and addressing the homeless community with the help of
linear service models. According to this model, any homeless person is allocated to enter an
Emergency Shelter; there, the person would receive a place for sleeping, and counseling
services along with food. In terms of behavior such as signs of mental stability and substance
addiction, the person will then be moved to a longer-term housing program known as
transitional housing. As per the results of the above steps, the person would then move to an
independent or subsidized housing facility. However, the homeless service organizations
shifted from this linear model to plan that was effective in the long term, known “permanent
supportive housing” (Anthony & Walsh, 2017). Homelessness is also a social issue in the
contemporary society and for many decades, the federal government has been the sole source
in supporting the various non-profit organizations in serving the homeless community with
food, shelter, and other services. However, in spite of the sudden increase in the amount of
billions of dollars in improving the experience of homeless community, there has not been
much significant changes in the past thirty five years. Although the public policies and
practices regarding the homeless people have undergone immense changes, the federal
government’s investment has increased over 100% from the year 2008 to 2017 (Anthony &
Walsh, 2017). There are heavy influences on the emphasis of “permanent supportive housing
as well as shelters that involve the long-term subsidies and very commonly less stringent

4ANALYSIS OF HOMELESSNESS AS A SOCIAL ISSUE
restrictions on the behavior of the client along with the counseling services instead of the
traditional as well as short-term approaches that are based on emergency shelter. Various
social agencies that include PIAC (Public Interest Advocacy Centre) are suitable in terms of
legal and social strategies that can be devised with the implementation for ensuring the
homeless and rough sleepers have not been facing any issues that are related to poverty and
are provided with tents that are meant for accommodation (Anthony & Walsh, 2017).
A multi-disciplinary model that has been developed by Parsell, Clarke, and Vosina,
positive outcomes have been recorded with the majority of the homeless community who are
rough sleepers, have been able to access as well as register someone who is a general
practitioner. The incentives earned have also proved to help deal with the issues of
vulnerability in the forthcoming days as well. Many forms of mechanism, motivation, etc.,
have been applied by the World Health Organization for removing the hurdles that derive the
rough sleepers who have been facing numerous health facilities.
The target of the various approaches and perspectives that have been taken up by both
governmental and non-governmental organizations are not directed towards eliminating the
causes that contribute towards rendering people homeless. The failure to do so makes the
attempts somewhat futile (Parsell & Watts, 2017). Since it has been recorded that even with
an immense increase in the funds that are dedicated to the improvement of facilities of the
homeless community, the conditions of the homeless people are far away from any
development, especially in the long term. The distinction based on mental stability and
indulging in substance abuse also have various adverse effects as many times people are
forced to become homeless due to mental health issues while indulging in substance is to
escape the harsh reality of poverty and other problems such as lack of employment
opportunities. The attempt to make a difference should be at all levels, such as individual,
meso, or macro (Parsell & Watts, 2017). The reality is, however, different since the causes of

5ANALYSIS OF HOMELESSNESS AS A SOCIAL ISSUE
poverty and unemployment have not been addressed. On further analysis, many faces of
homelessness in Australia have been registered. Although the majority of the homeless
community are men, there is also a significant increase in the number of women as well as
children who are living on streets or in transitional housing facilities (Heerde, et. al., 2020).
Another surprising factor is that many people are the verge of being rendered homeless.
Many of the homeless people have houses and families but are trying to escape unfavorable
situations. Women and minors are many times, victims of domestic violence. Hence almost
half of the women who are forced to be homeless have been escaping for situations that are
abusive for themselves and the children. The social services that are meant to help these
victims are too few in comparison to the number of victims. Hence, when searching for
shelters, the chances of being turned away from them are always high, as they do not have
proper housing to accommodate all the people. The young generation, too, at times find
themselves to be on the roads and on the path of being homeless. They also experience
various domestic violence situations. Instances of immediate and long-term effects of
unemployment, mental illness, breakdown of the family unit, drug abuse, and alcohol abuse,
all contribute towards the growing experience of homelessness (Heerde, et. al., 2020).
Extreme changes in the price index and too less choices for those at the lower end of
the market have been recognised as the leading cause of homelessness. Adding to the
situation the problem of negative growth of wages, along with an influx in the
insecurity of the job market, more number of people become vulnerable of becoming
homeless. Another barrier or hurdle for people is the growth of new overseas migration in the
recent times. 2004 to 2015 have witnessed the change in the percentage by 30%, from
138,800 to 181,050. The result of this change in numbers has led to a change of stock of
housing that was initially 22% (Steen, 2018). Since the number of migrators are considered to

6ANALYSIS OF HOMELESSNESS AS A SOCIAL ISSUE
be a part of the population numbers, the living accommodations that have been emptied for
moving to Australia does not make any contributions in the process of filtering.
The most important factor that should be the attention needs to be moved from pop-up
beds in the car parks, or mobile laundries, and washrooms, although they have the best
intention; the society should immediately end the situation of homelessness for anyone who
is sleeping rough (Beadnell, 2018). The current situation can neither be termed to be as a
utopia, nor can it be termed as unrealistic. Based on evidence from exhaustive research and
collection of evidences, it have been found that the current situation of homelessness in the
capital of Australia along with the regional cities can be permanently ended- this also
includes those community members who have been victims of chronic homelessness. The
research program also includes those who are rough sleepers. The results from research
shows that those who have been supported by the Housing First Programs (a number between
80%-90%) for exiting their current state of rough sleeping have been able to sustain their
accommodation and living arrangements for a span of more than 12 months (Steen, 2018).
However, there are three things factors that need to be addressed- first one includes the street
assertiveness in outreaching which can be systematically identify as well as help to get the
people off the street. Some of the models that have been implemented include health worker
and clinicians reaching out for helping to build a bridge in order to overcome the barriers
related to health for those who are out on the streets. The second critical aspect includes a
change in perspective that allows people access to housing facility as a tent and not as a client
who is nothing but a part of a conditional program. The goal of this step should be an
increase in the accessibility as well as availability of housing and accommodation on a long-
term basis (Steen, 2018). This form of availability should be aimed at in order to ensure that
the outreach has to offer exactly what the people need. The third aspect consists of a flexible

7ANALYSIS OF HOMELESSNESS AS A SOCIAL ISSUE
model that needs to be integrated in the system of social support for addressing the issue of
health care once they are living in their accommodations (Beadnell, 2018).
The support that is on-going should consist of a driving force that is driven by the one
who lives as a tenant. Instead, most of them are mandated, and only available for a very short
period of time. A lot of monetary loss takes place in responding to the aftermath of the failure
of the policies when the systems do not address and help solve the issue of enabling rough
sleepers to have proper access to housing.
One of the consequences is observed in the increasing dependency of the homeless
community on the goodwill of volunteers since they are capable of providing them with
bedding as well as facilities of washing. In this situation, the charities along with the
volunteers who are motivated and hold good positions possess the agency that can push the
government to enable a future that includes provision of housing for all Australians. As per
the research and evidence found in the government data, the administrative body saves
$13,100 for every individual when the issue of homelessness is addressed by providing the
community with permanent support of housing (Horsell & Zufferey, 2017). It is also ironic
that when the individuals are living in proper houses, their needs to use the criminal justice as
well as health care services are dramatically decreased in comparison to those who are out on
the streets.

8ANALYSIS OF HOMELESSNESS AS A SOCIAL ISSUE
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9ANALYSIS OF HOMELESSNESS AS A SOCIAL ISSUE
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