Homelessness and Government Accountability: An Australian Case Study

This essay delves into the complex issue of homelessness, framing it as a political problem with a focus on the Australian context. It begins by defining crime and highlighting the argument that the government should be held accountable for the rise in homelessness due to cuts in welfare programs and lack of affordable housing. The essay then explores the potential of criminalizing homelessness as a way to compel the government to address the issue more effectively, arguing that it would force the government to prioritize housing and social welfare. The author supports their views by mentioning that increased housing and welfare services, with the government held accountable, would reduce the number of homeless people. The essay references several academic sources to support its arguments, providing a comprehensive analysis of the political dimensions of homelessness and the responsibilities of the government.

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Name:
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Part A- Reply
By definition crime is a harmful act or an offense that is not only detrimental to some
individual but also a wrong to a community, state or society. The acts are punishable by the
law and are forbidden. Although all crime violates the law, not all law violations counts as a
crime. Homelessness is a social issue. Human rights activists argue that the Australian
government should be held responsible for their inability to protect vulnerable citizens
leading to homelessness (Bullen, 2015). As government assistance decreases there is a rise
homelessness. The government should be considered the offenders for not protecting the
rights of its citizens. In Australia, the number of homeless people has increased over the last
decade due to a combination of factors. The cut in welfare programs in the country, the
diminishing role played by social services and the lack of affordable housing in Australia to
the poor are some prominent factors that lead to homelessness. A closer look at it shows that
the government has diverted attention to other social services leading to an increase in the
number of people without homes. The cuts in public social welfare means that there is greater
competition for housing especially among the poor people (Mackenzie, Flatau, Steen, and
Thielking, 2016). Considering the government as the offenders and criminalizing
homelessness would be a great approach in reducing homelessness. The government would
be forced to do more concerning the lack of basic housing for the poor. It would be
compelled to set a large amount of its resources aside to make sure that there is enough
houses to be occupied especially by the people at the bottom.
Part B- My own view
Criminalizing homelessness would make the people who have found joy in living the
life of misery in the streets to be afraid of doing so. If the offenders are the government it
means that the federal government and other states in Australia would make it serious in

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setting laws and availing avenues in which the government can assist the people to the fullest
(MacKenzie, 2018). The increase in competition of affordable housing especially among the
poor would have been solved by making sure that supply of housing is equal or exceeds
demand making sure that every person has a roof on their heads. This is practically
impossible although an attempt to implement a policy of increased government housing
would drastically reduce homelessness. The government highest authority who is the prime
minister and head of government should be held criminally culpable of any neglect of the
homeless. Federal savings can be used to build homes and increase federal help or welfare
services to the most vulnerable (Parsell, Jones, and Head, 2013). Most people who do not
have money and jobs and have been denied government welfare end up in the streets as
homeless. The effect of good government policies in social welfare and increased housing
will reduce the number of homeless people. If the federal government is held accountable for
lack of speedy implementation of social human rights, then progress can be seen.

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References
Bullen, J., 2015. Governing homelessness: the discursive and institutional construction of
homelessness in Australia. Housing, Theory and Society, 32(2), pp.218-239.
Mackenzie, D., Flatau, P., Steen, A. and Thielking, M., 2016. The cost of youth homelessness
in Australia research briefing.
MacKenzie, D., 2018. Some Reflections on the Policy History of Youth Homelessness in
Australia. Cityscape, 20(3), pp.147-156.
Parsell, C., Jones, A. and Head, B., 2013. Policies and programmes to end homelessness in
Australia: Learning from international practice. International Journal of Social
Welfare, 22(2), pp.186-194.