Assignment 2 - Learning Portfolio: Homelessness Experience

This report presents a student's learning portfolio focused on homelessness, stemming from volunteer work at the Calgary Homeless Foundation and course readings. The student reflects on their experiences, highlighting personal growth and a shift in perspective regarding societal views on homelessness. The report details the student's involvement in awareness campaigns, their evolving understanding of the complex factors contributing to homelessness, and their plans for future advocacy, including establishing a shelter for women. The author discusses how the course challenged their preconceived notions and fostered a deeper appreciation for the challenges faced by homeless individuals. They emphasize the importance of empathy, societal support, and the need for continued research and action to address this critical social issue. The report concludes with a commitment to contributing to the betterment of the lives of homeless people, and a desire to help others change their perception about homelessness.

Running head: ASSIGNMENT 2
Assignment 2- Learning portfolio
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Homelessness as the term defines is mainly the condition of an individual where
individuals are without a lasting residence. Homeless people are mainly unable to obtain and
continue safe and secure accommodation (Gaetz, Gulliver & Richter, 2014). Homelessness is
thus, devastating, risky as well as isolating. However, there are many reasons for which many
people become homeless like lack of inexpensive housing, unemployment, poverty,
individuals coming out of prisons, army who have no homes, women who have to absconding
from violent relationships. Moreover, the homeless people face many issues like that of
personal security, privacy, protection of their possessions like beddings and clothing along
with which they lack in hygiene facilities, washing clothes, preparing food or storing them in
small amounts and it’s also difficult for keeping contacts without a permanent address. The
homeless people face many other underlying issues such as decreased access towards health
care as well as dental services, very less approach towards getting educated, the risk factors
are high for being a victim of abuse or violence (Piat et al., 2015). Homeless people however
are socially rejected as well as discriminated and thus, they loss the usual connection with the
mainstream, not considered suitable for employment and lastly, not considered eligible for
opting for the bank services or to any communication technology.
I have an experience of working as one of the volunteers in Calgary homeless
foundation. This foundation was established in Mr. Arthur R. Smith in 1998 to create an
integrated from to decrease homelessness in Calgary. This foundation further has an
important role to play in the society as it serves the homeless people as an inter-linked
network of agencies so that the homeless people or those who are at a risk of getting
homeless are at appropriate time get the access of housing and basic resources (Nelson et al.,
2014). The experience that I gathered after working here is that when you are doing
something for the society or helping others who are deprived even with the basic needs, it
feels amazing and satisfying that how doing little things for them can bring a big smile to

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their face. It actually felt so good that even words are falling short that how privileged I felt
when I am doing things for other and in return I am not expecting anything. I further realize
that a small gesture to the homeless people can positively affect them and make them feel
good as well as acceptable. These 2years actually made me realized that how lives are for
those who are homeless, along with which the lessons I learned here, I am sure I would not
have learned it in any other work. While interacting with the homeless people I actually came
to know many of their stories that made me realize how difficult survival has been for them
and how privileged we are.
My work as a volunteer in Calgary homeless foundation made me associated with
many public awareness campaigns for the homelessness. As a volunteer, I have organized
many campaigns for both the society as well as homeless people so that the mindset of the
people can be changed about what homelessness really means (August-Brady & Adamshick,
2013). I use to make scripts for all the people associated in the awareness campaign so that
important messages are developed and delivered through the same script. Along with my
team, we use to target the audiences for the campaigns who were either the homeless people
or those people in the society who have rigid beliefs and behavior towards the homeless
community. We use to organize street plays, small dance performances, debates where the
audiences can get engrossed as well as participate in our campaigns. Along with this, we also
use to campaign through websites, social media as well as by distributing posters or printed
leaflets to distribute our messages to our audiences. My work was however, not limited to
this rather I also approached people individually to lend their helping hands and come in
support for making this world a better place to live for those who are homeless. My work in
this foundation was to initially being part of these campaigns but later I was trained and was
given the responsibility to host these campaigns with other team members.

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However, the course readings as well as the discussions held in the class had greatly
challenged my understanding of homelessness. Therefore, the impact it had on me is huge. I
can proudly say that my conception as well as understanding regarding homeless people has
changed largely and left a positive impact on myself. As I have observed that society perceive
that people who are homeless might have chosen to be like that or might have born to a
circumstance like that but after proper reading, research and discussions I can to know that
are many underlying issues that force a person to become homeless ((Parsell & Parsell,
2012). Homeless people are actually has his or her own unique stories being in a situation
like this. People further think that if homeless people are donated money they would simply
buy drugs or alcohol. This is what the media showed to us and that is how like majority of the
people in the society my perception was also biased against these homeless people. Then,
another understanding is that homeless people should not have luxury items, as they do not
deserve it. But my perception was challenged and I came to know that when I am not aware
of what the situation of the homeless people are then it becomes much more easier for us to
judge mainly because they are poor and even homeless.
It is a pre perceived notion that we all have that poor should be poor and those who
are homeless must be joyless (Kilmer et al., 2012). Therefore, people usually gets angry with
they find homeless people with luxury items. Nevertheless, lesser that we know that there are
many government programs through which homeless people as well as those with low
incomes get assistance financially and at times get sponsored mobile phones. Therefore, now
I can proudly say that I have made myself free from all these rigid conceptions regarding the
homeless and can understand that there are reasons as well as painful stories of every
homeless people, which have pushed them in such a tough life. Personally, I am much more
eager to help the homeless as well ready to donate as much as possible for their betterment
and survival. I would be more than happy if my little contributions can bring a large

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difference in a homeless person’s life (Somerville, 2013). Therefore, I feel my understanding
has been thoroughly challenged as well as changed for the long run.
My person belief and values regarding this topic homelessness was not clear that what
it really is. From this course, my thinking has been modified largely towards homelessness.
Along with the course readings, discussions as well as the experience that I have as an
volunteer the valuable lessons that I have learned are priceless and I am definite this will help
me to become a better person in my upcoming days. Before this contradictory perception
came to my understanding, I remember to avoid people who are homeless and had a negative
viewpoint about the overall concept of homelessness. I have started looking at my own life in
a different light and started appreciating small moments because now I value these small
gestures, as I know that for some this can be important but they are deprived of these small
things. However, not only this I have also developed new skills, discovered new passions and
also have earned new insights both about my own self as well as about the society I live in.
This course has thus, given me the strength to consider that homelessness is a state where
usually people are helpless and they need the assistance of others to fight it back.
However, for future practices, I would really want to use this course learning as well
as my experience of being a volunteer in Calgary homeless foundation. Therefore I have
plans where I can open a shelter for the homeless people mainly females as I personally
believe that for a women is get all the more difficult to be in such a situation. For a women it
is all the more dangerous to become homeless as it makes them on a more risky position to
get physically abused or pushed into women trafficking mainly into the sex industry. Thus,
my plans are to make the society aware that their minor contributions can actually be
beneficial for many poor souls against which they are holding bias as well as wrong
perceptions. Through my organization, I want the homeless people to get a support that we
are beside them and they are also a part of this society and have all the rights to live a proper

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life. I would really like to do more research on the growing homelessness in the world and
want to contribute as much as I can towards making the situations of the homeless people a
little better.

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References
August-Brady, M., & Adamshick, P. (2013). Oh, the things you will learn: Taking
undergraduate research to the homeless shelter. Journal of Nursing Education, 52(6),
342-345.
Gaetz, S., Gulliver, T., & Richter, T. (2014). The state of homelessness in Canada 2014.
Canadian Homelessness Research Network.
Hodgetts, D., Stolte, O., Waimarie Nikora, L., & Groot, S. (2012). Drifting along or dropping
into homelessness: A class analysis of responses to homelessness. Antipode, 44(4),
1209-1226.
Kilmer, R. P., Cook, J. R., Crusto, C., Strater, K. P., & Haber, M. G. (2012). Understanding
the ecology and development of children and families experiencing homelessness:
Implications for practice, supportive services, and policy. American Journal of
Orthopsychiatry, 82(3), 389-401.
Nelson, G., Stefancic, A., Rae, J., Townley, G., Tsemberis, S., Macnaughton, E., ... &
Stergiopoulos, V. (2014). Early implementation evaluation of a multi-site housing
first intervention for homeless people with mental illness: a mixed methods
approach. Evaluation and Program Planning, 43, 16-26.
Parsell, C., & Parsell, M. (2012). Homelessness as a Choice. Housing, Theory and
Society, 29(4), 420-434.
Piat, M., Polvere, L., Kirst, M., Voronka, J., Zabkiewicz, D., Plante, M. C., ... & Goering, P.
(2015). Pathways into homelessness: Understanding how both individual and

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structural factors contribute to and sustain homelessness in Canada. Urban
Studies, 52(13), 2366-2382.
Ravenhill, M. (2016). The culture of homelessness. Routledge.
Somerville, P. (2013). Understanding homelessness. Housing, theory and society, 30(4), 384-
415.
Williams, J. C. (2016). A roof over my head: Homeless women and the shelter industry.
University Press of Colorado.