DB respond to 3 postings DUE September 12th by 11:00pm

Topic: Consider 1 human service issue. It might be the lack of affordable housing, poor schools, date rape, divorce, or perhaps discrimination based on race, religion, and disability. You are not limited to these. Consider possible causes for the social problem that has been chosen. Make sure to include both internal and external reasons for the causes you think are responsible for this problem. Use your own insight, ideas from your readings, and include at least 2 scripture references that deal with the issue.

Reply to 3 of your classmates' threads from the last module/week. Each reply must be at least 150 words and meaningfully expand the discussion. With references!!

In terms of the application and critical analysis piece for your reply posts there needs to be a more application based use of references. In other words, formulate an observation, comment on the observation, and use the reference as a way to back up your assertion. Avoid simply stating something out of the reference as a focal point. Application is the key. Also, be aware of this in reference to scriptural integration as well.

Reply 1

Ra Kun

Affordable Housing

A human service issue that is dear to my heart is lack of affordable housing for people. Martin (Martin, 2014, p. 127-128) indicate that there are internal and external reasons for the lack of affordable housing. External reasons include people destroying the property that affordable housing is set on, to many people breaking into the housing complex that the landlord needs to shut it down, and people breaking the rules for the affordable housing act that they no longer can be a part of it anymore. Another external reason, for lack of affordable housing is that people are building higher end housing for people that have jobs that pay well. With this happening the rent is increasing for everyone which makes what was affordable to people, not affordable to them anymore. Internal reasons that might be possible causes for this type of social problem is that people are committing suicide in those apartments, and the apartments might have to be condemned. Also another, internal issue is that people with depression and anxiety need the housing, and they cannot receive, because there is no longer any available housing for that type of population.

However, Martin neglects to consider the homeless population, which is another category that is affected with lack of affordable housing. I have interned at the Salvation Army in my city that I live in now, and finding affordable housing was very difficult for me to find for some clients compared to others. For example a client that had been doing case management with us for a while, and we finally found a place for the client to move into, but within a week the client was no longer in the housing facility due to destroying the property, and not following the rules set by the landlord. Another example, with me working at the Salvation Army it was hard to find affordable housing for clients, due to so many apartments going up in the area with high end professionals moving in and working in the area. A furthermore example, is one client in particular we could not find affordable housing for is, because the client dealt with anxiety, depression, as well as suicidal thoughts, and they did not want to take on the risk. A final example, is a client that had a hard time with finding affordable housing due to internalizing things was them being anxious of moving into a neighbor where crime and the suicidal rates were high.

Martin does not consider this and in general I have noted that the that the human services field can improve this population by living by these scriptures. Scriptures that relate to the lack of affordable housing for people in my community, and around the world that us as believers can share with them and help them believe the Scriptures. Galatians 6:10 “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (The Holy Bible New International Version, 2011). We as believers in Jesus Christ, we need to love on people, and give them opportunities to find housing in this world. Us as believers might be able to talk to people in our church that be willing to house people, in whom we know that need housing. Like He tells us He wants us to good to all people, and with bringing people into our homes that need housing is doing good to them which will help with the lack of affordable housing. He especially wants us to help fellow believers find the right housing for them. Another Scripture that pertains to the lack of affordable housing is Jeremiah 22:16 “He gave justice and help to the poor and needy, and everything went well for him. Isn't that what it means to know me?" says the LORD” (The Life Application Study Bible is an edition of the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 2004). With helping people find affordable housing, we are helping the needy and poor with helping them finding justice for the lack of affordable housing. I hope as the years pass that we can find more justice for the lack of affordable housing. I love that with knowing Him we can help the needed and poor with serving justice in so many different ways.

References

Martin, M. E. (2014). Introduction To Human Services Through The Eyes of Practice

Settings. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.

The Holy Bible New International Version. (2011). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

The Life Application Study Bible is an edition of the Holy Bible, New Living Translation. (2nd ed.). (2004). Carol Stream, IL:

Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Reply 2

Bullying

An issue that may be overlooked by some as a human services issue is bullying. Many limit the victims of abuse to those of domestic violence, criminal activity or abused seniors and children. As of recent, children are coming forward more often with complaints of being bullied by their peers and not adults. Some children have expressed feeling responsible for being bullied because they refuse to “fight back” or stand up for themselves. They question what is wrong within themselves that allows them to be so weak. Others feel that the bullies are the ones with the esteem issues and victimizing others is an esteem builder for them.

Having walked through the ordeal with my son, I was able to learn from his experience as well as educate him about it. I learned that children have an external force of discrimination per se’. Their discrimination is based in things like clothes, size, material possessions, and stereo-types. Apparently these categories define each child’s value or victim potential. I was able to educate my son with reminding him of his ability to defend himself with his voice. I did not encourage any form of physical retaliation, embarrassment or ridicule. I did encourage him to bring the matter to the surface with anti bullying awareness. I told him when you shine a light on darkness, darkness no longer exists. Together, he and his friends exposed bullying and it was regarded as an act worthy of suspension and or expulsion by his school's administration.

The act of bullying has always reminded me of two under-dog stories in the bible: David and Goliath and Joseph and his brothers. 1st Samuel 17 tells us that fear (internal) will allow us to be bullied. Goliath’s rants and shouting caused Israel to be so afraid that she refused to defend herself. Genesis 37 offers another example of bullying. Joseph’s brothers were so envious of their father's love for him (external) that they initially plotted to kill him but later decided to sell him into slavery.

Reply 3

CeeCee

Human Resource Issue

One human service issue that I have is lack of control of government spending. The state and federal government authorize programs such as food stamps, child care assistance, section 8 housing, and medicaid to name a few, and the local county department of social services deliver these benefits to the residents without proper monitoring and evaluation of services. Working in the human service field, I have witnessed a lot of government fraud that has become a cultural generational cycle. These services are put in place to assist those who are having temporary hardships, income eligible, to help people overcome barriers to obtain and maintain a good job. Most of these services can be applied for by via on line application. I see the external reason for these programs to be short of funding and waiting list is contributed to no one following up with the recipients outside of the office. I have witnessed recipients receive section 8 housing to pay the their rent and the boyfriend or significant other reside within the home supplying lavish cars and monetary benefits. There are recipient receiving child care assistance sending the child to daycare only to return home to go back to sleep. There are rrecipient's seeks employment upon review eligibility only to provide a couple of paycheck stubs to show employment. Ephesians 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth (King James Bible, 2012). The review process consist of the recipient supplying documentation of income to continue with eligibility. This has nothing to do with supportive family and friends or loss of self sufficient in meeting there own needs (Martin, 2014). This has to do with government fraud, living off the government. I think the internal reason is that no one is evaluating the progress of the recipients, no stipulations or accountability are put in place to help the recipient overcome the ongoing cycle of this social problems. Internally, enforce job and education programs that are free to the recipient to prepare them for job readiness, affordable housing, and economic self sufficiency. 2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat (King James Bible, 2012).