Health Policy and Management's assignment

Homes for the Homeless in California

Danyah Aldailami

Health Policy and Management

Loma Linda University

Professor: Lesford H. Duncan

05/27/2015

Q: Policy Brief (Individual Assignment): You will be allowed to choose a public health topic of your interest to analyze and discuss in a policy brief. A policy brief is a short (3-5 page) document addressing a particular issue and making recommendations to a key stakeholder or policymaker. This document should be a stand-alone document that succinctly convinces your audience of the importance of the issue and the viability of your recommendations. The policy brief may be divided into the following sections:

· Executive Summary/Abstract

· Introduction

· Approaches and Results

· Conclusion

· Recommendations

Summary

Executive Summary/Abstract

Provision of homes for the homeless in California is an issue that must be taken seriously, with the laws that fight against homelessness which, most importantly need to be enforced. These laws seek to approach the challenges faced by the majority of the population residing in the state of California and which is ever exposed to such challenges. Shelter is literally a basic need; therefore the population that is faced with this misfortune lacks the basic need of shelter, which is followed by insufficiencies of food and clothing. The consequence of this ordeal is the fact that violence sets in and so are diseases which means that the mortality rate hikes which is also characterized by starvation (Polakow & Guillean, 2001). Comment by Dougherty, Molly (LLU): What laws? Who’s not enforcing them? There are laws against homelessness that do not help homeless people, just communities that want to keep them out – laws against sleeping outdoors or on park benches, laws that prevent groups from feeding homeless people – what laws are you talking about specifically? Because the intent of those laws is not to end homelessness, but to criminalize homelessness. Comment by Dougherty, Molly (LLU): What does this mean? What challenges are you talking about? Comment by Dougherty, Molly (LLU): Not always. Avoid generalities. Comment by Dougherty, Molly (LLU): When? Where? Is that an issue with homelessness? Cite your sources. Comment by Dougherty, Molly (LLU): Are homeless people dying from starvation? Yes, homeless people can and do miss meals and have a great deal of food insecurity, but my understanding is that homeless are likely to die of untreated DISEASE and exposure to the elements, not starvation.

The mode in which homelessness in California has spread in the recent past devastates, thus programs initiated by organizations must consider and declare this a disaster. Such organizations must therefore embrace and prioritize the needs of the citizens backed up by the state government. The role of the central state government is to promote the policies that support the welfare of the people, mostly those faced with such life threatening disasters. Further the federal state in conjunction with the California state will ensure the income portion attributable to the social welfare is equitably distributed, helping to shun the social conflicts that may arise. Failure to conceptualization of social conflict theory enhances rise of homelessness in the society. (Wolch & Dear, 1993). Comment by Dougherty, Molly (LLU): What mode are you talking about?? Statistics? Is it getting better or worse?? Comment by Dougherty, Molly (LLU): What programs? What organizations? Is it a “disaster” or an ongoing problem? Comment by Dougherty, Molly (LLU): Again, which organizations? Comment by Dougherty, Molly (LLU): What needs? What are you trying to say? Is it the needs of homeless citizens, or NON-homeless citizens the government should be concerned about? Comment by Dougherty, Molly (LLU): Do you mean earthquakes, chemical spills, etc or homelessness? What do you mean by “promote polices that the support the welfare of the people”? Comment by Dougherty, Molly (LLU): It will? How? Are you talking about income distribution? That doesn’t happen in the U.S. Or re you talking about adequate funding for social programs?

Introduction

Researchers have found that this vulnerable group of people is subjected to a number of risks, among them insecurity. The homeless are deprived of decency, sleeping along the distinguished streets in this big city, which is inhuman and very much humiliating. This social insecurity exposes women in a bigger deal; meaning that the danger of contracting HIV/AIDS is inevitable due to rape and other untimed and/or unwanted pregnancies which are common in such situations. Comment by Dougherty, Molly (LLU): Who? This is your introduction, you need to introduce your topic. The summary/abstract stands APART from your document. Comment by Dougherty, Molly (LLU): You should probably start off with a definition of homelessness – not everyone who is homeless sleeps on the streets. They might be in shelters or living temporarily with a friend or family – and that is also considered being homeless. It’s anyone without a fixed address. It’s not always dramatic – people pushing carts and sleeping under bridges. That DOES happen, a lot, but there are even more who don’t fit that mold and are still homeless. Comment by Dougherty, Molly (LLU): What city? You haven’t given us any idea of what area you’re talking about. You mentioned California in the abstract but California is a very big place – also that was in the abstract, not the document. They have to stand apart from each other. Comment by Dougherty, Molly (LLU): Informal, slang phrase; not appropriate in this type of document; it’s not descriptive anyway. Comment by Dougherty, Molly (LLU): How common? What are your sources for this? DETAILS!!

Moreover, malnutrition is another significant factor which is evident under the homelessness, where the homeless are deprived of proper and sufficient foods required for healthy bodies. These populations are economically deprived thus they cannot afford to purchase food for themselves and their families, according to Wakin (2014). Another noticeable risk faced by the homeless is stress and drug abuse, another crucial behavioral aspect that is inevitable under homelessness exposure in the community. The organizations tasked with coming up with programs to fight this menace must deal with such, to articulate towards this issue appropriately (Oher & Yaeger, 2011). Comment by Dougherty, Molly (LLU): Hunger and malnutrition are different than starvation. The problem is that many people, not just homeless people, often experience hunger and are poorly fed – but they are not obviously starving, which makes the problem harder to solve. If people saw others obviously starving and skinny, something might be done, but for many, it’s not obvious. Comment by Dougherty, Molly (LLU): That is one of the things they’re deprived of. Comment by Dougherty, Molly (LLU): Is drug abuse inevitable? Stress, yes, but not all homeless people abuse drugs.

According to research by analysts, children who are underage are highly exposed to nutritional diseases which affect their body development and growth, this happens to be a financial burden to already homeless parents. The fact that the homeless parents cannot be sufficient bread winners to their children means that the children are faced with the risk of dying. In such wanting cases, organizations must play their corporate social responsibility roles of providing feeding programs to ensure that the homeless are not subjected to such harsh and hostile environments where these acts of inequality are inevitable. Healthcare service provision and enhancement for homes to the homeless are the core measures and actions that must be taken by organizations through programs which are the initiated by stakeholders for the homes to the homelessness. These humanitarian programs will come up with viable strategies that restore human dignity (Kneebone & Berube, 2013). Comment by Dougherty, Molly (LLU): All children are underage. What age are you talking about? Comment by Dougherty, Molly (LLU): True. Tell us more. And it’s not so much diseases as deficiencies – LONG-TERM deficiencies that affect their development and growth, as you say. Comment by Dougherty, Molly (LLU): That isn’t primarily a financial burden. One problem at a time. Comment by Dougherty, Molly (LLU): This probably happens, sure, but I doubt it happens as much as the everyday physical and emotional losses associated with being deprived of good food and health care and a stable living situation. Not everything is so dramatic as someone dying of homelessness – in fact, it’s the OPPOSITE: it’s become a bunch of “routine” problems like children who don’t get their teeth looked at who then have all sort of other problems – just the tip of the iceberg.. Comment by Dougherty, Molly (LLU): Danyah – what or who do you mean? You can’t just make sweeping statements like this. SOME, I say, SOME corporations contribute “SOME” resources to homeless or social service programs but it is minimal and certainly not enough to help the many people who are without homes. Few corporations feel any sort of “social responsibility” – many state very openly that social programs are NOT their responsibility and do everything they can to avoid paying taxes that support those programs. So please don’t just make STATEMENTS about what should or will happen – you need to back them up with FACTS. Comment by Dougherty, Molly (LLU): WHAT humanitarian programs?? You’ve given NO details.

Approaches and Results

(Oher and& Yaeger (2011) have stated that homelessness is the scope through which the citizens’ lives in the streets are exposed to abject poverty in such a way that they lack permanent homes. The main cause of homelessness is failure to comply with social conflicts which advocate towards fair distribution of resources due to political, economic as well as social intolerances. Disease exposure, violence, and drugs substances result from homelessness. This issue can be mitigated by coming up with policies that directly fight this threat to human survival. Those exposed to homelessness find themselves exposed to such social evils that range from drug abuse to prostitution. Comment by Dougherty, Molly (LLU): WHOSE conflicts?? Comment by Dougherty, Molly (LLU): Citations? Specifics? Details??

Racial wars similarly result to homelessness that results from evictions. The displaced populations can only afford living in camps, breeding zones for social evils. Some of the stakeholders responsible for restoring these inefficiencies are the organs that serve as peace ambassadors, within the state and outside. Worldwide bodies like the WHO (World Health Organization), FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) among others working hand in hand with the state bodies may cater for these hazards sufficiently. The WHO is responsible for campaigns that address the public health concerns where as FAO’s aim is to fight against food insecurity concerns. Viable implementation policies proposed by these bodies are good enough to drastically curb this (Polakow & Guillean, 2001). Comment by Dougherty, Molly (LLU): ????? RACIAL WARS???? WHERE??? In the U.S.? What is your focus – in Los Angeles, in California, in the U.S., or global homelessness?? Comment by Dougherty, Molly (LLU): I’m assuming you mean overseas, through wars and civil conflict, correct?? Comment by Dougherty, Molly (LLU): The WHO doesn’t work in the U.S. – it’s an international organization. Comment by Dougherty, Molly (LLU): The U.N.??

Conclusion

The concept of homelessness should be inclusive in that, all the authorities concerned should support the program stakeholders in implementation of policies and financial support. The government must come up with the appropriate strategic plans that address the issue of homelessness, embracing the social theory that advocates for equal resource allocation and distribution in the society. Public awareness and campaigns addressing job availability and creations are equally necessary because they will result to reduced instances of homelessness. The citizens should have equal tasks to embark on activities that boost their economic welfare as well as business enhancing activities. The stakeholders should enhance appropriate rehabilitation and healthcare service facilitation to the patients (In Haskett, In Perlman & In Cowan, 2014).

Recommendations

There is a dire need for concerns that address Homelessness in California State. The activities among the people that do not serve to the best interest of the citizens must be addressed instantly by the federal state as well as the concerned bodies capable of addressing such contagious issues. Rehabilitation centers the victims of drug abuse and other unlawful practices must be put in place to provide recovery for the affected. Drug abuse and violence is very prevalent to the homeless due to lack of shelter. The fundamental fitting objective of the stakeholders is to encourage the contributors to provide wellbeing administration procurement, besides advocating them correctly through activism which constraints the legislature to come up with rigid laws which protect those in defenseless populace.

Children are known to feel the effects of violence that is likely to arise as a result of homelessness, thus rehabilitation centers for the exposed children need to be made available so that such conditions can be ascertained effectively. Provision of homes is the best mechanism through which citizen’s security is embraced; it is important and convenient for both the organization program and government to educate the vulnerable population how to manage and operate businesses through provision of capitals and employment (Tower, 2007).

Summary

The concept of homelessness is most likely to result to social imbalances among the people of California. This has the effect of raising the number of dependents in the federal government of the United States. Consequently, it is a burden to the nation as a whole as it threatens its stability when such risks spread among its people. Rigid measures that curb these inefficiencies are therefore inevitable if the stability of the people and the nation as a whole is to be reinstated. The government is the chief policy maker through the legislature. Other concerned bodies that ensure successful policy implementation are all concerned parties and should work hand in hand with the state officials to make sure that the homeless find everlasting homes. These bodies must rise to the task to ensure that no emerging issues of homelessness in the future, rendering the nation free from these evils (In Haskett et al, 2014).

References

In Haskett, M. E., In Perlman, S., & In Cowan, B. A. (2014). Supporting families experiencing homelessness: Current practices and future directions.

Kneebone, E., & Berube, A. (2013). Confronting suburban poverty in America.

Oher, M., & Yaeger, D. (2011). I beat the odds: From homelessness, to the blind side, and beyond. New York: Gotham Books.

Polakow, V., & Guillean, C. (2001). International perspectives on homelessness. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press.v

Tower, C. C. (2007). Exploring child welfare: A practice perspective. Princeton, N.J: Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic.

Wakin, M. (2014). Otherwise homeless: Vehicle living and the culture of homelessness.

Wolch, J. R., & Dear, M. J. (1993). Malign neglect: Homelessness in an American city. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers.