HOMELESSNESS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.   Term Paper ID:29846 Click to get this paper

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Paper Abstract: Examines related issues. The nature and extent of the problem, populations affected, causes of the problem. Overview of the social context. Demographics. Contends that a major cause of homelessness in the area is the declining availability of affordable housing for lower and low-income individuals and families. Future outlook. Paper Introduction: Homelessness in Southern California Introduction Purpose of the Study The purpose of this research project is to examine the issues related to homelessness in Southern California. Specific attention will be focused on the nature and extent of the problem, the populations affected, the causes of the problem, community resources focused on ameliorating the problem, and the outlook for the future. The thesis will be advanced that a major cause of homelessness in Southern California is the declining availability of affordable housing stock for lower- and low-income individuals and families who may hold permanent jobs but whose work does not provide sufficient income to ensure permanent housi Text of the Paper: The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper. At these multi-day events, the homeless receiveservices, including clothing distribution, baths, dental and primary healthcare screenings, haircuts, driver's license sign-ups, and job applications(SAC in the new century, 2 ). It is therefore difficult to gain an accurate count of theAmerican homeless, who represent a social, political, and economic problemconfronting public and private sector social welfare policymakers andplanners (Lindsey, 1998).Demographics of the Problem Nationally, the U.S. (1998). Income reported by the homeless in Los Angeles is low, by national andcommunity averages. (1987). Service providers' perceptions offactors that help or hinder homeless families. Emergency programs: Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority. Political Science Quarterly, 114 (2), 289-295+. In California,particularly in Southern California, housing shortages have impactednegatively upon various socioeconomic groups, with particularly negativeeffects upon the lowest income strata in society. Quigley, J.M., Raphael, S., & Smolensky, E. Others are more likely to engage in panhandling, sellingblood, collecting recyclables, and selling food stamps, vouchers, buspasses, drugs, merchandise, and sexual favors on the street. A. This particular issue - education - appears to be considered veryimportant by service providers in San Bernardino. Given that there are some 13 millionAmericans living in poverty and an estimated 1.5 million homeless youthbetween the ages of 12 and 17 each year, it is likely that as many as 3.5million homeless Americans are now seeking shelter (Glisson, Thyer, &Fischer, 2 1). Ideally, the welfare-to-work transition isexpected to result in independence for the formerly dependent. Reductions inpublic transfers have necessitated greater reliance by the homeless on bothformal and informal income sources. In San Bernardino, a Homeless Coalition was established under theauspices of the Community Services Department. Some 38 percent of all the homeless appear to be aged 35 to44, with 12 percent under the age of 24, 25 percent aged 25 to 34, and 25percent above the age of 45. Available at http://pnnonline.org/fundraising/urm 4 9 1.asp. McGrew, C. SAC in the new century. Available atwww.beyondshelter.org/aaa_programs/housing_first.shtml. As Trippett (1987) pointed out 15 years ago, the growing number ofhomeless people in Los Angeles County tended to be individuals who lackedeven a high school degree, had little or no job training and limited jobskills, or to have other personal and familial problems that preventobtaining permanent employment. Significantly, Schoeni and Koegel (1998) report that many of theindividuals who are eligible for government assistance do not receive suchassistance. 2 86).Estimates of the total number of homeless individuals and families in theUnited States vary, ranging from 199 Census data estimating that 24 ,134people were living in shelters or on the streets (Criswell, 1998) toassertions that there are 4 , homeless families in shelters,representing 1.1 million homeless children across the country (Nunez andFox, 1999). Homelessness impacts upon people of all ages, races, and genders(Schoeni & Koegel, 1998). Mayors annual Status Report on Hunger and Homelessness documentsaccelerated demands for food and shelter in a weakening economy. Families in Society: TheJournal of Contemporary Human Services, 79 (2), 16 -175+. The thesis willbe advanced that a major cause of homelessness in Southern California isthe declining availability of affordable housing stock for lower- and low-income individuals and families who may hold permanent jobs but whose workdoes not provide sufficient income to ensure permanent housing.Overview of the Problem As part of the 199 census, the U.S. Ending & preventing family homelessness. The problem is particularly critical in cities such asLos Angeles, San Bernardino, and other Southern California towns and citieswhere the housing stock is expensive and income polarization issubstantial. In Los Angeles, these jobs includefreight, stock, and material handling, janitorial services, day laboroutside of construction, and other low-paying positions.Other Causes of Homelessness Nunez and Fox (1999) studied family homelessness in America andconcluded that several causes distinct from poverty per se are associatedwith the problem. Additionally,Conroy (2 1) found that when the homeless work, they are concentrated inlargely low-skilled occupations. Some offer medical screenings or examinations, and afew provide direct medical care. Criswell, S. (2 1). Schoeni and Koegel (1998) report that up to 95 percentof all homeless people in this area receive some form of income, with amean amount of $4 8 per month. Time, 129, 23-24. Conroy (2 1) believes that decreases in all forms of publicassistance without corresponding increases in spending on employmenttraining and education or job creation will increase the burden ofhomelessness on the states. According to the City of San Bernardino(Consolidated Plan..., 2 2), 11 percent of the city's housing stock issubstandard with 3 percent of the units in such poor condition as to beunsuitable for rehabilitation. A homeless person in Los Angeles and, throughout Southern California,is five times more likely to be African-American and Hispanics aredisproportionately underrepresented among the homeless even relative toWhites. Food stamps,subsidized housing (when available), Supplemental Security Income for thedisabled, welfare assistance, and other government transfers are simply notenough to provide for residential expenses and nutrition (as well as healthcare, education and job training) for the vast majority of SouthernCalifornia homeless. In their analysis of homelessness, Schoeni and Koegel (1998) contendedthat many of the homeless have mental and/or physiological illnesses of achronic nature. Contemporary Economic Policy,19(3), 299-315. Review of Economics and Statistics,83(1), 37-62. Conroy, S.J. A lack of information about available programs, a lack ofmental capacity to apply for benefits because of chronic mental illness,the transaction costs associated with applying for benefits, and a health-related failure to fulfill program rules account for this phenomenon.Housing Issues Quigley, et al (2 1) make a strong case for a direct correlationbetween housing costs and availability and homelessness. Throughout Southern California, the ranks of the homeless have becomea fairly fluid group. Although Whites and Hispanics represent about the same percentageof the census population in Los Angeles (i.e., about 4 percent each), thehomeless are 5 percent more likely to be White as opposed to Hispanic(Schoeni & Koegel, 1998). Data regarding homeless people served by variousgovernmental and nonprofit service agencies in Los Angeles reveals thatnearly 9 percent are people of color (African-American, Latino, and Asian)and 4 percent of all families become homeless as a result of domesticviolence (Ending & preventing family homelessness, 1999). The burdens placed on the social welfare system by risingunemployment and a sluggish economy are likely to directly impact uponoutreach to the homeless (More hunger..., 2 2). Throughout California, a vacancy rate of only 7. Census Bureau attempted toenumerate the homeless population on a single night in urban places withpopulations in excess of 5 , . McGrew (2 ) reportedthat the San Bernardino County Board of Education and the city governmenthave joined forces with private sector providers to offer services tohomeless children and adults in an effort to improve their ability toobtain meaningful employment or to ensure that children will remain inschool. The release of formerly institutionalized individualsinto community settings has also tended, both in Southern California andthe nation as a whole, to increase the total population of the homeless. The large- scalepublic housing projects of the past are being replaced with a vouchersystem that gives homeless individuals and families the opportunity tochoose their housing, but when these choices are limited, the problembecomes difficult at best to resolve. In Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority offers aShelter and Services Program that provides several thousand temporary beds- the total number of which is increased by 2, emergency beds during themost severe cold and wet weather (Emergency programs, 2 2). Nunez, R., & Fox, C. Drug and alcohol addiction, as well as mental illness,make it difficult for individuals with already marginal incomes to sustainpermanent residence. Mission Statement: County of San Bernardino Homeless Coalition.(2 2). Department of Housing and Urban Development(HUD) identified the homeless as consisting of a variety of differentgroups with different presenting problems or explanations for theirhomelessness. In California, the problem has been characterized as having increasedby a factor of almost 1, percent since 1996 (Los Angeles HomelessShelter..., 2 1). Many women with childrenenter the ranks of the homeless as a result of domestic abuse orabandonment by a male partner. When funding becomes problematic, or whenunemployment rises, municipalities and county governments are forced toeither reduce services or to maintain them at an already inadequate level.Competition for social welfare funding is intense, and the homelessrepresent only a portion of applicants for such services. More and more poor and low-income individuals and families are being movedoff of the welfare rolls. A recent report in America (More hunger..., 2 2) stated that theU.S. Cracking down on the homeless. Available at www.sbcss.k12.ca.us/news/gen_info/ 1archive/311774652.html. (1999).Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly, 11(37), 5. The state is now attempting to enhance its services to homelessindividuals with serious mental illness, effectively reversing thedeinstitutionalization trend of the 198 s (California poised to expand...,1999). Social ActionCommunity (SAC) clinics have proliferated that provide medical andpsychological services to the homeless (SAC in the new century, 2 ).There are five SAC clinics, three in San Bernardino, one in Redlands, andone in Montclair. Currently, San BernardinoCounty has a waiting list of 2,3 5 households hoping to receive some formof housing subsidy. Thequestion of whether or not many formerly welfare dependent families orindividuals will succeed in achieving independence has yet to be answered. (2 2). Mostovernight shelters will provide an opportunity for a bath, a meal, and achange of clothes. (2 ). (2 1). Contributing to the problem both nationally and in Southern Californiais the aftermath of the September 11, 2 1 terrorist attack on the UnitedStates. In mostAmerican cities, counting the homeless is a difficult task in that manyhomeless men, women, and families move in and out of shelters and otherresidential centers on a fluid basis. According to Schoeni and Koegel (1998), the economic resources ofhomeless adults tend to be provided by government programs and the family.These researchers studied the economic resources of the homeless in LosAngeles, drawing upon data obtained from a sample of individuals living inor seeking assistance at community shelters offering bed and meal programs.They found that the homeless in Los Angeles appear to be matched in termsof demographic characteristics with the national profile of the homeless -or to consist largely of males, disproportionately drawn from racial andethnic minority groups, veterans of the military, with relatively highlevels of drug/alcohol abuse and mental illness in comparison to the housedpopulation. However, formal employment accounts for theincome of only 29.8 percent of all the homeless. These groups requiremultiple interventions of both an emergency and ongoing nature. Causes of HomelessnessPoverty and Its Effects Homelessness is, to a degree, an artifact of poverty, unemployment,and individual factors (e.g., mental disorders, criminality, drug andalcohol abuse), as well as the availability of properties appropriate forconversion into shelters or longer-term residential centers. (2 ). Journal ofSociology & Social Welfare, 28(4), 89-97. Many nonprofit service agencies workin conjunction with public housing authorities to provide temporary orovernight shelter services, longer-term temporary residential placement,permanent housing in the form of voucher assistance or public housingresidences, and even home ownership programs. Predicting the effects of changes in welfarepayments on the probabilities of receiving alternate sources of income:The case of homeless persons in Los Angeles. 8 percent has beenobserved. The Beyond Shelter HousingFirst Program struggles to assist homeless families in obtaining bothtemporary and permanent housing, but has assisted only 1,6 familiesbetween 1989 and 2 (Ending & preventing family homelessness, 2 ).Many of the service agencies have found it necessary to narrowly definetheir target population in order to make an impact. Nunez and Fox (1999) also identified high school dropouts and teenagemothers as being at greater risk of becoming homeless than other groups,linking educational underachievement and early parenthood to the problem.Nationally, many of the homeless have limited job skills or experience andare unable to compete even for menial work opportunities. Southern California depends heavily upon tourism and servicesector employment. Areas of service include primary health care, dentalcare, rehabilitation, mental health, and counseling. (2 2).Available at www.hud.gov/library/bookshelf18/plan/ca/sbernaca.html. Among the services renderedby this group are temporary shelters that also offer programs that assistthe homeless in learning skills for successful living in permanent housing(Mission Statement, 2 2). Schoeni, R.F., & Koegel, P. Without simultaneously increasing housingassistance or subsidies, the homeless work for minimum wage are not likelyto be able to obtain affordable housing in an already understocked andoverpriced market. More than 37 percent of the city's rentersexpending more than 3 percent of their income on housing, the combinationof low income and inadequate housing is clear. California poised to expand services, outreach to homeless. Glisson, G.M., Thyer, B.A., & Fischer, R.L. Down and out in LA: The Hidden homeless add anew dimension to an old problem. Transitional housing programs offer additionalbeds on a more permanent basis (Emergency programs, 2 2). Consolidated Plan: Executive Summary, San Bernardino, CA. D. Contemporary Economic Policy, 16(3),295-3 9. Interestingly, 49 percent of all homeless people work, with 28percent dependent on welfare assistance, and 13 percent receive SocialSecurity and/or veterans' benefits. More hunger, more homelessness. Many individuals tend to move in and out oftransitional housing and find themselves faced with the necessity ofrelying upon temporary or overnight shelters. In San Bernardino, a projected population increase of 32,5 individuals is likely to further exacerbate the problem of findingaffordable and reliable housing. Lindsey, E. The fair market rent of a two bedroom unit is set at $757.83 permonth, but most of the homeless are simply unable to afford this amount ofmoney. Trippett, F. In additionto emergency shelters that provide nutritional, medical, hygiene,counseling, and other supportive services, this agency maintains a downtowndrop-in center that offers eight-hour respite beds, showers, storage, casemanagement, and counseling. Solutions to the problem have proven difficultto identify. A housing market that isoverpriced is a market in which lower-income individuals cannot compete. Some 46 percent of the homeless have chronic physiological problems aswell, while fully 55 percent have no available insurance coverage (Crackingdown on..., 1999). It is widely believed that this effortsubstantially undercounted the number of homeless people, which was thenestimated as 23 , (Quigley, Raphael, & Smolensky, 2 1). Additionally, California is seeking innovative ways to attract newbusinesses that will offer entry-level jobs targeting lower-incomeindividuals and workers. Economic resources of thehomeless: Evidence from Los Angeles. (2 ). The outlook for the future is not, therefore, especially bright. Los Angeles homeless shelter for single women closes its doors.(2 1). Los Angeles County has an estimated homeless population of more than3 , individuals, but it is believed that as many 2 , more people inthe County live in garages, automobiles, tool sheds, and even convertedchicken coops (Trippett, 1987). (1998). (2 1). The highest concentrations of homelesspeople in Los Angeles County are the downtown and West Side areas of LosAngeles City (Conroy, 2 1). America, 186(6), 3. Community ResourcesResidential/Shelter Programs Quigley, Raphael, and Smolensky (2 1) studied issues related toservice provision for the homeless. Specifically, more homeless people aresecuring some type of at least part-time employment as a result of transferreductions. (2 2). Quigley, et al (2 1) also maintain that the availability of fundsfor subsidized or public housing has become more and more limited in recentyears. Los Angeles and San Bernardino both provide case management servicesto the homeless through public and private sector social welfare agencies.Nunez and Fox (1999), in identifying national service options, assertedthat a major thrust in most communities is on meeting the needs of childrenand families who have moved into homelessness. Forty percent of the homeless are believed tobe African-American, with Whites comprising 41 percent of the homelesspopulation, Hispanics 11 percent, and Native Americans 8 percent (Crackingdown on..., 1999). However, as Nunez and Fox (1999) havestated, the ability of any agency or municipality to provide these servicesis directly tied to funding availability. A closed waiting list for housing assistance clearlyexacerbates these problems (Consolidated Plan..., 2 2). Themyriad problems associated with homelessness make service provision aninherently difficult task. Glisson, et al (2 1) have commented that even when temporaryshelters are found that are then able to assist to assist the homeless inobtaining more permanent housing, many of the lowest income homelessAmericans return to temporary shelters. However, the ability of anyagency, public or private, to assist the homeless in obtaining temporary(much less permanent) shelter is extremely limited by financialconstraints. Education First program serves children ofhomeless families. Though it isdifficult to obtain an accurate count of this city's homeless, it isbelieved that on any given night, between 1, and 1,75 individuals mayneed temporary shelter. Homelessness. Outlook for the Future It is the belief of Conroy (2 1) that the problem of homelessness islikely to increase rather than decrease in coming years. However, many of the private sector shelters available in Los Angelesare negatively affected by funding reductions. Thirteen of these organizations offer emergency shelter andtransitional housing and some service specific populations (i.e., veterans,homeless youth, the mentally ill, victims of domestic violence, drug andalcohol recovery programs) (Consolidated Plan..., 2 2). It islikely that Southern California service agencies will continue to feel aneconomic pinch and equally likely that the population of the homeless inthis region will increase. Available at www.llu.edu/news/scope/sum /sac.htm. Zoningregulations at the local level can prevent nonprofits from using existingproperties for temporary or long-term shelters (Nunez & Fox, 1999). Poverty is also associated with other social ills that are linked tohomelessness (Schoeni & Koegel, 1998). San Diego, CA: Lucent Books. Conroy (2 1) argues that welfare assistance reductionsmay have initially resulted in greater income from work, but sustainingthis pattern over time may prove difficult. Mayorsare reporting that their service agencies are overwhelmed by requests foremergency shelter and food services and that increments of up to 67 percentin such increases have been observed. Available at www.lahsa.org/Programs.htm. Specific attentionwill be focused on the nature and extent of the problem, the populationsaffected, the causes of the problem, community resources focused onameliorating the problem, and the outlook for the future. W. Government assistanceprovides for 57.6 percent, and family and friends support 32.7 percent.Many of the homeless obtain financial assistance from more than one source;panhandling, selling blood, selling goods and recyclables, and assistancefrom family and friends may augment income from work and/or a governmentassistance program. J., & and Quinn, R. Serving the homeless: Publicadministration as science, process, and art.International Journal of Public Administration, 23(12), 2 85-2 94+. San Bernardino has 25 organizations in the City that serve thehomeless. No clear determination of the actual extentof homelessness in these communities has been made, but some estimatesindicate that as a whole, California has about 5 , homeless people withserious mental illness (California poised to expand..., 1999).Defining Homelessness The official definition of the homeless established by the U.S.Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is a person who: 1) lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence; and 2) has a primary nighttime residence that is: a)a shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations (e.g., welfare hotels, congregate shelters, transitional housing for mentally ill); b) an institution that provides a temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized; c) a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings (Barth and Quinn, 2 , p. Homeless inAmerica, homeless in California. Many individuals who experience jobloss and prolonged unemployment also present other problems such as drugand alcohol abuse or a history of chronic physical and mental disabilitiesthat inhibit their capacity to retain employment and housing. References Barth, T. Regardless of how many sources of income a homelessperson may have, however, Schoeni and Koegel (1998) identify endemic andseemingly inescapable poverty as the primary cause of homelessness in LosAngeles as it is in other major metropolitan areas in the United States. When two-parent families become homeless,it is generally due to a loss of employment. The homeless experience myriad healthproblems ranging from mental disorders or disabilities (39 percent), toalcoholism (38 percent) and drug or substance addiction/abuse (26 percent). Available at www.co.san-bernardino.ca.us/hc/mission.html. Given that many homeless individuals havechronic physical or mental problems that are largely untreated, thelikelihood of obtaining permanent employment and thereby permanent housingis small for many. The causes of homelessness are complex, butSchoeni and Koegel (1998) claim that homeless people almost unilaterallyshare some form of difficulty in accessing the economic resources needed tosustain housing. These centers arefunded through various grants as well as via Medicare/Medicaid fees. This is due, atleast in part, to the reform of the public welfare and public housingsystems that has been undertaken at both the national and the state levels. (1999). This is because affordable housingis difficult to find and the housing costs typically paid by the formerlyhomeless are anywhere from 1 to 15 percent higher than the nationalaverage. Serving thehomeless: The effectiveness of homeless shelter services. A snapshot of familyhomelessness across America. Fewer and fewer developers in Southern California are willing toaccept housing vouchers or other transfer payments. California stands ready to expand services and outreach to thehomeless. With tourism down, many service workers marginally ableto afford permanent housing have been forced to find alternatives torenting. This is a problem that isfurther exacerbated, according to Conroy (2 1), by reductions in publicassistance funding.Other Services for the Homeless In addition to educational programs targeting the children in homelessfamilies, both San Bernardino and Los Angeles Counties offer a number ofpublic sector and private sector social welfare programs. These SACs, in conjunction with local service providers andeducational institutions, host periodic "health faires" throughout SanBernardino County. Homelessness in Southern California IntroductionPurpose of the Study The purpose of this research project is to examine theissues related to homelessness in Southern California. (2 ). (1999). Time, 154(29), 69+. Single mothers with preschool age children represent asubstantial number of all homeless families. Conroy (2 1) conducted an investigation of how changes in welfarepayments have impacted the homeless in Los Angeles County. (1998). If this paper is not what you are looking for, you can search again: Search for: or Click here to request an essay written just for you.