Poverty/Homelessness in Berkeley, California
Introduction
Homelessness is as a result of lack of residence, that is, one that can be referred to as home. The emit viewpoint on homeless is outcasts, who are viewed as criminals. This paper addresses this state of homelessness with an aim of providing a solution to the problem. For this to happen, there are questions which guided the research, which include: What are the causes of homelessness? Which attempts that have been put in place to address homelessness and their effectiveness? For these questions to be answered, an overview of the cultural aspect is then important in this case. Culture is defined as the way a community lives through communication (Baumohl 248).
Study settings
This paper focuses on homelessness/poverty in Berkeley. It’s a city in Northern California found in United States. Homelessness has been on increase in Berkeley where this problem intensified in 1980’s. The city took my interest on the research as it is among the liberals and 3rd in the United States politically. California University is also found there and the national laboratory. In the attempts of solving the problem, there are ethical considerations that have been put in place but have ended worsening the issue, like deinstitutionalization. Actually, there have been conflicts on criminalizing on all forms of homelessness. On my emit viewpoint, homelessness should not be rampant in such a wealthy city in the United States (Gray-Garcia 14).
Research methods
During the field work, methods used to collect information were the primary informants. These included the interviewing of the homeless in the streets, and the officials involved in housing activities in Berkeley, and also participant observation. Other sources were from publications and other reports done on homelessness. The primary informants gave the most relied information basing on the present situation. Most of them were cooperative and responded positively to the interviews. It wasn’t all smooth as there were challenges in the process of carrying out the research. There were difficulties when having an access to the government officials, while the victims thought it was trick which would to lead them to jail. Therefore, explanations on the aim of the research were done on introduction (Gray-Garcia 18).
Anthropological/Sociological Questions
Anthropological questions which guided this study included; what are the society norms- behaviors- that have contributed to homelessness? Which type of gender has been highly affected? What has been done to solve the problem and its effectiveness? (Gray-Garcia 22).
Conclusion
Homelessness has been has a results of high housing cost, low wages and economical depression which has caused joblessness, where women and children are most affected. The homeless have in most cases lacked food where they also face continual pressure of danger and harm. These people spend best part of their lives in jail and medical centers as most of them have violated in one way, which might have been as a result of lack of medical attention. Children who are found in such families don’t get the quality education. If the homeless received permanent houses, medical attention then there would be reduction of crimes in the city as well as economic development as these people have potentials efforts to work. Further studies need to be done on following questions: Should poverty which leads to homelessness be criminalized? Which is the leading factor on homelessness – poverty or poor mental health? (Baumohl 252).
Works Cited
Gray-Garcia, Lisa. Criminal of poverty: growing up homeless in America. New York: Lisa Gray Garcia, 2006.
Baumohl, Jim . Homelessness in America. New York: Greenwood Publishing Group, 1996.
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