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Bullard 1 LaShea Bullard Mrs.

Lorraine Orenchuk Graduation Project Seminar 14 March 2013 Homeless Women, Children, and Youth in Society Children are often labeled as The Future; they grow up to be innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders, but when children and their primary caregivers experience homelessness, the chance of a child achieving these titles drastically decreases. Multiple studies to end homeless youth reveal that, Homelessness has serious consequences for youthLiving in shelters or on the streets, unaccompanied homeless youth are at a higher risk for physical and sexual assault or abuse and physical illness, including HIV/AIDS (Fundamental Issues 1). A stable home, access to education and developmental resources, and positive influences and affection are interrupted by the reality of not having shelter or food to eat and constant fear of the future; it is estimated that nearly five thousand unaccompanied homeless youth die every year due to suicide, sickness, and violence (1). Women must be able to carry out their maternal duties and provide for their children. Women and children are vital resources when studying both the factors and consequences of homelessness and how society is affected by homelessness because they demonstrate the variation of issues within different populations and reveal the extensive faults within institutions of society, for example, the homeless women population is the priority of public health programs (Silver and Panares 5). The effects associated with the situation of homelessness travel deeper than physical deprivations; it is suggested by social researchers Rebecca Nemiroff and Tim Aubry, Homelessness entails not only a loss of housing, but also disaffiliation from the community (Rebecca Nemiroff 1004). Homelessness stunts the

Bullard 2 sociological and physiological growth that individuals need in order to sustain themselves. This paper will discuss both homeless women with children and homeless youth. The disadvantages pertaining to homeless women, children, and youth due to socioeconomic factors regarding domestic abuse, substance abuse, lack of education, sexual orientation, and inability to afford housing affect not only their current position but also their future and the prospect of the nation. Although homelessness is a term defined by shifting circumstances, the main characteristic of a homeless person is one who lacks the conventional stability and assistance a permanent home provides. The National Alliance to End Homelessness observes three major categories of homelessness: primary, secondary, and tertiary. Primary homelessness refers to people without conventional accommodation living on the streets or in improvised dwellings (Snapshot 1). Secondary homelessness addresses people moving between various forms of temporary shelter including friends, relatives, emergency accommodation, refuges, hostels and boarding houses (1). The third type of homelessness, tertiary, describes people living permanently in single rooms in private boarding houses without their own bathroom or kitchen and without security (1). Homelessness is not an exclusive occurrence; it can affect people of all ages, genders, and societal standings, but women, children, and youth are three groups of people who are exceedingly vulnerable to the grim aftermath of homelessness because children hold the title of the future and their mothers, as they are generally considered the primary caregivers, must guide, protect, and provide for children. Abraham Maslow, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, was an established psychologist who developed Maslows hierarchy of needs in 1943 which is commonly used to interpret the behavior of both individuals who lack basic needs and those who have achieved the highest level of self-contentment (Boeree 1-2). The hierarchy displays the order in which certain

Bullard 3 needs are met; the most fundamental needs reside at the bottom of the hierarchy and concern the physiological resources humans need to stay alive such as water, food, shelter and clean air. Meeting the basic needs is a struggle for homeless children because they have yet to develop independent survival skills and this asserts a challenge for homeless women because they must not only provide these resources for themselves, but also for their children, so their chances of reaching the higher levels of self- actualization, respect, and self-esteem decrease. As described by Dr. George Boeree, It is observed that, if you have significant problems along your developmenta period of extreme insecurity or hunger as a child, or the loss of a family memberor significant neglect or abuseyou may fixate on that set of needs for the rest of your life (4). Dr. Deborah Finfgeld of the University of Missouri suggests, Due to omnipresent financial instability, [women] struggle to live without basic necessities, such as food, shelter, and health care (Finfgeld-Connett 463). Many homeless women are unable to successfully provide for their children and as Dr. Finfgeld notes, mothers often relinquish care of their children to supportive agencies, family, or friends (461). In the words of Nemiroff and Aubry, Homeless individuals are thus cast in devalued social roles, limiting their access to valued roles, such as that of a worker, parent, neighbor, or tenant (Rebecca Nemiroff 1004). Without a strong foundation, homeless women and children cannot advance to higher levels in relation to love, responsibility and protection, and this affects their ability to establish an influential position in society. One of the components that impede women and children from developing to higher levels of the hierarchy of needs is domestic violence. Domestic violence can be physical, mental, sexual, or all of these, yet either way, the consequences of domestic abuse are intimidating and restrictive. As suggested by researches Gillian Silver and Rea Panares when studying maternal

Bullard 4 and child health programs, The lives of [abuse victims] serve as barriers to employment. The social consequences include job loss and social isolation that reinforce the pattern of violence (Silver and Panares 3). Once women are able to escape abuse without being harmed, they leave, even if they have nowhere to run. Many women also bring their children with them. When women are in situations where they become outcasts of society and stripped of resources, it is difficult for them to receive help; Despite this high level of distress, some homeless women are reluctant to enter the social service system (Finfgeld-Connett 464). Concluding her study of twenty-nine women, all of whom had experienced homelessness, social researcher Suellen Murray found, Rooming houses are known to be unsafe and put women at risk of violence, intimidation and harassmentThere were several women who disclosed their concerns about the safety and adequacy of public housing (Murray 356). Domestic abuse towards women and children is not exclusive to their homes; abuse and violence aimed at homeless women and children is likely to occur when they are homeless and on the streets, as Nemiroff has notes, homeless women, whether alone or accompanied by their children, experience high rates of physical illness and victimization, and many have histories of family disruption and violence in childhood (Rebecca Nemiroff 1004). The lack of safety homeless women and children fear eventually drives them to find assurance within the presence of other people. Murray suggests that, Some women seek increased safety through a male partnership that may lead them, at least temporarily, out of homelessness but may ultimately lead to violence (Murray 347). The fear of abuse that homeless women and children must constantly endure creates a cyclical lifestyle in which the possibility of becoming homeless is highly probable. To deal with abuse, discrimination, fear, and a skewed perception of family and home, many homeless women and youth resort to substance abuse which further hinders their growth as

Bullard 5 individuals in society. It is reported by Womens and Childrens Health Policy Center that substance abuse among the homeless women population ranges between sixteen and sixty seven percent (Silver and Panares 4). The results of a study conducted on six hundred and twenty homeless youth in Los Angeles found that within a period of three months, 68.6 percent of the youth had consumed alcohol, 35.7 percent abused amphetamines, and 24.4 percent had used crack/cocaine (Hudson and Nandy 179). Substance abuse within the homeless youth population is hindering both physically and psychologically. Many drugs cause anxiety which adds to the severity of the negative experience of homelessness. As researched by the University of Michigan Health System, Illegal drugs such as cocaine can also cause [generalized anxiety] (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 1). As homeless youth turn to drugs for minimal relief, they unintentionally create a blockade for their future; it becomes immensely difficult for them to advance in society, much less liberate themselves from their homeless situation. The concept of learned helplessness can be used to describe the relationship between homeless mothers and youth who abuse drugs and their offspring who are born into a life revolved around drugs. Learned helplessness is a perception that illustrates how humans decline to take advantage of and seek helpful resources and is usually seen in critically depressed and hopeless individuals who lack control of their environment (Fogle 39). During a study of a sample of homeless drug abusing youth, the individuals declined housing, education, and employment because they felt that the accessibility and abundance of drugs currently available to them were more important (Hudson and Nandy 180). Overall, the environment surrounding homeless youth can have one of two outcomes; it can provide a secure network of support or it can serve as a negative environment that promotes a dangerous life for the homeless youth (179). As homeless women

Bullard 6 and youth experience dangerous drug and alcohol use, they create a negative environment which serves as a binding chain to their homeless situation that can be passed down to their children. Education for both women and children is pivotal because it provides the skills necessary for them to have substantial roles in society. Generally, mothers are the most powerful natural teachers of their children and educational success for children is likely when teacher instruction is complimented with parent-involvement at home (Nihat and Gurbuzturk 1006). For homeless children who lack access to basic needs to survive, attending school is not a first priority. Many homeless children and youth have a desire to attend school because they know school may provide resources that could aid them in their homeless situation, but having an unstable home and lack of references makes school difficult to attend. Transportation, guardian supervision, and previous school records which are needed in order for students to attend school are not easily obtainable due to the high mobility of homeless children and families (Nat Coalition 1). According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, During the 2007-2008 school year 794,617 homeless children and youth were enrolled in public schoolswhile eighty seven percent of homeless youth are enrolled in school, only seventy seven percent attend school regularly (1). There are some funded programs that aim to aid homeless students to be successful in school. In 1987, Congress founded the McKinney Acts Education of Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) program which provides grants to ensure that equal educational opportunities are available for those children and youth who are experiencing homelessness (1). Although this program is proven effective, there are still barriers that prevent homeless students from succeeding, such as family mobility, poor health, and lack of food, clothing, and school supplies (1). Education for homeless children and youth is one of the most potent institutions

Bullard 7 that can propel young adults and children out of homelessness, but it has unavoidable faults, as discussed above, which make attaining success challenging. Homelessness is not an issue that solely affects women and children; many youth become abandoned due to conflict stemming from their sexual orientation and sexual activity. According to several research studies, LGBTQ youth represent approximately 20% of homeless youth (LGBTQ Youth 1). Youth who identity with the LGBTQ community often experience abuse and mistreatment due to their sexual orientation which leads to them leaving home and experiencing even more discrimination on the streets as they become homeless, LGBTQ youth still report verbal abuse, harassment and personal judgment from peers and staff in homeless youth shelters (1). Unsafe sex is an aspect of risky behavior related to sexual orientation among homeless youth that restrains the advancement of youth in society. Nearly thirty five to sixty percent of all homeless youth practice survival sex, which is sex in exchange for food, clothes, and resources (Hudson and Nandy 179). Many homeless youth and youth in foster care engage is risky sexual behavior; in a study conducted regarding both children in foster care and homeless youth, the results revealed that children as young as eight years of age reported being sexually active; and more than one-third of those ages eight to eighteen reported sexual activity and non-use of contraception or protection from sexually transmitted infections (179). By being surrounded by peers close to the same age as them, youth who leave foster care may adopt the risky behavior of those around them. Generally, it is difficult for young girls to develop adaptive problem-solving and decision- making skills. Consequently, they tend to assume maladaptive living patterns that lead to and sustain homelessness (Finfgeld-Connett 463). Behavior such as this limits the positive opportunities homeless children and youth have in order to escape their current situation.

Bullard 8 Permanent housing is the only abiding agent to establish a life of social integration and value among homeless women, children, and youth, but permanent housing services fail if they do not provide rehabilitation service and if they are not affordable. As expressed by Nemiroff and Aubry, housing must include interventions that allow integration of women back into society (Rebecca Nemiroff 1015). Homeless women and children have different needs that should be met regarding solutions to homelessness, but they both need a safe environment that they can afford. Housing for young adults needs to prepare them for the future while also giving them flexibility; according to the Housing Continuum, Youth should have the flexibility to move among housing programs as they gain greater independent living skills (Fundamental Issues 3). There are government programs that offer assistance to youth who are released by foster care; the Chafee Foster Care Independence Act provides aftercare to young adults once they leave foster care (3). Affordable permanent housing with assisted services is the key solution to homelessness for women, youth, and children. The future for the homeless women, children, and youth population is held at a disadvantage due to socioeconomic factors that disaffiliate them from society and hinder their future progression as functional individuals within society. Even when resources are accessible to homeless women, children, and youth, it may be a strenuous process for them to sustain steady education and housing as a result of their traumatic experiences throughout periods of homelessness. Many of the same circumstances that contribute to women and children becoming homeless are the same factors that prevent women and children from emerging out of their homeless situation due to their cyclical nature. The nation as a whole will be impacted by having such a vast and segregated population disaffiliated from society because these individuals will not be able to contribute to society at their full potential; they must focus solely on staying alive.

Bullard 9 Works Cited

Boeree, Dr. C. George. Personality Theories: Abraham Maslow. 2006. http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/maslow.html. 22 May 2013. Finfgeld-Connett, PhD Deborah. "Becoming Homeless, Being Homeless, and Resolving Homelessness Among Women." Mental Health Nursing (2010): 461-469. Print. Fogle, Dale O. "Learned Helplessness and Learned Restlessness." Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, and Practice (1978): 39-47. Print. Hudson, Angela L and Karabi Nandy. "Comparisons of substance abuse, high-risk sexual behavior and depressive symptoms among homeless youth with and without a history of foster care placement." Contemporary Nurse (2012): 178-186. Print. Murray, Suellen. "Violence Against Homeless Women: Safety and Social Policy." Australian Social Work (2011): 347. National Alliance to End Homelessness. "Fundamental Issues to Prevent and End Youth Homelessness." Youth Homelessness Series May 2006: 1-4. Print. . LGBTQ Youth. 2013. http://www.endhomelessness.org/pages/lgbtq-youth. 16 May 2013. . Snapshot of Homelessness. 2013. http://www.endhomelessness.org/pages/snapshot_of_homelessness. 15 May 2013. National Coalition for the Homeless. Education of Homeless Children and Youth. September 2009. http://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/education.html. 16 May 2013.

Bullard 10 Nihat, Suleyman and Oguz Gurbuzturk. "Primary School Students' Parents' Level of Involvement into their Children's Education." Educational Sciences: Theory and Practice (2013): 1006-1011. Print. Rebecca Nemiroff, Tim Aubry. "From Homelessness to Community: Psychological Integration of Women who have Experienced Homelessness." Journal of Community Psychology (2011): 1004. Silver, Gillian and Rea Panares. "The Health of Homeless Women." US Department of Health and Human Services. 2000. Print. University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry . Generalized Anxiety Disorder. 2013. http://www.psych.med.umich.edu/mental_health/Generalized_Anxiety_Disorder.asp. 28 May 2013.

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