Major causes of homelessness in Riverside County
Research project must be organized into a five-chapter format on:
What are the top two major causes of homelessness in Riverside County?
Research projects will utilize a methodology appropriate for the research topic; methods may be quantitative or qualitative in nature, or a combination of the two. Final project will be typically 20 pages, excluding preliminary pages, references, and any appendices.
Section 1: Organization of Contents
Preliminary Pages: The following preliminary pages precede the text body in this order:
◼ title page
◼ table of contents
◼ list of tables (if appropriate)
◼ list of illustrations (charts, graphs, figures) (if appropriate)
◼ abstract
Following the preliminary pages the project is organized in the following order:
◼ text (chapters of the manuscript)
◼ endnotes
◼ appendixes (if appropriate)
◼ references
Chapter I: Introduction: The first chapter provides an overview of the project. The specific subsections of this chapter will vary, depending on the subject matter. In general, the first chapter should include the following information:
• Introduction (of the Introduction): provide a brief history of the ideas and issues related to the research topic. This section should not be a review of the literature (though some information may be repeated in the literature review), but a description of the social, cultural, economic, political, and/or historical events leading up to this research.
• Problem Statement: this is the heart of the research project. This subsection of the introduction states the reason(s) why this research project is important. A good way to approach the Problem Statement is to address the following: Because of x and y, there is a problem in society (z); if only we knew more about z, things might be better. The research project should be designed to answer z, which is the research question.
• Research Question or questions: Arises from the Problem Statement. What is the question you want to answer after having considered the problem? List the component parts of the research question. Rarely is a problem in sociology one dimensional.
• Research Hypotheses: based on the research question(s), what are the expected outcomes for the research? Hypotheses are predictions about the answers to the research question.
The research hypotheses are a critical element of the research project: they will guide the literature review; heavily influence the research methodology needed to obtain data that will either support or reject the hypotheses; and provide the focus for data analysis, discussion, conclusions, and recommendations. Hypotheses are most appropriate in quantitative research. One hypothesis is acceptable but projects often have two or three.
Chapters II-V: These chapters need an introductory paragraph, briefly explaining the purpose of the chapter and which restates the Research Question(s) and Research Hypothesis (es)
Chapter II: Literature Review: The second chapter should not be confused with the Introduction in Chapter I. The introduction provides a review of the topic; the Literature Review summarizes what has been said about the topic. The Literature Review is not a series of book or journal article reports. A good literature review tells a story about the topic, using published works to support what is written. The chapter should be organized in such a way as to (a) bring together the most important writings about the research question in general, followed by (b) a closer examination of the writings related to the component parts detailed in the Problem Statement subsection of Chapter I. It is very helpful to the reader if the ideas are presented in the same order throughout the project.
This chapter will contain the greatest number of citations, so it is important that they be done correctly. Each citation must have a corresponding listing in an alphabetized Reference section at the end of the entire manuscript. A minimum of 10 SCHOLARLY reference sources are required for the Project Literature Review; sources you use in your methodology do not count for the literature review. Typical projects have between 10-20 references in the section. Articles must be from peer reviewed academic and professional journals, academic books, government documents, official statistics, and published cases studies and are NOT newspaper and magazine articles (these can be used but do NOT count toward 10 scholarly source minimum). Unacceptable sources: Wikipedia and .com websites. Government websites will have .gov and academic will have .edu.
The Literature Review should not include data that will be used to answer the research question or test your research hypotheses. If the project is utilizing an analysis of published research to answer the research question, the Literature Review should provide the background and take the reader up to the point where those studies begin.
• Theoretical or Conceptual Framework: At the end of your literature review, describe how the research relates to at least two theoretical orientations or conceptual framework and provide a brief overview of how these social theories relate to the research.
Chapter III: Methodology: In general, this chapter describes how the data were collected that answer the research question and its component parts. It is important to utilize appropriate methods of data collection in order to be able to support or reject the research hypotheses. This chapter should begin with a description of the research design used in the project. Depending upon your project, you will typically have two or three sources of data. A minimum of two sources of data is required. Chapter III will most likely include the following subsections:
Setting: if important to the research, describe the time and place of data collection. Description of the Subjects: depending on the type of data used in the project, this subsection can include either subjects involved in primary data collection (if you used observation method), or those described in published research studies. If the project involves human subjects, it is necessary to comply with all requirements set for by the University’s Institutional Review Board Description of the Research Instrument(s): fully describe all questionnaires and tests, if appropriate. Include a copy of questionnaires in the Appendix.
Description of Variables: list and describe the dependent and independent variables that will be used to answer the research question or test the hypothesis/es. If appropriate, describe how concepts have been operationalized.
Definition of Terms: list definitions for only those terms which might be unfamiliar to the reader, especially those which can be considered terms of art and operational definitions.
Procedures: describe in full detail how data were collected. If different methods were used, each method must be described. This subsection should also include a description and rationale for any statistical procedures used to support or reject the research hypothesis or hypotheses.
Limitations: describe any limitations that may pose internal or external threats to validity and reliability. There are typically two types of limitations: those imposed by the researcher on the nature and scope of the research, and those that are related to a specific research method.
Describe the (potential) effects the particular limitations may have on your research.
Chapter IV: Results: Data & Analysis This chapter includes a presentation and analysis of the data. The tone of the chapter is purely objective, devoid of assumptions and interpretations.
Following a summary of the research data, Chapter IV should be organized in a manner consistent with the research hypotheses: first, present data related to the first hypothesis; and second, analyze those data to determine whether the first hypothesis can be supported or rejected.
Follow this sequence for each hypothesis.
Tables are an effective way to present quantitative data. Qualitative data should be summarized, as opposed to verbatim transcriptions. Label appropriately.
Chapter V: Discussion, Conclusions, and Recommendations
This chapter involves (a) a discussion of the research project, including the findings, interpretation of the results, and problems and/or limitations; (b) a conclusion: What did we find out? What did we learn?; and (c) What recommendations for changes in policy or practice, future research, or anything else that will direct solutions to the problem(s) that were the focus of the research.
*Sociological theory must be integrated into your final analysis.
Endnotes: Endnotes supplement or amplify information in the text. They should be used sparingly: if the information is of central importance, it should be included in the text; if the information is irrelevant or nonessential, it should be excluded; however, if the information is tangential, and more fully develops an element of the text, endnotes may be appropriate. Endnotes can be included at the end of each chapter or at the end of all the text.
Appendix or Appendixes: The main purpose of the appendix (or appendixes) is (are) to provide detailed information that would be distracting if presented in the text. For example, a survey instrument or questionnaire, a data collection form, or a list of variables would be appropriate for placement in an appendix.
References: Only those works cited in the text appear in the Reference section and, conversely, every work in the Reference section must be cited in the text. It is important to properly cite all references using the American Psychological Association (APA) parenthetical citation and reference system.
Index: An index can be extremely useful, but also difficult to create. Consider including an index only if word processing software facilitates its creation.
Section 3: Formatting the Project
Style: The Sociology Program has adopted the style of the APA. While there are a number of style manuals available, all Senior Projects must conform to APA style as described in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (current edition). It is the responsibility for each student to make sure their project conforms to the proper style. Do not use running headers: these abbreviated titles are used for published materials.
Margins: Standardized margins are required on every page of 1 inch by 1 inch.
Line Spacing: Double spacing is required except where the style calls for single spacing (refer to APA Manual). Widows (the last line of a paragraph as the first line of a page) or orphans (a heading or the first line of a paragraph as the last line on a page) are not acceptable.
Punctuation: Many common manuscript problems involve punctuation. Proofread for such errors.
Pagination: With the exception of the title page, a number must appear on every page. Placement of page numbers must be consistent throughout, fit within the margins, and is continuous.
Chapters: Each chapter must begin on a new page. Chapters should be numbered. Refer to the APA Style Manual for different styles of headings. Look at samples in the Doc Share.
Illustrations: The purpose of illustrations (drawings, photographs, diagrams, maps, tables, plates) is to present information more clearly than can be done with words. Legends or titles should be self-explanatory, concise, and consistent in form. Refer to the APA Style Manual.
Tables: The term “table” applies to numerical and statistical data set in vertical and horizontal alignment. Tables over half a page in length should be placed on a separate page. Tables too wide to be accommodated on one page may be typed on two or more pages, pasted together, and either folded or reduced to page size by a suitable photographic process. Lengthy tables should be placed in the Appendix. Sources for tables are to be indicated by standard symbols (*, etc.) or lower-case letters (a, b, etc.) and are placed at the bottom of the table, not as a note or footnote.
Figures: The term “figure” refers to illustrations such as graphs, charts, diagrams, photographs, and maps, but not statistical data presented in tables. Refer to the APA Style Manual for the various styles.
Chapter 1: Introduction
Introduction
Homelessness is a problem that impacts the entire world. According to the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs Social Inclusion, in 2020, the number of homeless people in the world was 1.6 billion (2020). Further, the article indicated that a total of 15 million people are forcefully evicted every year, which adds to the total number of homeless people. Often, people make use of a person-blame approach while determining reasons for the increase in the number of homeless people. A person-blame approach mainly seeks to showcase how personal decisions and mistakes led one to become homeless. Some of these causes could entail drug abuse, alcohol, and poor financial decisions. However, there are others who believe that a systems-blame approach best captures or explains why the number of homeless people continues to rise. The systems-blame approach considers factors outside the individual, including high unemployment rates, lack of affordable and available housing units, higher rates in rent, and other factors like the impact of a financial crisis. All these factors directly impact people, their incomes, and their ability to be able to afford their housing or shelter needs. In the end, the number of homeless people continues to rise. In the U.S., the problem of homelessness remains a thorn in the country’s quest to ensure that every person has access to basic tenets or elements of human decency. The National Low Income Housing Coalition indicates that in the U.S., there is no state that has affordable rental housing in adequate supply (2022). Further, NLIHC indicates that this shortage is as big as 7 million rental homes and that no elaborate plan exists to help alleviate this problem. The causes of the same appear varied, with people offering differing views on why homelessness remains a problem in the U.S. In a survey conducted in 2015, the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty (NLHP) determined that in the U.S., some of the most crucial causes of homelessness include low wages, poverty, lack of affordable housing, and unemployment. Other causes that were identified in the report include mental illnesses and substance abuse. Against the background above, this research seeks to narrow the focus to Riverside County to determine the major causes of homelessness in this particular county.
Problem Statement
As already indicated, homelessness remains a major problem in the U.S. Despite being among the wealthiest nations in the world, the U.S. continues to grapple with the homelessness problem. In Riverside County, since 2020, homelessness has maintained an upward trajectory as the effects of COVID-19 continue to render more people homeless. According to the Riverside County Homeless Point-in-Time Count and Survey conducted in February 2022, the number of homeless people stands at 3316, with unsheltered totaling 1980, while the sheltered total 1336 (2022). As per the report, this was a growth of 15% since the last PIT Count that was conducted in 2020 (Homeless PITC, 2022). With regards to specifics included in the report, homeless veterans were said to have increased by 20%, seniors by 22%, and families with children by 83% (Homeless PITC Infographic, 2022). There was one positive from the results with homelessness among the transitional youth, especially those aged 18-24 having decreased by 4%.
Even without COVID-19 effects on the number of homeless, Riverside County did have a major problem with the homeless population. In 2020, the county recorded a total of 2884 sheltered and unsheltered homeless people, representing a 3% increase from 2019 (Riverside County Homeless Point-in-Time Count 2022, 2022). The above simply indicates that the problem has been growing and that it is crucial for the county to determine the causes of this problem. Though COVID-19 has helped to enhance the problem, other factors exist that continually enhance the homelessness problem. Blaming COVID-19 for the problem or increase in homelessness would signal negligence of the local government because surveys have been showcasing growth in the numbers. Therefore, it is crucial that investigations are conducted to determine which other factors help to enhance the growth of the homeless population in Riverside County, and this research intends to serve that purpose. Further, this research will also investigate which factors happen to have the greatest impact with regard to increasing the number of homeless individuals in Riverside County.
Research Question or Questions
The research question(s) for this research entail:
1 What are the major causes of homelessness in Riverside County?
2 Which group of people is more susceptible to homelessness in Riverside County?
3 Which causes have the greatest impact with regard to increasing the number of homeless individuals in Riverside County?
Research Hypotheses
The hypotheses for this research entail the following:
1 The major causes of homelessness in Riverside County include a lack of affordable housing, unemployment, mental illness, alcohol and substance abuse, poverty, and low wages.
2 Young people between 18 and 30 are more susceptible to homelessness in Riverside County.
3 The causes with the greatest impact include unemployment and the lack of affordable housing in Riverside County.
Chapter 2: Literature Review
Introduction
The literature review section is a crucial part of research. In the literature review, a researcher presents a comprehensive summary and discussion of previous research as they relate to the topic at hand. For this research, peer-reviewed research studies, academic books, government documents, and official statistics will be used to help contextualize the issue under investigation.
Literature Review
Having 1.6 billion people homeless is a major problem in the world (UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs Social Inclusion, 2020). This accounts for almost a fifth of the world’s population, which is set to hit 8 billion come 15th November 2022 (UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2022). Further, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs indicates that the population of the earth will continue to balloon and is likely to hit 8.5 billion people by 2030. With such reports, one wonders whether the world will be able to support such numbers and whether homelessness could be a result of this increase. Kuo (2019), from the Millennium Alliance for Humanity and the Biosphere, notes that though the focus on the causes of homelessness has often shifted to factors like unemployment and poverty, it is crucial to consider the earth’s growing population among the factors. In the article, Kuo claims that in 2019, with the world population at 7.7 billion, the earth could barely support such a population (Kuo, 2019). With projections indicating that the population is set to continue rising, Kuo is adamant that the world will not be livable. Kuo’s perspective is shared by Chamie from Yale University, who indicates that homelessness is more apparent because of the growing population in select areas (2017). Chamie notes that today, cities have become increasingly more attractive, and more people are shifting from their rural homes to chase city life. However, to Chamie, this has led to an increase in the number of homeless people even as the world continues to become increasingly more advanced. As per Chamie’s approach to the problem at hand, it is more about the attraction of the cities and an increase in the population of people in these cities and much less about the overall increase in the world’s population.
In as much as the world’s population is growing, and therein lies the merit to consider the growing population as a major cause of homelessness, there is also the question of unemployment and its contribution. Unemployment is a problem that impacts people in two ways with regard to homelessness. First, unemployment can lead one to the state of homelessness mainly because, without income, it can be difficult to afford housing. Secondly, unemployment can make it difficult for a person to exit the state of homelessness (Homelessness Policy Research Institute, 2020). Further, a homeless person will tend to have a more difficult time getting a job than one who is not, even though the Homelessness Policy Research Institute (2020) reports that most homeless people want to work. However, their circumstances happen to directly obstruct their quest to get jobs. Riverside County’s unemployment rate currently stands at 4.0 percent, which can help explain why the county suffers from a rising number of homeless individuals (Employment Development Department, 2022). While this rate might seem low, 4 percent of Riverside County’s population of 2.458 million is about 98,320 people, and this would be a big number of homeless people in one county (Census.gov, 2021). However, it is crucial to note that this research has not made the assumption that every unemployed individual is homeless. Further, the County government of Riverside appears to understand the weight of unemployment and its impact on the number of homeless individuals because it lists it as the second cause of homelessness in the county. Walker and Lodha (2013) appear to agree with and recognize unemployment as a major cause of homelessness in their book. The authors note that unemployment remains a leading cause of homelessness in the greater California state, and this is evident in the counties within the state, including Riverside County.
However, even with unemployment needs solved, there still lies the question of the availability of affordable housing. For perspective’s sake, the Riverside County government lists unaffordable housing as the county’s first and most crucial cause of homelessness (Riverside.gov, 2016). Unaffordable housing is a cause or factor that has multi-faceted impacts. According to the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (2019), unaffordable housing is a factor that not only renders people homeless but also impacts one’s growth abilities. Because of housing instability, one’s health, education, employment, and even familial preservation are greatly affected. Therefore, unaffordable housing can impact an entire generation while also reducing the capabilities of the forthcoming generations, especially regarding dealing with healthcare issues and growing their wealth (United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, 2019). Further, Taylor (2018) elucidates on the aspect of stability and how it is directly related to poor health in people. She indicates that the homeless happen to have higher morbidity rates, both physical and mental, compared to other individuals. Therefore, the danger of the unavailability of affordable housing greatly impacts a person’s ability to find their way back to having a home. As the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (2019) indicates, the availability of affordable housing makes it easier for people and even households to exit homelessness faster. In Riverside County and the greater State of California, the availability of affordable housing still remains a major contributor to homelessness (Walker and Lodha, 2013). According to the Southern California Association of NonProfit Housing (2017), renters in Riverside County are forced to spend 68% of their income on rent, which is an equivalent of almost three times the local minimum wage. In Riverside County, the median asking rent stands at $1,495, which is more than many could afford, and this renders a good number of people homeless or forces them to live in deplorable conditions. These conditions further exacerbate the problem of homelessness and paint a dull picture of the county while showcasing how a large number of people end up in cycles of looking for jobs simply to pay rent.
The other crucial aspect with regard to homelessness and its causes is alcohol and substance abuse. Alcohol and substance abuse are factors that are widely considered to directly impact homelessness, especially when one employs the person-blame approach. According to the Homelessness Policy Research Institute (2020), individuals who are homeless often face substance and alcohol abuse more often than the housed individuals. However, one question that is of interest here is which comes first, alcohol and substance abuse or homelessness? In their study to investigate whether substance abuse directly leads to homelessness, Vangeest and Johnson (2002) discovered that there is only an indirect connection between the two. However, the researchers are keen to note that alcohol and substance abuse directly impacts institutional and social affiliations that directly impact homelessness. The discovery above is corroborated by Johnson and Chamberlain (2008), who investigated the relationship between substance abuse and homelessness. In this study, the researchers sought to determine which of these two happens to precede the other, and they reveal that while it is common to assume that substance abuse precedes homelessness, the majority of the homeless happen to indulge in alcohol and substance abuse after becoming homeless (Johnson and Chamberlain, 2008). From these two studies, there appears to be some commonality in that they both appear to indicate that homelessness may not be a direct result of alcohol and substance abuse. As the results indicate, alcohol and substance abuse mainly operate indirectly while aiding to transition individuals to homelessness.
Research also affirms the existence of a strong relationship between homelessness and mental illness. In her study, Padgett (2020) notes that there is a bi-directional relationship between homelessness and mental illnesses. However, she is quick to demystify the notion that mental illnesses in America account for a larger percentage of the homelessness situation in the U.S. These sentiments are supported by data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (2011) that indicates that 30% of chronically homeless people also report to having a mental illness. Therefore, this begs the question is there any connection between mental illness and homelessness? According to Amore and Howden-Chapman (2012), a relationship between mental illness and homelessness does exist, however, it is not as direct as often insinuated. The researchers note that mental illness can precede homelessness or result from homelessness. Further, the researchers indicate that the relationship between mental illnesses and homelessness is mainly found in the vulnerability that comes with mental illnesses, which then predispose individuals to other factors that, in the end, transition to homelessness (Amore and Howden-Chapman, 2012). What is more, the researchers are quick to add that individuals who are mentally ill and homeless also suffer from poor starts to life, with ‘placement out of home’ being a common characteristic (p. 268). Scott (2000) agrees with the statements above, noting that mentally ill individuals are often exposed to certain situations that predispose them to homelessness later in life. He provides childhood histories, including examples such as abuse and disaffiliations as key elements that pave the way to mental illness and later homelessness. Herman et al. (1989) corroborate the above while noting that severe mental illnesses are prevalent among the homeless who are also disaffiliated. Disaffiliation comes with a lot of certainties for the homeless, including disconnection from family and society and the loss of any channels to recover or exit the homeless status.
Regarding the groups that are most affected by homelessness, all groups of people can experience homelessness. However, every group experiences homelessness differently, and for the youth, experiencing homelessness could sow seeds of perennial homelessness. According to SAMHSA (2022), the youth who experience homelessness, even for a short while, suffer trauma, which could heavily impact their development. The article continues to indicate that this group has long-term health problems and self-esteem struggles that make them susceptible to suicide and substance abuse. The vulnerability of the youth to homelessness, especially those aged between 18 and 24 years, is widely documented. In 2004, the National Health Care for the Homeless Council indicated that young adults in this age bracket happen to have fewer support resources to prevent the consequences of eventualities like the loss of a job or a serious illness (2004). The council determined that a majority of young adults in this age bracket are starting off on their jobs, have fewer benefits, fewer savings, poor network of friends, and are unlikely to have health insurance (2004). Therefore, in the event of a crisis or an eventuality, young adults easily find themselves among the homeless. The council also discovered that young adults in the 18-24 age bracket also happen to be in the ‘aging out’ phase in foster care homes. Often, a significant number of the lot within this age bracket and being phased out from foster homes end up homeless. SAMHSA (2022) further indicates that young adults who identify as part of the LGBTQ also experience homelessness at a higher rate. The article notes that these young adults face familial rejections, sexual assaults and exploitations, substance use disorder, and even physical assault. In the end, a majority of them choose to live on the streets while adding to the number of homeless young adults.
Theoretical or Conceptual Framework
Homelessness as a topic can be related to or explained through the lenses of two theories. These theories include the conflict theory and the structural functionalism theory. Conflict theory provides a lens through which to perceive society. According to Allan (2007), conflict theory mainly revolves around power and considers power as the most crucial feature in society. Through this lens, power, how to acquire power, the means to acquire power, where power is located, and who has this power are some of the key things to consider while looking into conflict theory. Conflict theory was first developed by Karl Marx, who believed that societies are in a constant state of competition for resources. According to Marx, the world is limited in resources, and therefore, the few available resources belong to those who have the means to access such, hence the aspect of power (Stillman, 1983).
Today, capitalism best captures the society that Karl Marx envisioned. In simpler terms, capitalism mainly entails a scenario where a few individuals control society’s means of production. The implication of such an arrangement is that profit is only shared by those with access to these means of production, and because this number is significantly smaller compared to those without access, two classes of citizens emerge. The individuals with access to means of production (bourgeoisie) often seek the services of those without access (proletariat), and because of their privileged position (bourgeoisie), they often take advantage of the latter (proletariat). With their power and control, the bourgeoisie decide what to pay their proletariats, and in the end, situations that necessitate the growth of the homeless emerge. Further, there is the development of the mindset that elements such as determination, hard work, and education offer one a better opportunity to avoid exposure to homelessness, among other issues. Therefore, the homeless are seen as having chosen to be homeless instead of circumstances surrounding them impacting their ability to find normal housing facilities. Further, there is also the aspect of marginalization and some people being favored and gifted opportunities for growth while others are neglected. Therefore, through conflict theory, the idea of inequality within societies still applies.
Unlike conflict theory, structural functionalism theory posits that a society is made up of a fabric of different elements that are intertwined and help contribute to stable societies (Garner, 2019). Therefore, the structural functionalism theory speaks to the dependencies within elements or aspects that make up society, and how the breakdown in any one of these elements could jeopardize the society’s progress. Vincent (2015) adds to the above, noting that structural-functionalism mainly deals with how parts of society are ordered or connected and their inter-relational functionalities in a bid to maintain a structured and stable societal system. Within such a system, the corruption of a single entity could end up disrupting or corrupting the entire plan or system. For example, if corruption persists within the government, the chances are high that development will be curtailed because of the misappropriation of funds.
In relation to homelessness, structural functionalism theory can mainly take two approaches. One is the view that the homeless can represent individuals who deviate from societal norms. These individuals can be said to have deviated from the interconnected web of society and, therefore, find themselves homeless. In such a scenario, the individual is considered responsible for their predicament. Secondly, there is the approach that c...
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