Homeless

Homelessness in New York Student’s Name Professor’s Name Institutional Affiliations Course Name and Number Due Date Homelessness in New York Introduction to the Social Problem New York’s homelessness is a historical problem that has persisted for years. Trends indicate that from 1985 – 2000, the homeless people in the region were approximately 20,000 to 25,000 (Juran & Warren, 2023). The authors suggest that these numbers have risen steadily, reaching about 60,000 individuals by 2015. Although the prevalence has remained stable since then, the effect of COVID-19 and the expiry of the eviction moratorium triggered a sharp increase to over 75,000 people (Juran & Warren, 2023). Additional policy-related issues allowing migrants into the nation further worsened this problem. Such high levels of homeless individuals present a worrying social concern for the authorities due to the associated mental, behavioral, and health issues. Key Actors/Stakeholders The urgency to address this problem has attracted many stakeholders, contributing to its eradication in diverse ways. For instance, Bolan and Tomao (2022) indicate that the state is the primary actor in addressing this issue and ensuring that it complies with the right to shelter of every New York resident. As a result, it has been using federal stimulus, housing vouchers, and other support approaches to house people without shelter. However, it also receives support from other institutions, including faith-based charities like synagogues and churches, through their donations. Larkin et al. (2019) state that these establishments conduct clothing drives and soup kitchens and provide temporary night shelters in their settings. Moreover, other non-profit organizations support similar initiatives and funding in the state. These collaborative efforts play a significant role in easing the homelessness burden in the state. Framing of Homelessness in NY Homelessness in NY has attracted divisive debate due to the approach employed by the local authorities. According to Wolf (2022), the government appears to admonish the victims by seeing them as a menace to the social order in the region. For example, Mayor Eric Adams’ orders for the police and the first responders to commit individuals involuntarily is a controversial tactic that illustrates the negative perception of homelessness. Such an approach arises from the association of homeless people with violence and disorderliness in encampments. However, activists and mental health experts oppose this viewpoint and call for a more human approach that considers the psychological issues of this population (Wolf, 2022). They consider them victims of circumstances that require housing and health-lens-based support to protect their rights. Critical Areas of Homeless Debate The leading debate in NY is that homelessness is a disruptive phenomenon that continues to plague the region. News vilifies homeless individuals for befouling parks and streets, blocking pathways, and perpetrating arbitrary attacks (Newman & Hong, 2021). Such aspects highlight the interrelated problems related to the diversity of homeless people, including ex-prisoners and drug abusers. As a result, this argument has pushed authorities to devise aggressive strategies for removing these individuals, including using garbage trucks and congregating these people in barracks-fashioned shelters. Other debates revolve around the need for the government to formulate long-term solutions that empower these people and enable them to transition from the streets into permanent housing. For instance, Larkin et al. (2019) highlight the potential of methods such as the Housing First (HF) initiative conceptualized in 1992 for housing homeless p...