Gisell Carmona

I have spent most of my role as a social worker working with different environments and clients. Recently I’ve found that I do enjoy working with the houseless population a bit more because unlike different clients I feel that most of the time they aren’t given the human decency and respect that everyone deserves. This could be different depending on the location and environment of the client experiencing homelessness but keeping in mind that there are stereotypes and stigmas that these clients face day to day. Poverty, unemployment, and lack of affordable housing are commonly recognized causes of homelessness. For this reason people make their own assumptions on them and victim blame as mentioned in the article. Specifically in the US we are dominated by a culture that values independence, personal responsibility and the concomitant belief that personal circumstances are a function of the choices people make which tends to reduce empathy for those in need (Turner, 2018). 

The article I chose to do my citation on is on the topic of the homeless population titled “Victimization of the Homeless: Perceptions, Policies, and Implications for Social Work Practice” by Marion M. Turner, Simon P. Funge and Wesley J. Gabbard. In which they focus on bringing awareness to the victimization set on the homeless population. Going into how this vulnerable population's victimization is perceived by the public. Something mentioned in the article was deviant place theory which states that this population is victimized because they are in an environment that increases their exposure to risks. Which makes sense when looking at the treatment this population receives.

I’ve been focusing on looking at sources related to the houseless population and have found it important to look into the shelter system and housing crisis that continues to rise. We commonly hear how people suggest to houseless clients that they should get job and housing will come but don't know the barriers that come when looking for both. To get a job most places require an address and vice versa most places to rent require proof of income. It is a cycle that can seem impossible to end. Shelters can seem like the best option towards getting housing yet with lots of regulations imposed its hard to keep clients. Not to mention the need for more shelter is something to keep in mind as well.

In this article they focus on the stigma surrounding homeless clients who face addiction thus creating a barrier towards being sheltered. For some shelters there is a no drug or alcohol rule set in place. This is for most shelters said to be set in order to have a safe environment for those in the facilities.Yet this policy is set at many shelters for the houseless and causes those who may suffer with a substance abuse disorder to be excluded due to the stigma and stereotypes that surround them. Which is an issue in my opinion that alienates those who need services and shelter. Houseless clients can come in many forms yet stereotypes have set it so those who think of the houseless clients you may see in tents in the streets. Although if anything that's just a portion of that population houseless clients can be anyone without a permanent home. This includes clients such as college students and/or families who could be in the same situation yet still look “presentable”. Stigma plays a role in addiction.Stigma is defined as "a mark of disgrace associated with a certain quality, circumstance, or person." The poor regard with which so many people have viewed for so long those who have suffered from addiction, and the fact that we have criminalized drug usage in our increasingly unpopular war on drugs, have contributed to a "punish, don’t treat" attitude.