![social questions related to homelessmess social questions related to homelessmess](https://invisiblepeople.tv/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Homelessness-is-not-a-choice.jpg)
With my research, my original ‘big picture’ question was “what programs and policies have proven to be effective in prevention chromic homelessness and what has failed to prove efficacy, and why” after careful consideration and further research, I found that this question needed to be narrowed in order to adequately study homelessness. Using theory allows individuals to think critically on issues that we often interpret in a very simplistic manner. Additionally, it allows us to comprehend individuals personal problems as a part of the political and economic components of the greater society. Using theory to understand homelessness and poverty helps us to better grasp these social issues. They look at the broader context such as the opportunities individuals have access to in order to explain their situations. Sociologist often use empirical proof to argue against these popular explanations for homelessness and poverty. Today, the argument of the welfare system being responsible for increasing and supporting its users dependency is a popular one. This theme of the underserving poor is seen as part of the moral failings that are interpreted as a main cause of homelessness. For centuries, the propensity to determine an individual as responsible for their hardships has been a common theme. In the last few decades sociological views on poverty have been focused on social structures and agency as a way to explain the existing and increasing presence of poverty. Another way to look at this social issue is from the functionalist perspective of French sociologist Emile Durkheim.ĭurkheim wrote on the ‘functional necessity’ of inequality in order to promote the well-being of any given society. Max Weber on the other hand, looks at the importance of both the influence of class, eliteness, and power in dominant relations, as well as economic factors when producing and maintaining inequality or inequity. Marx often looks to the harsh divide between the working classes and the capitalist classes. Throughout history, sociologist have not studied homelessness and poverty through these lenses, however their perception of society’s structure and economic order provides for useful ways to understand homelessness and poverty. Therefore, the whole country is dominated by elite groups who obtain control via competition and power struggles they have won.Ī fair amount of sociological theory is geared at comprehending social change.
![social questions related to homelessmess social questions related to homelessmess](https://elm.umaryland.edu/elm-stories/Elm-Stories-Content/20190122-homeless-PIT-announcement.png)
The power struggle between the social classes is said to be a result of the capitalistic society that the United States is in. One can use this theory to explain both capitalism and homelessness considering that constant indignation is harbored by individuals who are the less fortunate than those in a position of wealth and financial comfort and stability. Conflict theory suggest that social issues like homelessness are a direct result of an individuals shortcomings and flaws in their personality rather than flaws in the society itself. Karl Marx himself believed that this way of thinking (the conflict theory) was false consciousness. Those that are better off see the poor and homeless as unmotivated, uneducated, and wanting to live off of welfare. The conflict theory argues that in a capitalistic society wealth is something that is earned via hard work, determination, and most importantly, education. The theory suggest that the bourgeoisie don’t have the working class’ best interest in mind and their goal is simply to accumulate wealth by any means. The conflict theory suggest that business owners exploit their workers, thus depriving them of basic human needs like food and shelter at the same time these workers are under the impression that they are taken care of properly and subconsciously rely on business owners to take care of them. The conflict theory can be used to explain capitalism as the source of homelessness because under this theory society has two classes: the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. Regarding homelessness, the conflict theory suggest that capitalism is the main cause of homelessness in America. The theory suggest that social order is kept by power and domination, rather than conformity and consensus. This theory was put forward by Karl Marx, claiming that society exists in a state of ongoing conflict due to competition for scarce resources (Tumin 1953). Based on the existing literature that I have studied, it is best that homelessness is looked at in the context of the conflict theory.