you have been introduced to the social
sciences, the concept of social problems, and
different aspects of society and culture. At this
point, you likely are noticing that some social
issues that may seem straightforward, are
actually very complex issues with multiple
different contributing factors. Putting it
differently, distinct social problems, such as
the one you are examining for your final, are
actually at the intersection of a number of
different social and cultural factors. One such
social problem is that of homelessness.
Select the blue headings to expand the text in
each section.
Reflect
In the media and within our culture, homeless persons are often portrayed in a negative light, and the homeless problem is often portrayed from the point of view of those that are not homeless. Further. homelessness is often seen as a moral failing of the individuals that are
homeless, as a byproduct of self- destructive behavior. As a result of these stigmas, local laws and ordinances frequently target homeless individuals through various sanctions. Homelessness and joblessness are often conflated within American culture, but
studies have shown that between 40 and 50 percent of homeless Americans are employed, and up to a quarter have full time positions (Meyer et al, 2021). Homelessness is generally a condition of poverty, or at least very low income, and recall that within the United States, income is influenced by both educational access and education quality. As a result, social groups that are disproportionately impacted by lower wages, poverty, food insecurity, and inequity in education (discussed in chapter 11) thus experience homelessness at disproportionate levels: Latinos are twice as likely to experience
homelessness than White Americans, while Americans are almost five times more
likely to experience homelessness than
White Americans (Moses, 2019; Biess,
2017).
However, there are social and cultural
factors that contribute to homelessness
as well: for example, LGBTQ children are
over twice as likely to face homelessness
as non-LGBTQ youth (Voices of Youth
Count, 2021), and veterans, who
comprise 7 percent of the U.S.
population, make up over 11 percent of
the homeless individuals in the United
States. (Stasha, 2022). Thus,
homelessness is a complex social problem
which is impacted by a number of social
and cultural factors and can be seen as a
master status for the individual.
Write:
The complex nature of homelessness in the United States will serve as the subject for this assignment, and you will examine homelessness as a social problem in the United States, examine homelessness in a group that experiences homelessness at a higher rate than the overall population, and as a master status for homeless individuals.
First, choose one of the following groups that experience homelessness at a higher rate than the general population in the U.S.
• Homeless veterans
• LGBTQ youth
• Latino Americas
• Native American
• African Americans
In a 5-6 paragraph (2-3 page) essay,
• Examine homelessness in the United
States as a social problem with multiple
contributing factors. Make sure to pay
particular attention to issues of social
stratification, social categories, power,
norms, and values. Address the following:
• Examine the factors that can lead to
homelessness in general (1 paragraph)
• Analyze how these and other
social/cultural issues impact
homelessness as experienced by the
group you have selected above (1-2 paragraphs)
• Examine how homelessness can be seen as a master status that is the
result of different ascribed and
attained statuses. Make sure you
discuss how homelessness is looked
at within American culture with
regards to norms and values. (1
paragraph)
In addition, make sure that you have an
introduction with a thesis statement,
and a conclusion that sums up your paper
and your main points.
You will be required to use at least four
sources for this assignment: the two
required sources below (one aligned to
your topic, the other required for
everyone), your text, and at least one
additional scholarly source from the
library.
Required sources
All Topics (you MUST use this source)
Hodgetts, D., Stolte, O., Nikora, L.
W., & Groot, S. (2012). Drifting
along or dropping into
homelessness: Aclass analysis of
responses to homelessness e.
Antipode, 44(4), 1209-1226.
https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=shib&db=a9h&AN=78360446&site=eds-live&scope=site&custid=s8856897https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=shib&db=a9h&AN=78360446&site=eds-live&scope=site&custid=s8856897https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=shib&db=a9h&AN=78360446&site=eds-live&scope=site&custid=s8856897https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=shib&db=a9h&AN=78360446&site=eds-live&scope=site&custid=s8856897https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=shib&db=a9h&AN=78360446&site=eds-live&scope=site&custid=s8856897https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=shib&db=a9h&AN=78360446&site=eds-live&scope=site&custid=s8856897https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=shib&db=a9h&AN=78360446&site=eds-live&scope=site&custid=s8856897https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=shib&db=a9h&AN=78360446&site=eds-live&scope=site&custid=s8856897https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=shib&db=a9h&AN=78360446&site=eds-live&scope=site&custid=s8856897
African Americans and Latinos
Moses, J. (2019). Demographic data
project: Race. ethnicity, and
homelessness @. Homelessness
Research Institute.
https://endhomelessness.org/wp-
content/uploads/2019/07/3rd-
Demo-Brief-Race.pdf
LGBTQ Youth
Voices of Youth Count (2021).
Missed opportunities: LGBTQ
youth homelessness in America, e,
Chapin Hall at the University of
Chicago.
https://voicesofyouthcount.org/wp-
content/uploads/2018/05/VoYC-
LGBTQ-Brief-Chapin-Hall-2018.pdf
Native Americans
Biess. J. (2017). Homelessness in
Indian country is a hidden but
critical problem @. The Urban
Institute.
https://www.urban.org/urban-wire/homelessness-Indian-country-hidden-critical-problem
Homeless Veterans
Stasha, S. (2021) How many
veterans are homeless in the US
2022 B. PolicyAdvice.
https://policyadvice.net/insurance/insi
veterans-statistics/
Other References
Meyer, B.D., Wyse, A., Grunwaldt,
A., Medalia, C., & Wu, D. (2021)
Learning about homelessness
using linked survey and
administrative data. Working Paper
no. 2021-65. Becker Friedman
Institute for Economics at UChicago.
https://bfi.uchicago.edu/wp-
content/uploads/2021/06/BF WP 21
65.pdf
Paper requirements
@ uagc.instructure.com
• Must be at least two to three double-
spaced pages in length (not including
title and reference pages) and
formatted according to APA style.
• Must include a separate title page
formatted according to APA format, • For further assistance with the
formatting and the title page, refer
to APA Formatting for Microsoft
Word e.
• Must include an introduction and
conclusion paragraph. Your
introduction paragraph needs to end
with a clear thesis statement that
indicates the purpose of your paper.
• For assistance on writing
Introductions & Conclusions Bas
well as Writing a Thesis Statement
e,refer to the Writing Center
resources.
• Must utilize academic voice. Your
responses to the prompts should be
accurate, thorough, and written in
complete sentences. See the
Academic Voice @resource for
additional guidance.
• Must document any information used
from sources in APA style as outlined
in the Writing Center’s Citing Within
Your Paper @ guide.
•. Must include a separate references
page that is formatted according to
APA style as outined in the Writing
