GROUP 4

HOMELESSNESS

IN MALAYSIA

definition of homelessness?
an individual who lacks housing (without regard to whether the individual is a

member of a family), including an individual whose primary residence during the night is a supervised public or private facility (e.g., shelters) that provides temporary living accommodations, and an individual who is a resident in transitional housing. A homeless person is an individual without permanent housing who may live on the streets; stay in a shelter, mission, single room occupancy facilities, abandoned building or vehicle; or in any other unstable or non-permanent situation. [Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C., 254b)] An individual may be considered to be homeless if that person is doubled up, a term that refers to a situation where individuals are unable to maintain their housing situation and are forced to stay with a series of friends and/or extended family members. In addition, previously homeless individuals who are to be released from a prison or a hospital may be considered homeless if they do not have a stable housing situation to which they can return. A recognition of the instability of an individuals living arrangements is critical to the definition of homelessness. (HRSA/Bureau of Primary Health Care, Program Assistance Letter 99-12, Health Care for the Homeless Principles of Practice)

Basic items belonging to a person made homeless due to a housing shortage

The basic problem of homelessness is the need for personal shelter, warmth and safety. Other difficulties include: medical problems personal security, quiet, and privacy, especially for sleeping safekeeping of bedding, clothing and possessions, which may have to be carried at all times hygiene and sanitary facilities cleaning and drying of clothes obtaining, preparing and storing food in quantities keeping contacts, without a permanent location or mailing address hostility and legal powers against urban vagrancy.

Reasons given by homeless people for being homeless

The three main reasons for having lost a last settled home, given by applicants for homelessness support from local councils are: parents, friends or relatives unwilling or unable to continue to accommodate them relationship breakdown, including domestic violence loss of an assured shorthold tenancy. [1] However, these reasons are only the catalysts that trigger people into seeking assistance, and not the underlying issues that have caused the crisis to build up in the first place. For many people, there's no single event that results in sudden homelessness. Instead, homelessness is due to a number of unresolved problems building up over time. Homelessness can then recur in the future as a result of underlying problems remaining unresolved. A study commissioned by Shelter [2] found the reasons most frequently given for being on the streets were: relationship breakdown: 41 per cent being asked to leave the family home: 28 per cent drug and alcohol problems: 31 per cent and 28 per cent respectively leaving prison: 25 per cent mental health problems: 19 per cent other: for example, eviction, problems with benefits payments.

Personal causes of homelessness

A number of different personal and social factors can contribute towards people becoming homeless. These may include one or more of the following: individual factors including drug and alcohol misuse, lack of qualifications, lack of social support, debts - especially mortgage or rent arrears, poor physical and mental health, relationship breakdown, and getting involved in crime at an early age family background including family breakdown and disputes, sexual and physical abuse in childhood or adolescence, having parents with drug or alcohol problems, and previous experience of family homelessness an institutional background including having been in care, the armed forces, or in prison. Tackling these problems is a complex business and normally requires support from public bodies, friends and family, combined with a lot of hard work from the individual or family in trouble. Public support might include intervention, advice, counselling, training or provision of alternative accommodation by a local authority where appropriate. However, in all instances Shelter believes these problems can be best resolved when the person or family in question has a decent and secure home.

Structural causes of homelessness

Structural causes of homelessness are social and economic in

nature, and are often outside the control of the individual or family concerned. These may include: unemployment poverty a lack of affordable housing housing policies the structure and administration of housing benefit wider policy developments, such as the closure of long-stay psychiatric hospitals. These problems require long-term policy solutions such as changes in the housing benefit system, the building of more affordable homes, and ensuring that a wider cross-section of society benefits from the fruits of economic growth.

Effects of HOMELESSNESS!!!

11 Effects of Teen Homelessness

Instability Homelessness leaves affected youth with no permanent address, making it virtually impossible to attend school, obtain employment, secure food and shelter, and survive. Physical Health Due to poor diet, malnutrition and exposure, homeless youth are at greater risk of suffering from chronic health disorders like asthma and diabetes. "Survival Sex" Because of their age, many have few legal means by which they can earn enough money to meet basic needs. As a result, many homeless adolescents find that exchanging sex for food, clothing, and shelter is their only chance of survival on the streets. Reportedly, 1 in 4 youth have traded sex for survival means. AIDS/STDs Homeless youth are at greater risk of contracting AIDS, HIV-related illnesses, and other STDs. It has been suggested that the rate of HIV prevalence for homeless youth may be as much as two to ten times higher than the rates reported for other samples of adolescents in the United States. Mental Health Homeless youth are more likely to suffer from anxiety disorders, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder and suicide due to the increased exposure to violence while living on their own. About a third of all homeless youths will attempt suicide. Violence Youth are at increased risk of being physically and sexually abused while on the streets. This year, 1 in 260 runaways and homeless youths will die from assault, illness and suicide. Substance Abuse Homeless youth are more likely to use and abuse drugs, and to engage in other dangerous and illegal behaviors. According to national surveys, three quarters of street youths were using marijuana, a third were using hallucinogens and stimulants, and a quarter were using crack, other forms of cocaine, inhalants, and sedatives.

Juvenile Justice System Homeless youth are more likely to be involved with the juvenile justice system. They are frequently arrested for nuisance crimes like loitering and trespassing. Education Homeless youth have a hard time attending school because of legal guardianship requirements, residency requirements, proper records, and lack of transportation so it is difficult for them to get an education. Studies report that as many as three quarters of homeless youth have or will drop out of school. Lack of Self-Sufficiency Skills Homeless youth typically lack many skills that are crucial to life in the adult world. For example, most lack the education and job skills needed to secure more than a low-wage, short-term jobs so its very difficult for them to become financially self-sufficient. Learning Disabilities According to one study, the number of homeless youth diagnosed with learning disabilities is double the rate of other children. Another study found that 28% of homeless youth have ADD.