Social work towards the perspective of homelessness
Men, women as well as young children staying as refugees or under makeshift dwellings are considered to be homelessness. It has been observed that in Australia, majority of people are subjected to homelessness. About 2.4% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are subjected to homeless in Australia. The thesis statement of this current essay is to understand the current social practices that are carried out in order to minimize the impact of homelessness. This essay would also focus on the social, economic as well as cultural influences on the social work that are carried out in order to eradicate homelessness. Finally, personal reflection would also be highlighted in this essay in order to understand the impact of these cultural as well as economic influences on the profession of social workers.
Critical analysis of the historical as well as current context of social work practices
Domestic violence has been one of the predominant causative factors behind the increased prevalence of homelessness in Australia. It has been observed that about 56% of male has been homeless due to the increased violence (Australian government, 2018). In the year 2010, nearly half of the Australian population has become homeless and nearly two-thirds of that population is women and child. One of the main roles of social workers is to take care of the basic amenities of these homeless people. overall prevented these social workers from working for the homeless people (Council to homeless persons, 2018). Many of these homeless people are subjected to domestic violence and this affect the mental stability of these people. Therefore, the social workers should take care of the health of these people. These social workers need to provide shelter and security to these homeless people. In many instances, homeless people are subjected to mental abuse and this overall affects their well being (Allied Health Professions Australia, 2018). They remain under constant fear thereby making them paranoid in nature. It has been observed that about 15% of Australians have financial difficulties while 12% have housing crisis (Australian government, 2018). Furthermore, it has also been observed that about 10% of Australians have inadequate dwelling conditions and these factors further attributes to increased prevalence of homelessness in Australia.
In the past few decades, government has formulated many policies in order to curb down the rate of increased homelessness. The federal government provides funding to the homeless people through two national agreements which include The National Affordable Housing Agreement (NAHA) and The National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness (NPAH) States and territory government also join their funds in these agreement for better service provision (Skills and employment, 2018). Under these agreements, almost 1300 organisations are being funded. Apart from domestic violence, migration from one country to another has been other contributing factors behind this homelessness. These contributing factors are lack of financial security, no job, no common language and no local references (Chamberlain, Johnson and Robinson, 2014). Australian Association of Social workers claimed that the main role of these social workers is to take care of the health of these homeless people (Australian Association of Social workers, 2018).
Critical analysis of the historical as well as current context of social work practices
The social workers take care of the wellbeing of the homeless people so that they do not feel any issue. The Australian government has initiated a National Homelessness Strategy in order to administer the issues faced by these homeless people. Apart from this, the Australian Federal government has also initiated a Housing policy that aims in providing basic amenities to the homeless people irrespective of their race and gender. Therapeutic interventions are provided to these homeless people by the social workers. However, most of the skilled citizens migrate to other host countries in search of better occupation and foods. Therefore, this overall affects the economy of the country (Ravenhill, 2016).
In the past five years, Support Accommodation, as well as Assistance program, has provided numerous resources to the homeless people. These social people also take care of the critical needs of the homeless people. It has been observed that most of the homeless people are not provided with adequate amount of food and shelter. This overall affects the physical and mental health of the homeless people. Therefore, it is the duty of the social workers to take care of these homeless people and provide them with their required amenities. They remain homeless and therefore, the social workers provide them with their basic requirements. The national Homelessness Strategy has largely focused on improving the relationship between the non-governmental agencies as well as the Central government of Australia (McCalman et al. 2015). The Australian government has extended their partnership with other countries in order to mitigate the increased issue of homelessness. The stakeholders of these organisations would further allow the homeless people with some of the basic amenities that are required for their better health and condition.
Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP) has provided numerous services to the homeless group in order to improve their health condition. In addition, this program also has provided shelters for their women refugees in order to improve their condition. It has been observed that in the year 2001, about 67% of SAAP clients have provided the homeless people with their basic amenities. The Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute provide the homeless people with their basic needs and requirements (Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, 2018). It has been observed that this affected group of people are often neglected in their society and this affects the mental stability of these people.
Furthermore, it has also been seen that the SAAP budget in New South Wales has increased by about 33%. Therefore, majority of the clients working in SAAP have provided the homeless people with their requirements and basic necessities in order to lead a normal and healthy life (Grad Australia, 2018). Therefore, this institute take care of these homeless people. Moreover, amenities are provided to the group of people that would overall improve the personal health of the homeless people. State and territory government have also provided the homeless people with their requirements that allow them to lead a normal life.
In the year 2017, the National Affordable Housing Agreement (NAHA) has partnered with National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness (NPAH) in order to provide these affected people regarding their basic amenities. Furthermore, it has also been observed that in the year 2018, Australian government has provided about $117.2 million to support the homeless people (McDonald, 2014). Apart from this, the government has also provided about $30 million investment to the Social impact initiatives to safeguard the lives of the homeless people in Australia.
Social influence
It has been observed that various social factors have an impact on the working condition of the social workers. Majority of the social workers are unable to work for the homeless people under the influence of social factors that are bestowed upon these workers by the local residents. Religion, cultural diversity and gender are some of the predominant factors that restrict these social workers from working for the homeless people (Johnson and Watson, 2017). Society does not have an affinity for the homeless people (Bullen, 2015). This kind of reduced affection has been observed in case of refugees. Most of these refugees migrate to their host countries in search of better job and shelter. However, the presence of these refugees affect the integrity of the existing employees and therefore, they are not sympathetic towards these refugees and homeless people. This attitude affects the social workers from working for the homeless people. Furthermore, majority of the society do not pay attention towards the needs of the homeless people (McDonald, 2014). Therefore, this overall affects the social workers towards helping these homeless people.
Political influence
Political socialization as well as political efficacy has a definite impact on the social workers and impacts their performance rate. In Australia, the government supports the social workers by providing them with their amenities that are required in order to help the poor and homeless people.
Several past encounters have shown that the social workers were not provided with proper funding and therefore, they could not take care of the homeless people. The homeless people often suffer from severe malnutrition and therefore, it is the duty of the social workers to take care of the needs of these people. Therefore, it can be said that these government investments have a definite impact on the social workers. Adequate therapeutic intervention is also required for better well being of the affected group of people. Political participation also has an impact on the social workers and this affects their rate of performance (Wood, Batterham, Cigdem and Mallett, 2015). Therefore, it can be said that both society, as well as political factors, have a definite impact on the performances performed by the social workers.
Economic influence
There are several economic factors that affect people to do social work. The factors are economic growth and development, inflation, recession, interest and some others factors. The social workers depend on the economic growth of the country; if the economic growth of the country is not good then the government is not able to provide the facilities to the social organisation to think about social work. The social workers of Australia, who are helping homeless people, need to have good income so that they can do the social work properly (McDonald, 2014). During inflation, the social workers get good income, so they can do the work in good way. But during the time of recession, they are not able to fulfil their own needs so they face problem to do the social work. As to help homeless people, social workers need support from the government to provide the homeless people with better facilities.
Cultural influence
Cultural factors like values, beliefs, custom and rituals affect people to do social work. If refugees come from another country have different customs then it creates problem for social worker of that country to help them. Social factors are also affected by different behaviours of people. Some homeless people have different behaviour and they want the best service from the social worker that is not accepted people (McIntyre, Townsend and Cullen, 2017). Some people want to do social work but because of the cultural values of their families, they are not able to do that. Different languages also create problems in social work. People having different religion sometimes do not want to understand other’s religion and this also creates a problem for a social worker to work. The homeless people having different dress code, religion does not want to live together and this is a problem of social worker (Wood, Batterham, Cigdem and Mallett, 2015).
Critical reflection of contemporary influences on performance rate of the social workers
Political as well as social factors have an impact on the social workers thereby affecting their rate of performance. Being a social factor, I need to encounter various instances that affect my profession. Participation of the society is crucial and is often necessary in case of social performance. Being a social worker, I need to communicate with the local people so that they could interact with these homeless people. Society does not consider the health of these homeless people and they are subjected to extreme violence and this affects their wellbeing and mental stability. Many refugees are not provided with proper food and shelter by the society and this affects their physical well-being (Steen, 2018). I have often encountered several instances where society restricts my activities and does not allow me to provide shelter to these homeless people. The example is when I was looking to open and NGO, I decided to start from my home where a certain area was unoccupied. My relatives and my neighbours denied as they felt of having a bad impact on the society. Therefore, I need to ensure them that these homeless people should not be treated like other normal people. They should not be subjected to any sort of domestic violence.
Economic condition of the country also affects my activities that overall impacts the poor and homeless people. The charities are funded by governmental organisations and therefore, depending upon their funding, foods are supplied to the homeless people. I feel that government provides ample amount of supplies to many organisations however, many private social organisations do not provide necessities to these homeless people. Therefore, this overall affects the activities of homeless people and impacts them. Cultural factors also affect the social workers that ultimately affect the homeless people. In case of non-governmental organisations, funding is essential that allows us to work for the well being of the homeless people (Influenced by Whittaker et al. 2015). However, there are various instances, where these non-governmental organisations are not provided with their basic amenities and this affects the performance rate of the social workers. Society does not pay attention to the necessities of the refugees and they are often affected. They are the victims of domestic violence and therefore, it can be seen that this violence affect their integrity.
Therefore, it can be said that these social, cultural, as well as political factors, have immense impact on the performances of these social workers. Being a social worker, I need to abide by the political as well as social frameworks of the nation and this affects my activities towards the homeless people. It is my duty to take care of the homeless people, however; I need to abide by the governmental regulations (Influenced by McCalman et al. 2015). Based on the funding of my organisation, basic amenities are provided to the homeless people and therefore, these factors affect the activities of the social workers.
Conclusion
In Australia, nearly half of the populations are homeless and domestic violence is one of the major contributing factors. Moreover, high rate of migration has also forced the migrants to remain homeless in their host countries. It has been observed that several gaps exist in governmental funding that affects the social workers. Therefore, it is essential that the government should take initiatives in order to mitigate these issues and allow the social workers to help the homeless people. The homeless people are often cornered in a society and therefore, it is the duty of the social workers to take care of them. The Australian government needs to provide adequate amenities as well as fund the non-governmental organisations in order to minimize homelessness from Australia.
Reference List
Chamberlain, C., Johnson, G., and Robinson, C. (Eds.). (2014). Homelessness in Australia. Sydney: UNSW Press.
Ravenhill, M. (2016). The culture of homelessness. Abingdon: Routledge.
Johnson, G., and Watson, J. (2017). International commentary: The implications of the family options study for family homelessness in Australia. Cityscape, 19(3), 211-218.
McDonald, S. (2014). Social partnerships addressing affordable housing and homelessness in Australia. International Journal of Housing Markets and Analysis, 7(2), 218-232.
McIntyre, M., Townsend, C., and Cullen, J. (2017). Responding to the needs of homeless Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people with complex disability: The Guddi for Young People. Journal of Social Inclusion, 8(2), 81-89.
Steen, A. (2018). The many costs of homelessness. The Medical journal of Australia, 208(4), 167-168.
Wood, G., Batterham, D., Cigdem, M., and Mallett, S. (2015). The structural drivers of homelessness in Australia 2001-11. AHURI Final Report, 238(238), 1-100.
Online Articles
Bullen, J. (2015). Governing homelessness: The discursive and institutional construction of homelessness in Australia. Housing, Theory and Society, 32(2), 218-239. [Online] Retrieved from: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14036096.2015.1024886
McCalman, J., Bainbridge, R., Russo, S., Rutherford, K., Tsey, K., Wenitong, M., … and Jacups, S. (2015). Psycho-social resilience, vulnerability and suicide prevention: impact evaluation of a mentoring approach to modify suicide risk for remote Indigenous Australian students at boarding school. BMC public health, 16(1), 98. [Online] Retrieved from: https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-016-2762-1
Whittaker, E., Swift, W., Flatau, P., Dobbins, T., Schollar-Root, O., and Burns, L. (2015). A place to call home: study protocol for a longitudinal, mixed methods evaluation of two housing first adaptations in Sydney, Australia. BMC public health, 15(1), 342. [Online] Retrieved from: https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-015-1700-y
Website
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Australian Association of Social workers (2018). Social care. Retrieved from https://www.aasw.asn.au/ on 29th July 2018
Australian government (2018). Homelessness. Retrieved from https://www.dss.gov.au/housing-support/programmes-services/homelessness on 19th July 2018
Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (2018). Home. Retrieved from https://www.ahuri.edu.au/ on 19th June 2018
Council to homeless persons (2018). Home. Retrieved from https://chp.org.au/ on 19th June 2018
Grad Australia (2018). Social workers. Retrieved from https://gradaustralia.com.au/charity-volunteering/a-career-in-social-work on 19th July 2018
Skills and employment (2018). Where social workers are employed. Retrieved from https://www.skills.sa.gov.au/careers-jobs/choosing-your-career/search-careers-and-industries/community-services/social-worker on 20th July 2018
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