background
Homelessness is a global, national, and local issue. Internationally, some causes of homelessness include natural disasters (flood, tsunami, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, etc), internal ethnic conflict and war, urbanization, extreme poverty, and housing shortages. According to a 2005 United Nations survey on homelessness, 100 million global citizens were reported as homeless and as many as 1 billion lacked adequate housing (Global Homeless Statistics, n.d.).
From country to country, definitions of “homelessness” vary, making the attempt at getting accurate statistics difficult. Surveys and census data fail to account for the millions of “hidden homeless” who seek shelter in slums, on the couches of friends and family, or who relocate frequently. These considerations support the fact that the number of global homeless is likely much larger than any survey or census purports. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for 2015 (We Can End Poverty, n.d.) did not explicitly address global homelessness however, extreme poverty and hunger, two conditions that MDGs seek to eradicate, are often associated with homelessness.
The National Alliance to End Homelessness works collaboratively with public, private, and nonprofit partners to develop, analyze, and advocate for policy solutions to homelessness and initiate social development. The Alliance states that understanding homelessness requires a grasp on social issues such as poverty, affordable housing, and disabilities (Snapshot of Homelessness, 2016). Their data reveals sobering statistics:
There is growing evidence that with the “unrelenting increase in numbers of homeless families” (Bassuk, Volk & Olivet, 2010, p. 34), there is increasing need for support and services for these families. As a way to increase individual and community resilience, I propose that more arts-based restorative development models be applied in the urban settings in which homelessness is pervasive. On a global level, working to end homelessness should be a focus of international social work.
In my social action art therapy and trauma-informed community arts based development project, I seek to address issues of resilience among homeless children. Certified creative art therapists and non-clinical therapeutic community artists will work within a community development model that utilizes arts-based methods of intervention and restoration for children. The project’s overarching social development goal includes arts-based interventions and programs to improve social conditions of homeless youth. By working with local grassroots organizations, my goal is to increasing the resilience of homeless children and their communities while decreasing the rate of homelessness in the Philadelphia.
From country to country, definitions of “homelessness” vary, making the attempt at getting accurate statistics difficult. Surveys and census data fail to account for the millions of “hidden homeless” who seek shelter in slums, on the couches of friends and family, or who relocate frequently. These considerations support the fact that the number of global homeless is likely much larger than any survey or census purports. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for 2015 (We Can End Poverty, n.d.) did not explicitly address global homelessness however, extreme poverty and hunger, two conditions that MDGs seek to eradicate, are often associated with homelessness.
The National Alliance to End Homelessness works collaboratively with public, private, and nonprofit partners to develop, analyze, and advocate for policy solutions to homelessness and initiate social development. The Alliance states that understanding homelessness requires a grasp on social issues such as poverty, affordable housing, and disabilities (Snapshot of Homelessness, 2016). Their data reveals sobering statistics:
- In January 2015, 564,708 people were homeless on a given night in the United States.
- Of that number, 206,286 were people in families, and 358,422 were individuals.
- About 15 percent of the homeless population (83,170 people) are considered "chronically homeless” individuals.
There is growing evidence that with the “unrelenting increase in numbers of homeless families” (Bassuk, Volk & Olivet, 2010, p. 34), there is increasing need for support and services for these families. As a way to increase individual and community resilience, I propose that more arts-based restorative development models be applied in the urban settings in which homelessness is pervasive. On a global level, working to end homelessness should be a focus of international social work.
In my social action art therapy and trauma-informed community arts based development project, I seek to address issues of resilience among homeless children. Certified creative art therapists and non-clinical therapeutic community artists will work within a community development model that utilizes arts-based methods of intervention and restoration for children. The project’s overarching social development goal includes arts-based interventions and programs to improve social conditions of homeless youth. By working with local grassroots organizations, my goal is to increasing the resilience of homeless children and their communities while decreasing the rate of homelessness in the Philadelphia.
references
Bassuk, E., Volk, K., & Olivet, J. (2010). A Framework for developing supports and services for families experiencing homelessness. The Open Health Services and Policy Journal, (3), 34-40.
Facts on Homelessness. (2016). Project HOME. Retrieved from https://projecthome.org/about/facts-homelessness
Global Homeless Statistics. (n.d.) Homeless World Cup. Retrieved from https://www.homelessworldcup.org/homelessness-statistics/
Snapshot of Homelessness. (2016). National Alliance to end Homelessness. Retrieved from http://www.endhomelessness.org/pages/snapshot_of_homelessness
We Can End Poverty. (n.d.) United Nations. Retrieved from http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/bkgd.shtml
Facts on Homelessness. (2016). Project HOME. Retrieved from https://projecthome.org/about/facts-homelessness
Global Homeless Statistics. (n.d.) Homeless World Cup. Retrieved from https://www.homelessworldcup.org/homelessness-statistics/
Snapshot of Homelessness. (2016). National Alliance to end Homelessness. Retrieved from http://www.endhomelessness.org/pages/snapshot_of_homelessness
We Can End Poverty. (n.d.) United Nations. Retrieved from http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/bkgd.shtml