Episodic Homelessness

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Homelessness is defined as “having no home or permanent place of residence” according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Homelessness is a problem that millions of American’s face each year including, families, children, veterans, mentally ill, and the elderly. Homelessness can be classified as transitional, episodic, or chronic. Transitional homelessness is temporary, and people are able to obtain housing after rendering services. Episodic homelessness refers to persons that have recurring housing problems. And, chronic homelessness is when a person is without a permanent residence for more than one year. One of the problems with homelessness is that it’s numbers have been increasing ever year. For example, in the report “State of Homelessness in America 2011” it reveals the number of homeless people in 2008 was 636,324, and the number in 2009 was 656,129, that is an increase of 20,000 people (3 percent increase) in just one year. One of the effects that…show more content…
“According to the functionalist perspective, also called functionalism, each aspect of society is interdependent and contributes to society's functioning as a whole”(Cliffnotes, 2011). This theory views homelessness as being unavoidable, and as a necessity for society to function. “Functionalist suggest that societies will naturally find a balance point on their own. If change occurs, it will do so slowly, and this is actually in the best interest of society”(Pearson, 2008). Therefore, it is believed that homelessness is just one part of the society that joins, and works together with other classes, so that society can continue on as a whole. Under this theory each member of a class is meant to stay within their class throughout their lives, but if one, such as a homeless person, would try to ascend in class it would be a very gradual process, and the homeless would then remain homeless for a much longer period of
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