CAFS HSC Notes - Homeless People PDF

Preview

Summary

CAFS summary notes for Core module ...

Description

HSC CORE: Groups in Context – Homeless People 

Prevalence of each group within the community

    

More than 40% are under the age of 25 More than 100 000 people are homeless in Australia 1 in 3 have a mental illness Females who were homeless report a higher incidence of domestic/family violence A higher number of males were reported homeless

 What determines whether an individual is part of the group of ‘homeless people’ → A person is homeless if, and only if he/she has inadequate access to safe and secure housing.

-

→

A person is taken to have inadequate access to safe and secure housing if the only housing to which a person has access: o Damages or is likely to damage a person’s health; or o Threatens a person’s safety; or o Marginalises the person by failing to provide:  Adequate personal amenities; or  Economic and social support that a home normally affords; or  Places the person in circumstances which threaten or adversely affect the adequacy, safety, security, and affordability of that housing.



Individual diversity within the group

     

They may vary by age, cultural background, socioeconomic level and health status Women were more likely to be homeless due to domestic/family violence than men Women are more vulnerable to attacks Often excluded from participating in activities with the other members of the community Lack of employment of education can impact on their health and wellbeing Higher rates of substance abuse and mental illness than the rest of the population



Terminology

POSITIVE Unfortunate People in need

Satisfaction of Needs

-

NEGATIVE Addict Dirty Poor Violent A burden on society Filth



Specific needs of Homeless People

Specific Need 1.

Adequa te Standard of Living

Homeless People    

  

Homeless require access to services that provide accommodation and social support. Need support services that address and alleviate the causes of their homelessness e.g drug rehabilitation Some homeless will use emergency or short-term housing at a refuge. The high demand for such services limits the availability. Support networks attempt to connect the homeless with more permanent housing options. E.g. Centrelink provides Rent Assistance funding and the federal and state governments fund accommodation packages. Organisations including the Red Cross, St. Vincent de Paul and the Salvation Army provide emergency accommodation and food from street vans. Homeless rely on handouts and bin diving and a poor diet can result in other health conditions. Clean and suitable clothing allows the homeless to socialise and fit in with the rest of the community. Homeless women with children tend to neglect their physiological needs to try to meet the needs of their children.

IMPLICATIONS:  By not fulfilling this need, homeless people are stuck in the cycle of poverty and cannot access the basic needs that ensure their survival  Without adequate shelter, they’re exposed to harsh weather conditions → can damage their health, e.g. exposure to rain and cold temperature may lead to hypothermia, which they cannot afford to treat → increases chances of dying  Without adequate shelter, they have poor safety and security as they don’t have physical protection from external threats  Lack of access to nutritional food → damages health and weakens their body → hinders their ability to go and seek help/employment as they may not have the energy or strength to actively seek it 2. Health



  



Health issues are common and more severe for homeless people. Many experience malnourishments, a lack of hygiene, drug or alcohol abuse, respiratory infections, sexual health problems and mental illnesses. Health issues may cause homelessness in the first place and will worsen if left untreated, decreasing life expectancy. Homeless people need counselling to deal with trauma and grief experiences. The homeless have difficulty accessing health services. May not have a Medicare card or health records and can lack a complete diagnosis and treatment. May not be able to purchase medicine or maintain taking it due to financial hardship. Homeless people need access to free / affordable healthcare that has walk-in access and is free from judgement.

IMPLICATIONS:  If not met, their mental health could be threatened e.g. prolonged isolation can

   3. Employment

 

  



4. Safety and Security



    5. Education

   



6. Sense of Identity

  

lead to depression due to lack of socialisation. Severe mental illness may develop into self-harm or other self-destructive behaviour, leading to a worsened state of physical and mental well being Substance abuse can lead to long term damage of organs if not treated e.g. liver, brain Mental illness can lead to social isolation/marginalisation leading to ill mental Most homeless people are unemployed or have trouble finding work. Factors that affect the likelihood of them gaining and maintaining a job include low self-esteem, lack of social skills, health issues, their unsatisfactory appearance and lack of education / work skills. They may also face discrimination in the workplace due to their appearance and poor personal hygiene. Their inability to secure employment makes it difficult to earn an income and afford basic necessities. More funding needs to be available for education and training, subsidies paid to businesses for hiring homeless people and more caseworkers to help homeless people in the workplace. The selling of The Big Issue magazine is significant to homeless people as it gives them the opportunity of employment and social interaction. They are also able to work their own hours and get paid immediately in cash ($6 is the cost of the magazine and they get $3). Security is very limited for homeless people o Streets and shelters offer limited protection from the environment (i.e. weather, exposure) and other people Homeless people can become ill or become targets of abuse and assault. Not knowing the environment or the people around can make the homeless feel worried and anxious. Many people become both isolated and homeless due to escaping domestic violence. They usually don’t have a place to secure their belongings and valuables. Stereotypically, the community links homelessness with a lack of education. They need education about the services available, to develop their self-esteem and confidence to move beyond poverty. Many homeless do not have the resources (money) to gain access to education. The homeless may require education in basic skills such as maintaining hygiene, learning how to look after their environment, managing their resources, solving problems, making better decisions and strategies to deal with alcohol and drug issues. This can empower the homeless. Many volunteer support services provide opportunities for homeless people to acquire skills, which may allow them to seek employment and help. Homeless people may lack a sense of identity due to a lack of safety, security, a stable address and income. Negative interactions and experiences with the community can reinforce feelings of low self-esteem and sense of identity. Many homeless people suffer from a low self-esteem and a lack of confidence. They need help to deal with past experiences such as the neglect or abuse from



a parent. Some communities establish programs / groups, such as the Choir of Hard Knocks. This was founded in 2006 by Andrew Welch and its members rehearse every week. It helps to develop structure and stability for homeless people as well as acknowledge their contribution. The idea is that they can connect with the

Access to Services 

Types of Services

Financial support

    

Transport

   

Accommodatio n and housing

 

 

 Health care



The homeless have no fixed address or bank account and find it difficult to obtain government benefits. Many want to remain anonymous and do not want others to know their whereabouts (particularly in cases of domestic violence). Financial support can be found via goods in op shops, food donations, food vouchers or the part payment of bills. Some homeless people are targeted for free or discount services e.g. dental treatment. The Department of Human Services offers a one-off Crisis Payment, Centrepay, Rent Assistance and the Rent Deduction Scheme. Homeless people are marginalised in our communities. Their appearance makes it unlikely that they will use public transport so walking is their main form of transport. Homeless people generally locate themselves in a specific area of a suburb or city and have little reason to move. However, in Victoria, a Homeless Youth Transport policy has been proposed so they can access transport, seek out employment and break out of the poverty cycle. Homeless people need more access to crisis accommodation as most services are full. This would mean they don’t have to worry about where they will sleep of being safe. The Department of Housing (DOH) provides short-term accommodation for homeless people in low cost housing and private hotels or motels and some longer-term accommodation. They also help people to establish private tenancies and pays rental arrears (outstanding payments) to prevent evictions. The Crisis Accommodation Program provides crisis accommodation through the Office of Community Housing. The City of Sydney’s Homelessness Service provides advice and information, assessment, referral and case management, outreach, mobile services and accommodation. Assistance with Care and Housing for the Aged is a federal government funded program designed for the aged homeless people or aged people at risk of becoming homeless. Homeless people need access to rehabilitation / detoxification for drug and alcohol





 Counselling

 

 Employment



Education

 



 

Legal Aid





Age

addiction. Health services for homeless people are provided through hospital and community health services and through specialist services such as sexual health and Indigenous health teams. NSW Health and a number of community agencies employ health workers who provide basic health care and assessment to homeless people both in accommodation centres and on the streets. Mental health services for homeless people are provided by hospitals and mental health clinics funded by NSW Health. Homeless people need access to counselling to deal with their family issues and / or mental health concerns Sometimes the benefits of asking for help may be outweighed by fears of welfare authorities forcing them to return home, taking their children away or placing them into care or shelters. Returning back to a formal welfare agency that they have previously visited may result in the homeless person feeling a sense of failure and shame at needing recurring help. Many support agencies e.g. Mission Australia provide basic training programs, where homeless people can acquire skills to help them obtain employment. Homelessness makes it difficult to maintain school or further study and leaves people vulnerable to long-term development. Failure to acquire basic education at a young age is detrimental. The ability to read, write, interpret forms and use technology is essential in today's society. Those without these abilities are severely limited in their opportunities and to achieve wellbeing. Father Chris Riley’s Youth off the Streets aims to change youths lives around by providing education, skill acquisition, community support, youth drug and alcohol services, food vans and residential services. Older people experiencing homelessness, access to education may help to break the poverty cycle. Homeless legal aid services offer free and independent advice in many larger towns and cities across NSW. Other legal firms offer ‘pro-bono’ work when people cannot afford representation. They operate on a ‘drop in’ basis (don’t need appointments) to accommodate for the lifestyle homeless people have e.g. Homeless Outreach Legal Service and the Homeless Person’s Legal Service have Solicitor Advocates available to represent them.

Factors affecting access to services

Characteristics of homeless people  

 

Homelessness affects individuals of all ages but a significant number of youth - 16% are 12-24 Age may restrict individuals from accessing services e.g. financial assistance is age related e.g. Youth Allowance (16+), Newstart Allowance (22+) or the Aged Pension (65+). Mental illness affects more homeless youth. Homeless children may not know a service exists and some services may not accept

    Gender



   Level of education

 

Culture



 

Type of disability

    

First language spoken

 

Socioeconomic status

 

parents with children over 12. Homeless adolescents may believe they are too young to seek housing assistance. Older homeless people may know of more support services if they have been in the situation for longer. Older homeless people may suffer from age related health conditions that prevents them from accessing services. Other aged individuals who have been homeless for a long time may not ask for help for fear of looking like a failure. While there is emergency, short-term and long-term accommodation for both men and women, there is more support for women in the form of women’s refuges e.g Matthew Talbot Hostel has 98 beds for men in Sydney and Manly Women’s Centre. This imbalance is due to an increase need to protect women from domestic violence, lower levels of income and interrupted working life through raising / caring for children. Females are more likely to seek help and access resources. Females are likely to have children with them or escaping domestic violence which increases the complexity of their needs. Many homeless people have poor literacy and numeracy skills which can prevent them from being able to complete paperwork or even trying. May not access services because they do not know they are available. Require education about the programs available to them through welfare groups and accommodation. Non-English speaking and Indigenous people make up a large proportion of the homeless. They can have language barriers and communication problems misunderstanding or no interpreters. Cultural barriers can make a person fearful that government agencies or welfare groups will send them back overseas. Some cultures may find the support services are culturally inappropriate e.g. gender segregation in accommodation, a lack of prayer space and food preparation / meals provided. Mental health issues are a significant source of disability for the homeless. Stigma associated with mental illness makes it difficult for them to access services and accommodation and creates communication barriers. If they have experienced discrimination in the past, may fear seeking help again. Physical disabilities may affect a person’s ability to travel and obtain the services they need. People with disabilities may be entitled to extra assistance or financial help - Disability Support Pension (16+) People with different ethnic backgrounds can have language barriers that can affect their ability to access resources and communication / understand information. A lack of confidence, interpreters, cultural understanding, racism and discrimination will affect their access to services. Most homeless people don’t have an income which can stop them from accessing health care and medical services. It can be difficult for them to seek government support in the form of a pension, employment or independent housing as they have no identification. e.g Driver license,

passport or birth certificate.

-

Resources The homeless person who may be perceived to have a lot of spare time. Many have irregular sleep patterns and sleep during the day when it is safer. o During the night, most support services and agencies are closed. Time management may also be poor due to poor time management, a lack of personal motivation or they don't have people to motivate them. Most homeless people need immediate access to services and having schedules, appointments or deadlines is not relevant for a homeless person.



Time

 

Money

There are many factors that stop homeless people from having money e.g. a lack of employment, no bank account and the fear of being robbed. People who are homeless may not be able to access to places where a fee is charged e.g. doctors. Not being able to pay for services can cause anxiety and reduce their self-esteem.

  

Energy

With limited food, homeless people lack energy to maintain their body temperature and stamina Most are unable to walk a long distance to access a service.

 

Knowledge

Most homeless people have a low level of education. Schooling has generally been sporadic - due to changes in schools, heightened frequency of domestic instability. Homeless individuals may find it difficult to understand information or how to fill out forms. Some organisations now offer training to the homeless to help them access the services they need.

  

Aspects of the services How available are the services within the community?

-

Opening hours

-

Confidentiality

-

Homeless people may use daylight hours to find food, beg or sleep  little time to access services May feel threatened or anxious when surrounded by crowds  makes it difficult to access services Some services are available after hours, e.g. food vans and refuges, but none of these can help with life changes Many homeless people experience a low sense of self, feel like a burden, are embarrassed by their situation and may not want to share their story They may feel their security is threatened if they record their details, e.g. in domestic

-

Location

-

Staffing

-

violence situations, they may worry the information could be passed onto family members The homeless need to be assured by staff at support services that their details are confidential Large cities/urban areas have more services available The location of some services makes them difficult for homeless people to access o Many homeless people carry their belongings with them and makes it difficult to enter/fit into premises Homeless person may need to be able to walk to the location if they cannot pay for public transport Some mobile services travel and set up in well-known locations that homeless people can access Even if homeless people can physically access a service, there can be other barriers such as unsympathetic staff or poorly trained staff They may have difficulty communicating with the homeless person or the homeless person may not want to follow the rules or directions of staff members A bad experience with staff at one service may deter them from accessing other services in the future

Addressing the groups’ issues of concerns 

Government policy and legislation

Equal Employment Opportunity Act 1987  Requires certain commonwealth authorities to promote equal opportunity in employment regardless of sex, race, marital status, disability, pregnancy, sexual...