A Research on The Issue of Homelessness in The Major Cities in Australia

Abstract

The paper talks about homelessness in the major cities of Australia. The issue has become a critical problem across the country. As a result, the research herein investigates problems acting as predisposing influences to the homelessness in the country. The principle issues considered for discussion include drugs and substance abuse, family violence, and lack of finance and expensive rents. Some of these problems occur in pairs; thus contributes associatively to homelessness. Also, findings to problems led to an investigation of the possible solutions to problems. Two main answers were found, mainly associated with government and social support. Homelessness is striking hard streets of cities in the country. Therefore, a viable solution will lead to better life. Noteworthy, homelessness is not a choice, an element that people should understand firsthand.

Introductions

Homelessness is a situation of individuals without proper dwelling. The homeless persons are often unable to acquire safe houses and apartments. The definition of homelessness differs from one nation to another. In this context, it will be taken to mean individuals who do not have finance cater for safe, regular, secure, and adequate housing facility. As a result, they sleep on the streets and other homeless dwelling points. Homelessness is an issue to consider in larger cities of Australia. Therefore, it is worth to note some of their problems and at the same time find a reliable solution for their problems.

The census in the Australia occurs after every five years with the most current data provision done in 2016. The homelessness week carried out in 2016, August, the Census has it that there are 105,000 experiencing homelessness in Australia. The information, which is quite daunting. Also, many more people are deemed to have poor housing condition. As a result, they are suspected to be a step away from homelessness. Noteworthy, homelessness is not a choice. Most people are forced to be homeless due to one reason or the other, some of which entail violence, financial constraints, etc.

Problems

The biggest issue facing homeless persons is a lack of fund to manage decent housing where safety, security, and adequacy is a guarantee. The individuals cannot find a place to call home because they lack financial prowess. In short, they are jobless. Nonetheless, the deductions cannot be restricted to unemployment solely. The rent in the cities is formidable. Melbourne, in particular, has reported increased housing rents. Most houses are reportedly vacant because people cannot afford to pay the rent. The other main cities such as Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, etc. are not excluded from the menace.

Significantly, more investors are reportedly capitalizing in housing projects. The correlation, at this moment, difficult to achieve. Instead of decreasing rent value, it is increasing to an extent people cannot afford. Therefore, homeless people cannot afford to pay rent amount of money, and as a result, they live in the streets and other shabby dwellings.

Homelessness is one the most vexing social problem. Family violence is one leading cause. The family quagmires eliminate the sense of belonging and safety with home. Therefore, victims are forced to exit homes and seek solitude (Rota-Bartelink and Lipmann, 2007). They, thus, face severe social disruptions not ignoring financial as discussed before. There are varied sources of violence within the family settings. Mental disorders have been reported in three out of ten individuals who have cited violence as the main problem for their leaving homes. Other issues include abusive family, constant drugs and substance abuse, and financial constraints.

It is hard to leave home and seek refuge somewhere far away from home. It is a tough decision. A situation that will force an individual out of home such as severity disruptions to peaceful cohesion is common in youths (Mallett et al., 2005). Some of them advance to the level of death threats. Consequently, an individual is left with the single option and that is to exit home.

Using drugs wrongly has a direct link to homelessness. Most of the homeless are drug users such as alcohol, heroin, cannabis, etc. The drugs pose significant impairments in its users. As a result, they cannot be socially upright in a communal milieu. Some of them become violent and are rejected at homes (Mallett et al., 2005). Also, some become mentally disorganized and fall out of healthy relationships with people within the society. They are forced to seek refuge away from their people.

Solutions

Policies of good practice that fosters prevention have contributed immensely towards homelessness solution (Parsell et al., 2013). Recently, the government is currently considering a move to double the federal expense for Specialist Homelessness Services as stipulated under Original National Affordable Housing Agreement i.e. $507 million annually. Also, the plan to sign a new ten year National Partnerships Agreement on Homelessness and then add funds under an original agreement worth $320 million annually.

The homelessness, specifically in Melbourne, has reached a crisis level. The federal government should, therefore, do everything possible within their jurisdiction to reduce if not eliminate homelessness in the main cities across the country. Also, the introduction of National Homelessness Strategy has helped in curbing the problem (Minnery and Greenhalgh, 2007).

Lack of social support to homeless people pose a lot of health related issues to them. It increases stress levels and drugs abuse in such individuals. More adverse effects are, therefore, manifested in homelessness. The social support is vital. As a result, various organizations in the Australia have been established to provide social support. They include homelessness Australia, Mission Australia, StreetSmart Australia, St. Vincent De Paul Society, and Salvation Army. They help provide awareness on the homelessness across the country and also encourage social support for such individuals.

Discussions

Homelessness is not easy to understand. Some may merely link it with the lack of a home. Nonetheless, the answer to the definition is far much beyond the home. From the findings, it is noted that lack of finance is one leading cause of homelessness. It is true beyond reasonable doubt that lack of money is a critical predisposing factor to many social problems at home. Alongside drug abuse, lack of finance may raise the rate of domestic quagmires, and as a result, lead to people fleeing homes.

The main cities of Australia, Melbourne in particular, has a large number of homeless individuals. Therefore, a government plan to increase funding under the original agreement will help solve the homelessness menace in most major cities across the country. Also, housing rents are extreme. The solution should, therefore, be sought to eliminate outrageous rents. Most houses are reportedly lying vacant in Melbourne because the majority cannot afford to pay rent. Government and other people have a mandate to seize the situation and bring it back to normalcy.

Conclusions

The homelessness in the main cities of Australia results from drugs and substance abuse, violence within the families, and lack of finance. In the context of economics, it has been noted that not only lack of funding could result in homelessness but also unaffordable rents. The housing investors are significantly increasing rent in the main cities of Australia making it difficult for people to afford. The government and other social organizations, therefore, have the mandate to help solve the homelessness problem. Conclusively, people should not have a negative perspective about these individuals. Instead, it would be authentic to understand the reasons that made them be what they are. It is not a choice to be homeless.

Recommendation

Homelessness is becoming a crisis in the Australia. Prevention is always a better solution to problems than cure. Therefore, government and other social-based organizations should undertake a duty to prevent the occurrence by doing the following. Firstly, the government should create a strategy to impose a tax on vacant houses as a move to reduce house rents. Secondly, the developers should be forced to build affordable homes. Thirdly, community level intervention mechanism should be encouraged such as drug abuse prevention and reinforcing children to stay straightforward with school matters.