US Homelessness

US Homelessness

Paper details RESEARCH There are two kinds of research required for this paper. The first is traditional library research of scholarly sources and analysis of homelessness. The second is local community research. Begin working on this paper by finding out what you can about the extent of homelessness in Los Angeles and the problems and possible solutions associated with it. Find an organization in Los Angeles that works to reduce homelessness, and/or to provide assistance to homeless people. These may be nonprofit organizations, city or county programs, church-related programs, or other kinds of outreach or public service groups. Choose one program to use as an example in your paper. ANALYSIS Chapter 1 on the Sociological Approach to Social Problems introduces you to two concepts you will need for this paper. The first is a Sociological Imagination. The second is the idea of a “Person-Blame Approach” to understanding Social Problems as contrasted with a “Systems-Blame Approach.” In your community, where do you find evidence of a person-blame approach and evidence of a systems-blame approach? These are always at odds in one way or another, and the conflict between them is one reason social problems persist. What are one or two things you think would make the most difference in your community in reducing homelessness? What are the most important one or two things we might do nationally to reduce homelessness.