Homeless Legal Defnition

HOMELESS

LEGAL DEFINITION:

A person is homeless if, and only if, he or she has inadequate access to safe and secure housing.

SOCIAL DEFINITION:

There are many different views about the homeless and how to define them, some believe that there can be different levels of homelessness.

Being Homeless at a primary level refers to people who do not have conventional place of accommodation. This could mean those who sleep outside, and/or on streets or public areas for shelter. Less severe levels of being homeless refer to people who frequently move from temporary accommodation this may include refugees, boarding houses with shared bathroom and kitchen facilities and people in housing situations close to the minimum standard.

IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS:

- Homeless people include men and women of all ages, which may live in a variety of circumstances. Although the risk of homelessness is higher in men than women, higher in the age group 30-39 years than in other age groups and higher in poorly educated people.

- On Census night in 2006, the homeless population in Australia was 105,000.

- The proportion of alcohol abuse among homeless women and men is significantly higher than in the general population.

- Research suggests that homeless people have a high incidence of disruptive childhood experiences including foster placement and running away from home.

- Homeless men and women are marginalised and isolated and often have no or few social contacts. This may be because they are homeless or why they have become homeless.

- For the mentally ill homeless, there are even less help networks and they may become socially isolated.

- They have an inadequate experience of connectedness with family and or community.

- The homeless people may be considered inferior.

- The homeless may range from every culture, religion, ethnic and social group.

- The homeless may experience discrimination and/or abuse, affecting well being, resulting in a poor sense of identity and a lack of belonging.

- The homeless may be more susceptible to disease and illness because of lack of hygiene and lack of access to medical facilities.

SPECIFIC NEEDS OF THE GROUP:

Specific needs have to be met in order to achieve a high level of well being.

Security and safety- The homeless need to have a safe place to sleep and a home to live in, they need to have a sense of belonging to family and friends to feel accepted and secure in the environment. Some of the homeless population experience verbal abuse on the streets and in extreme cases may be physically abused due to a lack of understanding and because they are looked at as inferior. This abuse means they lack in physical safety. They often have little or no security which results them being in unsafe conditions such as on streets, parks or in alley ways and other unsafe areas. Some of the homeless may need counseling so that they can have a better health and possibly reconcile with families and hopefully move into a stable environment. There has been a growing body of work in Australia examining the legal needs and rights of the homeless; however homeless people currently have limited access to information about their rights.

Health- The homeless may have experienced child abuse, mental illness, and/or drug and alcohol addictions and have a high suicide rate. The homeless have limited if any access to health services and to medical attention. They are also at a high risk of health problems that could range from to drug and alcohol abuse, sexual health issues because they may turn to prostitution which can lead to STI's and or unwanted pregnancies, frostbite and illness from cold temperatures, infections from lack of hygiene, mental illness and depression. They may suffer from malnutrition due to a lack of food and nutrients. They may be at risk of self harming because of mental illness or depression and feelings of isolation.

Education- There is a need to educate people about the homeless and to ensure understanding and knowledge about the matter. The homeless themselves are rarely educated at a tertiary level and some have left schooling early and may lack a advanced or sometimes lack a basic education. The homeless need to access educational programs that help to build self esteem and need opportunities for skill development, this education will assist them in getting jobs. Some homeless people may be well educated but are homeless due to circumstances beyond control. The homeless have access to some educational facilities but might not use them because of embarrassment, low self-esteem, poor concentration, little or no income to buy stationary and a lack of social support. The homeless youth are assisted by centrelink with education, and to help them find jobs. Homeless people also need to be educated about their rights and access to services.

Housing- as evident in the name, the homeless lack any permanent housing and shelter. They are in need of emergency shelter and would greatly benefit from permanent housing and even short term housing would be beneficial. The homeless need assistance in accessing housing and to remain