Homelessness is a social problem that affects individuals all over the world. In San Diego, it is a pressing issue. Research done by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development indicates that San Diego accounts for most homeless people in the USA (TSDF, 2020). Many individuals approach social problems such as homelessness from a personal blame approach and a systems blame approach. San Diego region can be said to have numerous homelessness rates, and as a result, the two approaches come into play, although the systems blame approach plays a fundamental role. Social problems are difficult to solve due to the conflict between the two approaches, as people tend to shift the blame on the causes of the problems. (Eitzen et al. 2017). The social problem of homelessness should be approached from local and national levels, emphasizing issues such as creating employment opportunities, combating family breakups, implementing public policies on affordable housing, and combating mental illnesses, to mention but a few.
The personal blame approach to homelessness in San Diego can be explained in several ways. For those individuals who believe that homelessness in San Diego is due to the individuals' pathological conditions, they hold the argument that homeless individuals lack the aggressiveness to look for work and manage affordable housing. Besides, the approach relates to the narrative that individuals' social problems are because the individuals choose to live comfortably in otherwise uncomfortable situations (Eitzen et al. 2018). The high levels of poverty in San Diego also play a role in the personal blame approach to homelessness in San Diego. Many San Diegan's live in high levels of poverty that make the individuals unable to afford the ever-growing cost of living. However, it is worth noting that the personal blame approach is a view of the public who are in better conditions and can afford good housing. The individuals fail to recognize that homelessness is related to the broader community's issues other than at individual levels.
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Despite the personal blame approach having a role in contributing to homelessness in San Diego, the government and the local community's role is huge. Poor government policies on affordable housing can be attributed to the homelessness of the numerous San Diegan's. Policies on housing should be such that every individual is given a chance to afford a home through the moderation of housing rates by the government (TSDF, 2020). In most cases, homeless individuals find themselves in poverty, as they do not have a sustainable job to afford the housing. In addition, a broader view of the systems blame approach can involve the authorities' failure to check on the welfare of families and the mental health of the public (Eitzen at al. 2017). Many homeless individuals have their issues linked to broken families that result in mental health problems. Once the individuals face mental problems or face issues with their families, they opt to move out of their houses to not afford housing on their own due to previously mentioned reasons such as unemployment.
Social problems persist due to conflict between the personal blame approach and the systems blame approach. As earlier mentioned, individuals' tendency to view social problems from an individualistic approach attributes social problems to a lack of aggressiveness and failing to recognize the role played by the broader system and community. For example, the homelessness in San Diego is attributed to the people's poverty without considering other factors such as unequal wealth distribution and the poor paying wages (Eitzen et al. 2017). From the personal blamists, it is all about the individual not doing enough to secure what they should secure. The conflict between the two approaches leads to the reluctance the seeking solutions facing communities. Resolving the conflict and making people who believe in the different approaches understand that all the approaches can cause social problems is a key milestone in solving a social problem.
Having forums to address family problems and mental health is an important factor in ensuring that homelessness is solved in San Diego. Most individuals are homeless following family wrangles that put the individuals into depression. Those who separate from their families in compromising situations then have mental problems following increased depression (Eitzen et al. 2017). Having forums that enlighten families on the importance of amicable problem solving will lead to reduced cases of family breakups. The forums can be achieved by having local leaders and organizations organizing events organized by KPBS and Burnham Centre organized for Civic engagement in San Diego. (TSDF, 2020). In the event, the regional leaders sought to establish the issues surrounding families that led to breakups, among many other issues that led to increased homelessness cases in San Diego.
Job training and recognition of homelessness as a criminal justice problem will also help reduce homelessness in San Diego. Offering stable, well-paying jobs will help solve the issue of homelessness due to unaffordable housing. In the recent past, there has been an alarming rise in housing costs in San Diego and other regions in the USA (TSDF, 2020). The rise in the cost of housing reflects how the local leadership can train individuals on self-employment and sustenance issues. Apart from homelessness being a social issue, the recognition that homelessness is a social issue is vital. Steve Binder has advocated for the legal rights of the homeless individuals in San Diego to help them get back on their feet (TSDF, 2020). The program also has incorporated prosecutors, defenders, among other people who participate in other communal issues such as checking for mental health among the homeless to make them feel like part of the San Diego community.
At the national level, recognition of the social-economic imbalances is important in helping to curb the issue of homelessness in San Diego. Basing on the system approach, individuals' challenges can be attributed to the government's roles in ensuring affordable housing for its citizens (Eitzen et al. 2020). The social-economic imbalances leave a large gap between the rich and the poor. By having a large gap between the rich and the poor, there are increased levels of poverty, and as a result, many individuals cannot afford good housing. The government can minimize the gaps by increasing the education levels and the ease of accessing education for better living (Eitzen et al. 2020). Besides, creating job opportunities at a national level is important to make sure individuals have the wage that can help them afford homes. Having the forums advocating for self-employment will help reduce the reliance on employment, making the individuals earn and affordable homes.
Implementation of policies put in place at the national level will also help in the minimization of homelessness. The implementation starts with the recognition that the issues that lead to homelessness are diverse and interactive. From the regulation of housing rates to the identification of those on the streets and adversely affected by homelessness, the government needs to examine all the factors leading to homelessness (TSDF, 2020). The policies to be implemented can include affordable houses that favor individuals of all social classes. House rates being high is one of the major causes of homelessness, and therefore regulation of the rates to favor all individuals will lead to increased affordability. Besides, the government can implement the national policies of children's rights to good shelter and go to the streets looking for homeless children and offering them homes. The prioritization of housing issues is an important milestone in curbing homelessness at a national level.
In conclusion, although social problems can be viewed from the personal, and systems blame approach, the latter outweighs the personal blame approach. In most instances, the broader system plays an important role in the social problems facing individuals worldwide. The conflict between the system blame approach and the personal blame approach is why social problems persist as individuals disagree on the problems' real causes. Homelessness as a social problem faces San Diego and many other parts of the world. The problem can be solved through having forums to address mental health, job training, and recognition of homelessness as a criminal justice problem. At the national level, homelessness can be solved by addressing social-economic imbalances and implementing policies in place.
References
Eitzen, D. S., Zinn, M. B., & Smith, K. E. (2017). Social problems . Pearson.
TSDF. (2020, January 27). Rethinking Homelessness in San Diego . The San Diego Foundation. https://www.sdfoundation.org/news-events/sdf-news/rethinking-homelessness-in-san-diego/.
