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Homeless Ethics

Decent Essays

This research will address society’s behavior and the belief that the homeless are criminals, drug and alcohol abusers. However, most people believe that everyone is responsible for their own social status. What is our duty in helping the homeless? It is society’s ethical responsibility to help those that are less fortunate.

The Department of Homeless Shelter defines homeless as lacking “ a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence”. One reason there are so many homeless people is that many are undiagnosed of possible mental disorders. Dementia, schizophrenia, bi-polar are more common among homeless individuals, yet many do not have health insurance to get the necessary treatments. Inappropriate behaviors deemed as criminal acts …show more content…

Often, many people will walk by and not even think twice about who or what the person has been in society. In addition to many people feeling that the homeless are criminals, many individuals resort to alcohol or drugs to decompensate when medical and mental treatment is not provided. The person is often a victim of a dramatic event in their personal life that has not allowed rational thinking and growth. For example, domestic violence, rape, years of abuse from childhood and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), often diagnosed in soldiers in a war, victims of a catastrophe, i.e. Hurricane Sandy. What is our duty in helping the homeless? It is society’s ethical responsibility to help those that are less …show more content…

Maslow (1948) believed that all problems can be resolved if all basic need are met. There are five needs that Maslow has determined that must be fulfilled or gratified by humans. These needs are psychological needs (food, water, warmth, rest), safety needs (safety and security), belongingness and love needs (intimate relationships and friends), esteem needs (prestige and feeling of accomplishment), and self-actualization (achieving one’s full potential, including creative activities). These needs are often not met by the elderly and homeless population and therefore, they find the need to be placed in an Adult Homeless shelter facility. Being homeless, unemployed or on a fixed income lacks an individual to obtain some of these

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