Executive Summary
Homelessness has emerged as a major social problem in American society. Approximately half a million people in the United States identify as homeless. This is a social problem as it leads to instances of depression among the homeless which can translate into communal violence and crime. Homelessness also negatively impact local businesses as patrons tend to shy away from regions frequented by homeless individuals. Technology has been fronted as a possible tool that can be used in combating the problem of homelessness. The use of blockchain technology to track and identify homeless individuals can be an effective tool in the fight against homelessness. The information obtained from the technology can help social workers to render aid to the homeless. It can also help local government to strategize on how to help the homeless.
Introduction
Over the past couple of years, there has been a steady increase in the number of homeless individuals across the countries. The increase has largely been as a result of the drastic decline in global economic performance. Several businesses across the country have been forced to close their operations or downsize and this has resulted in several people(families) being unable to maintain their homes and becoming homeless. Homelessness is defined as the state of living in a space that is below the standards or lacks a secure tenure and is not safe ( Amore et al., 2011). A 2019 report titled, “The State of Homelessness in America,” by The Council of Economic Advisers for the White House revealed that over half a million people in the United States are homeless (The Council of Economic Advisers, 2019). Approximately 65% of homeless people in the country are found in shelters while the remaining 35% (200,000 people) are unsheltered in the streets (The Council of Economic Advisers, 2019). This is a major cause of concern because homelessness is a major social problem. To overcome this problem researchers have toyed with the idea of utilizing technological systems as possible solutions. Technological advancements have provides solutions to several social problems. This paper holds that technological advancements can be employed to solve the problem of homelessness plaguing society.
Objectives
In combating the identified social problem, there are two key objectives. The first major objective is to combat the challenge of homelessness in American society. This goal will be evaluated by keeping count of the number of homeless and newly homeless people that the program can help stop being homeless. It will also be evaluated based on the program’s ability to cut down on the rate of new homeless in the target communities. The second major objective is to employ technological systems in the fight against homelessness in American society. This goal will be evaluated based on the rate of the adoption of the system by the homeless and the effectiveness of the system in keeping track of and helping homeless individuals.
Problem
As indicated homelessness is regarded as a major social problem in American society. The term social problem is used in this context to refer to conditions or behaviors that have negative consequences for large demographics of people and that is recognized as behavior or condition that should be addressed. Studies have demonstrated that a large pool of homeless individuals gets abused while on the streets and this negatively impacts their physiological and psychological well-being. Homeless children are also faced with several developmental challenges in their lives. Studies have revealed that homeless children will most likely develop 40% slower than children of the poor ( Bentley, 1997). It has also been determined that homeless children from homeless families exhibit more internalization behavior and thus are more likely to be violent and engage in crime ( Fantuzzo et al., 2012). Homelessness is also a major problem for the community as it negatively impacts businesses operating in the area. Studies have demonstrated that patrons will less likely to frequent businesses in areas with a large number of homeless individuals. Based on these facts it is logical to argue that homelessness is a major social problem that needs to be combated.
Proposed Solution
The paper suggests that technology be employed in combating the problem of homelessness. Blockchain technology can be employed to develop systems that would facilitate the tracking and identification of homeless individuals. This is important as it will better empower the social workers to better render aid to the homeless. The use of technology is also beneficial to the psychological state of the individual. Technology allows homeless individuals to interact with social workers through online platforms (Adkins et al., 2017). The positive interaction between the two parties helps to enhance the homeless individual’s well being. Studies have demonstrated that for 56% of social media users, increased social interaction coupled with online social capital development helps to positively influence their psychological well being (Magsamen-Conrad et al., 2014). The data collected by the blockchain tracking system will allow the social worker, local government agencies, and other stakeholders to better strategize on how to help homeless individuals. This is important as it will allow for targeted plans which are more effective.
Conclusion
The research has revealed that homelessness is a major social challenge that negatively impacts the well-being of the entire society. To effectively combat this challenge, social workers and key stakeholders must employ unconventional tools. One such tool is the use of technology in fighting homelessness. Technological systems provide advanced mechanisms for improving the efficiency of service delivery. Social workers can utilize blockchain technology to keep track of and identify homeless individuals. The technology can also allow for social media interaction between the homeless and social workers. This is important as the positive interaction will help to foster the individual’s psychological well-being by reducing the risk of depression. The use of technology will also facilitate the tracking of homeless individuals and their identification. This is important for helping social workers to render aid to them. It also provides the city with data required to effectively strategize on how to combat homelessness.