Unemployment a Major Cause of Homelessness Essay Example

Homelessness is related to various causes out of which unemployment is one of the major causes that contribute towards homelessness. Unemployment has a direct relation with homelessness as it causes financial instability which in turn makes it difficult for a person to secure a residence for himself. Moreover, a person who is homeless is also likely to leave their job as compared to those who have a place to live. Homeless people face so many challenges in finding and keeping a job. This includes the stigma related to being homeless, lack of proper time, and maintenance of hygiene. All these factors make it hard for homeless people to find a job and stick to it. Moreover, many people are struggling with homelessness along with other challenges such as; high mental stress, adverse physical condition, low level of education, drug abuse, poor ability to release stress, low self-esteem & difficult family circumstances (Swami). 

Long-term unemployment can have adverse effects on health. Work is a source of providing social connections and also prevents isolation Freud believes that life is based on two basic elements, one is, the power of love that exists in human relationships and the second is the need to work that compels a person to perform a job to satisfy those needs (Steen and Mackenzie 1).

Homeless people have to face so many difficulties in securing a job, specifically those jobs that are non-transitory and provide a living wage. Many jobs are located in places where the residence is unavailable, hence reinforcing the factors including social isolation & marginalization. It is also difficult for homeless individuals to re-engage with their workforce. If homeless individuals are to secure jobs then must have appropriate credentials along with interview skills. As homeless people do not have a permanent address, it might create issues in communicating with the employers. Employers would also not prefer such individuals to hire for a job (Steen and Mackenzie 1). 

It has been accepted that homelessness comes after unemployment for some individuals, however, it is not a fact that all unemployed people would be homeless. Moreover, it is difficult to differentiate among the groups that are likely to become homeless after losing their job and those who aren’t likely to become homeless. Homeless people are groups of varying individuals who end up in a homeless condition due to many reasons, one of which is unemployment (Steen and Mackenzie 1). 

According to employment-history data from the British Cohort Study to calculate an individual’s total experience of unemployment from the time they left studying up to 30 years of age. This experience has a negative association with life satisfaction as reported by the individuals also leading towards unemployment. Childhood conditions & family background also contributes to adult unemployment.  Good behavior at 16 years of age and a good level of education can reduce the rate of unemployment and emotional health at 16 years of age has a strong link to unemployment for women. Boys and girls are likely to be born while their parents are unemployed hence this leads to a transfer of unemployment from one generation to the other. Children who belong to underprivileged households face unemployment, however, less impacted by it in times of well-being (Clark and Lepinteur, “The Causes and Consequences of Early-Adult Unemployment: Evidence from Cohort Data” 115). 

Unemployment is one of the major economic concerns in the majority of OECD countries. However, people have different experiences as per their region concerning volatility, level, and elements of unemployment. Levels of wage acceleration, capacity utilization & rates of vacancy can be linked with higher rates of unemployment that have been multiplied since the last two decades. There is a difference in how rising trend unemployment influences the equilibrium unemployment in various countries. This is termed as the natural state or can be defined as the slower adjustment to the equilibrium level which is lesser in comparison to the trend unemployment. There are several factors associated with equilibrium unemployment or the rate of adjustment in labor markets. Such factors consist of features that are not in the range of structural policies along with the labor markets (Elmeskov 109). 

In the light of all the data observed, it can be said that unemployment is related to homelessness in various ways and is one of the major problems that is faced by several people. Unemployment itself is related to several factors such as family background and education level if these factors are targeted and a better level of education is ensured then it can prevent unemployment. Saturation and slow adjustment to unemployment are also the causes that further complicate the scenario. However, better policies and suitable guidance can help prevent these issues. 

Works Cited

Clark, Andrew E., and Anthony Lepinteur. “The Causes and Consequences of Early-Adult Unemployment: Evidence from Cohort Data.” Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, vol. 166, 2019, pp. 107–24. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2019.08.020.

---. “The Causes and Consequences of Early-Adult Unemployment: Evidence from Cohort Data.” Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, vol. 166, 2019, pp. 107–24. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2019.08.020.

Elmeskov, Jorgen. “High and Persistent Unemployment.” OECD Economics Department Working Papers, 1993, pp. 100–26. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.1787/506882344657.

Steen, Adam, and David Mackenzie. “Homelessness and Unemployment: Understanding the Connection and Breaking the Cycle.” Introduction, 2012, pp. 1–2, sheltertas.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Homelessness-and-unemployment_Final-Report-20121.pdf.

Swami, Neha. “The Grim Cycle of Homelessness and Unemployment.” Pursuit, 7 Mar. 2022, pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/the-grim-cycle-of-homelessness-and-unemployment.amp.