Midterm Question 3 Response - Brooke Cambra

 

3. Choose a problem of acute poverty in your country and describe a global social work intervention you could create (assume you have plenty of resources) to remedy that problem. Briefly summarize the poverty-correcting intervention and then describe how you would apply it.

I want to address homelessness and housing insecurity in the US using the Capability Approach. To begin, it is important to address the sociopolitical history of the United States' institutional and systematic racism, economic inequality, and changes in the Welfare State due to politics and postindustrial capitalism that has resulted in the current homelessness crisis our country is experiencing. However, it is incredibly difficult and time consuming to start by addressing the root problem of capitalism and conservative political agendas, and people need help now. The homelessness crisis did not come out of nowhere and it does not impact communities equally. Institutional and systematic racism has impacted Black and Brown communities the hardest and people in these communities that experience homelessness for different reasons and experience different and more systemic barriers than their White counterparts. Poverty and generational poverty must be viewed through a historical lens to recognize the major impact racism has had on its perpetuation. The degradation of the Welfare State and the devaluation of all welfare programs have increased the impact of poverty because people are even less supported by their government for basic human needs, and they are definitely not being supported to achieve freedom. The Capability Approach links capability to valuable functioning, agency, and freedom. To be capable, one must be able to have the freedom to choose which functioning they can achieve. They also must have agency, meaning they can bring about personal change and have their own values and purpose (Onwuegbuchulam, 2018).

I recognize that homeless and housing insecure individuals meet the absolute definition of poverty, but our goal should not be to just provide housing and nutrition. I am defining poverty relatively and will use that to frame the purpose and goals of the anti-homeless program I am proposing. Because poverty is relative to the living conditions and standards of the country, my program will assist people to achieve a moderate standard of living of the average non-impoverished American (Seipel, 2003). In order to empower participants of the program to be autonomous individuals with agency, we will ask each individual about their needs and what type of assistance they need and want from the benefits of the program. I want participants to be able to choose what type of assistance they want and be able to accommodate their specific needs. We must listen to their needs because their input is valuable because of their personal experience with abject poverty and homelessness. However, I do believe that participants deemed unfit to advocate for themselves due severe mental health disorders (including Substance Abuse Disorder) will be provided a caseworker that will act in accordance to their needs.

My Anti-Homeless Program will utilize the poverty reduction strategies discussed in "Global poverty: No longer an untouchable problem" such as social investment, growth with equity, education, health, and job creation (Seipel, 2003). We will provide housing and health and mental health treatment, which included substance abuse treatment. Begin with providing basic individual housing (not shared rooms shelter style) to give individuals privacy and autonomy over their space. After couch surfing, living in shelters, or sleeping rough on the street, people should be provided with their right to privacy and autonomy that has been denied to them. While illicit substances should not be technically "allowed" in these housing buildings, residents should never be kicked out if drugs are found. They can be confiscated, but it is imperative that substance abuse treatment is offered and strongly encouraged through positive incentives and not through negative punishments. Participants will be given the option of being provided with food cafeteria style or with SNAP so that they can do their own grocery shopping and cooking. Participants should also be given a basic income for toiletries,  clothing, and personal items. Education and job training should be offered to prepare participants for entering or re-entering the work force to give them agency over their own lives instead of dictating what they are allowed to do. However, this should not be forced on participants, especially not right away. They should be encouraged to heal, reset, and adjust or readjust to their new, stable environment. It is important to remember that experiencing homelessness is extremely stressful and traumatic, and results in significantly negative impacts on their psychological and social responses. Education and job training should only be provided at the request of the participant or after they are deemed psychologically and physically fit enough for this change. Education and training is imperative to increase human capital Assistance with finding jobs should be provided, with certain jobs being offered through the program. Despite my personal beliefs that capitalism is the root problem of poverty and inequality, we must work within the capitalist system we live in and work with it while also working against it by increasing social wellbeing and equality. It is difficult for people to acquire jobs after being unemployed for a while or because of lack of experience. So, the program should work with specific companies and businesses that are willing to hire our participants and most importantly, they understand the unique backgrounds of their employees and ensure they are understanding and patient with them during this huge life change. We can also ensure that our participants are being fairly paid, given adequate hours to work, and we can advocate for our participants if they have problems or concerns. All money earned through working cannot be monitored or withheld from any participant unless at their request. We will work with a bank or a credit union that they can save the money they are provided and the money they earned through working. Help with their finances and connections with financial advisors should be provided upon request. This is how we engage in social investment without dehumanizing and taking away individual freedom and agency (Seipel, 2003).

 

References

 

Onwuegbuchulam, S. P. (2018). A capability approach assessment of poverty in the sociopolitical history of South Africa/kwazulu-natal. Journal of Poverty, 22(4), 287–309. https://doi.org/10.1080/10875549.2017.1419529

 

Seipel, M. M. O. (2003). Global poverty. International Social Work, 46(2), 191–207. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020872803046002005