The Effects of Homelessness on the Overall Self-Esteem of...

Homelessness is often characterized as adults living on the streets taking shelter beneath the interwoven overpasses of the city or standing alongside busy intersections begging for money. Yet, children, those under 18 years of age, are generally not associated with the homeless status as they are invisible, not seen by the general public with their homeless counterparts taking up residence in make-shift housing. Nonetheless, there is a large percent of youth who meet the guidelines for being deemed homeless. The website, findyouthinfo.gov, says the U.S Department of Education defines a homeless youth as one whom: Lacks a fixed, regular, and nighttime residence or an individual who has a primary residence that is a) a supervised or†¦show more content†¦All of the undesirable traits of being a homeless youth create a platform for developing negative self-esteem. From a developmental perspective, the younger one is when they are exposed to a homelessness the greater the disadvantages they encounter. Being homeless presents environmental hazards to the physical and cognitive well-being of infants and toddlers, a time of immense growth. Often times, these children go without immunizations to guard against preventable and contagious illnesses. Likewise, substandard shelter exposes developing brains to toxins like lead based paint that has been proven to cause developmental delays and learning disabilities. Furthermore, without access to adequate medical care, nutrition, and age appropriate socialization development delays may arise which can potentially lead to negative emotional and behavioral issues in adolescents and adulthood. When approaching school years, homeless children generally are lacking in social skills. Deficits in social and cognitive skills appear in marginal academic ability of homeless children and youth. Ellen Hart-Shegos (1999) prepared a report for The Family Housing Funds indicating â€Å"most homeless children (75 percent) under age five have at least one major developmental delay or deviation, primarily in the areas of impulsivity or speech† (pg.4). Prolonged intervention increases theShow MoreRelatedEssay on Effective Intervention for Homeless Youth958 Words   |  4 PagesAs previously discussed, homelessness among youth in the Houston / Harris County area is a growing population with far reaching consequences for this group. They can be identified as a cultural group as they identify with others who have shared experiences and commonalities. Some of the serious struggles, identified in part I, homeless youth face are the increased probability of becoming victimized on the streets, higher risk of being infected with a STD or HIV, becoming pregnant, entering theRead MoreDepression Among The Homeless Community1348 Words   |  6 Pagescontrols an individual’s outlook on life and their ability to deal with circumstances.† Depression is characterized with low self-esteem as well as â€Å"a loss of interest in activities†¦ [which] has an incapacitating [effect] on the individual’s ability to relate to others.† Depression can cause homelessness or vice versa. â€Å"One of the strongest sources of depression among the homeless community [is] their feelings of isolation and loneliness. Feelings of isolation and separation from others† can lead toRead MoreOppression And Discrimination Has Plagued Our Society804 Words   |  4 Pagesgroups’ begin the cycle of self-hate and stereotypes that have been placed on them by society. 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Furthermore, studies support that homelessness negatively affects families with children by resulting inRead MoreEffects of Poverty, Hunger and Homelessness on Children and Youth2370 Words   |  10 PagesAssigned Materials: â€Å"Effects of Poverty, Hunger and Homelessness on Children and Youth†, â€Å"How Do You Define Poverty, Part 1 and Part 2†, and access information on the number of families living in poverty in your county. Summary of Materials: The article, â€Å"Effects of Poverty, Hunger, and Homelessness on Children and Youth†, provides vast amounts of information and the far reaching effects on lives of the individuals living in those circumstances (â€Å"American Psychology†, n.d.). This problem is notRead MoreLiterature Review: Poverty and Juvenile Delinquency Essay1873 Words   |  8 Pages....................................................................... 3 Financial Status......................................................................................................................... 3 Homelessness............................................................................................................................ 4 Abuse of Juveniles ...................................................................................Read MorePoverty And Its Effects On Poverty1554 Words   |  7 Pagesto most other people in their culture, but they appear deprived. People living in either absolute poverty or relative poverty can feel powerless. They may feel unable to change their situation. That in turn can affect their sense of dignity and self-esteem (Kowalski, p. 12, 2003). Today, millions of Americans from all walks of life and social classes are presently living in poverty or are teetering dangerously close to the poverty threshold, which is absolutely mind blowing and deplorable, for one