Introduction
The reading majors on homelessness and homemaking as displayed by the society (Kellett & Moore 123). It brings out the real picture as well as the meaning of homes. The importance of having or owning a home is also revealed in the reading. It stipulates that homelessness is a consequence of poverty and that one cannot describe homelessness without having an insight into the experience of a home. Homelessness differs based on social, cultural and economic differences that exist within a given society. Homelessness is usually experienced all over the world including in countries that have a lot of wealth like the United States. Some factors such as lack of families, friends, and employment are believed to spike up the issue of homelessness among individuals.
Brief description
Sociological Researchers have based their knowledge in the study of homelessness. In recent years, they have questioned the concept of homelessness. They believe that the idea of homelessness incorporates the cultural, social and psychological aspect residential living. Describing home is complicated, but extensive research has included the disadvantaged groups in the society in the description of homes.
The reading describes the process of a home, and it emphasizes that the experience of home is usually examined as being static but not a process. A home is typically a high social as well as cultural ideal and might represent status or the desire to climb the social status ladder. Some researchers argue that a home is a potent and an imposed ideal individual and cultural model that constrains and inspires us.
Theoretical framework
Theoretically, it focuses on the environmental, psychological approach that aims at studying homelessness. It is usually based on physical and Transactions approaches. The approaches examine individual experiences of various places and try to focus on relationships that exist between people and venues. The above methods aim at establishing that all locations are in transition and not static. The reading employed empirical studies to bring about facts on the various aspects of home and homelessness.
Strength and weaknesses
The readings provide concrete data that proves that homelessness is real and it exists all over the world. It stipulates data from some of the countries that are known to be superpowers as ones that experience homelessness. It bases its facts from major research bodies like the UNCHS/Habitat. Another strength is that it provides data of the existence of homelessness among young adults in London.
Some of the weaknesses of the reading include the fact that it does not put it clear where to draw the line between homelessness and informal settlement. It considers informal settlements as homeless people. Another weakness is that people do not know how to differentiate between homelessness and homes. Like in the case where young adults were asked their view of their hostels. They said that it did not feel like home due to the absence of restrictions from parents and all other actives that take place in their houses. It is evident that the reading only focused of researching on matters regarding homelessness and the population under study lacked the relevant knowledge of differentiating between having a home and being homeless.
Questions
1. Do you think to have an established home impact in our social lives?
2. Do you side with the reading on the concept of home and the theoretical framework?
3. Do you think there are other factors influencing homelessness apart from the social cultural and economic factors? Explain.
4. Did the data and examples presented in the reading on homelessness changed your view towards home and homelessness? Explain.
Works Cited
Kellett, Peter, and Jeanne Moore. "Routes to home: homelessness and home-making in contrasting societies." Habitat International, vol. 27, no. 1, 2003, pp. 123-141.
