Homelessness as an important agent of social exclusion

Abstract

The problem of homelessness for many years has been ignored and marginalized. Homelessness in Poland applies even 300 000 people. Among the causes for homelessness may include unemployment, a growing wave of evictions, not adjusting of the housing market to the needs of people with low economic status. In addition, the causes of homelessness can be sought in the socio-economic changes in Poland at the turn of 80’s and 90’s, the liquidation of State Agricultural Farm, workers hotel and industrial plants, which deprived of work and place of residence thousands of people, mostly residents of the village. In a difficult situation are also juveniles from orphanages, prisoners residing in penal institutions, refugees and returnees. To the causes of homelessness may include unstable family relationships, which affect the functioning in the society, lack of ability to get a job, difficulties in raising funds for life, abuse of alcohol and other psychoactive substances. Social exclusion of homeless people is caused by perception their as a distinct social group because of the stereotypes and their differences. This results from the absence of cognitive skills, through which we can react differently to the individual person. The aim of this work is to present public awareness of the problem of homelessness and the scale of these phenomenon..