In your text on pages 206-207, the author discusses his research on the homeless population. He refers to the many routes one can take to become homeless. Choose two populations from his list that you might work with in your career as a human services professional. Describe two possible interventions or tasks that you might be involved with in working with each population. What are some of the general skills a human services professional might need to work with these population? .
Our text illustrates that there are various populations within the homeless community. These people are homeless for different reasons, whether it's voluntary or involuntarily (Henslin, 2010, p.207). Runaways and Victims of environmental catastrophes are two homeless populations that I may have to work with in my career as a human services professional. .
According to the National Runaway Safe line, "Between 1.6 and 2.8 million youth run away in a year." Children runaway for different reasons, these reasons may include abuse at home, a new step parent, birth or death in the family, problems at school or even peer pressure. Unfortunately running to the streets may create a larger problem for this population. Many runaways turn to drugs to help deal with the day to day stressors of life and living on the streets. Money is not easy to come by so they will begin to steal, rob and even prostitute. As a human service professional I would get to know the Runaway for example, learn about their family history, friends and education. I will also build on their strengths and help provide an outlet for them to utilize those strengths so that my client would feel that they are useful in society. I will encourage them to join a support group for individuals in similar situations. I will also make my client aware of the devastating outcomes of living on the streets and being involved in risky behavior. If possible I would like to bring together the family and refer them to a family therapist for counseling.