The application of social change, leadership, and advocacy to a specific human and social services organization is a systematic process. The initial step is to select and delineate a professional or s

Many people who face abandonment from their family members have to live in streets. Refugees and asylum seekers also have to pass several years in transition. Sometimes parents and guardians are not able to support their children with appropriate provision of food and shelter. Displaced people may come from a variety of backgrounds and cultures. Exposure to trauma and conflict also limits their ability to resettle in their life. Homelessness and poverty-related issues are faced. People coming from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds may pose a range of challenges when arrangements for emergency accommodation are made. Long-term housing and additional support to these individuals need a lot of work. Lack of understanding of foreign language and culture also makes it harder to communicate. Vulnerability also increases to a great extent when social services are being provided. Linguistic barriers, racial and cultural differences make provision of necessary service a big issue. In areas where overstretched homeless service system is needed, it becomes harder to utilize resources efficiently. Culturally diverse support models often do not work (McBrain, 2011). Finally, homeless people from a different cultural background remain neglected. The present research will focus on the challenges faced while dealing with homeless and poor people. The main area that will be dealt with here will include homeless individuals of Baltimore.

Homeless and Poor in Baltimore:

In 2014 a research was done to find out the facts about homeless people of Maryland. It was documented that 7,856 people were homeless. Homeless people of Baltimore included abandoned individuals, mentally and physically disabled and immigrants from other states or countries. About 35 percent of the total homeless population of Maryland lived in Baltimore city. Homeless people of Baltimore came from various cultures and backgrounds (Department of Legislative Services Maryland, 2015). A diverse range of people is facing homelessness, poverty, and ill health issues. The identities and experiences of homeless people of Baltimore are different from the mainstream population. They may include refugees, aboriginals, racialized individuals and people with physical or mental disabilities.

Unavailability of Culturally Appropriate Services:

Michaelson (2009) writes that people from cultural and linguistically diverse backgrounds (CALD) are more likely to suffer the issues of ill-health and violence. Many of them are not aware of the services they can avail in a particular area. In addition to this, funding limitations also do not let workers assure culturally suitable service provision. Barriers are also created because of the lack of bilingual staff and unavailability of translation services.

McBrain (2011) is of the view that the models of homelessness are not always appropriate to the cultural norms. People come from a diverse background and they have different priorities. For instance, many models create barriers for Muslim women who do not want to share accommodation with men. In the private rental system, discrimination is also experienced because of age and race differences. Problems are also faced when homeless and poor people are marginalized because of several stereotypes attached to them. Most of the homeless are considered to be incompetent and useless. Asylum seekers and refugees have to face bias because of their attachment with a certain society. They might face anger, fear, disrespect and biased treatment.

Asylum seekers and refugees are more vulnerable to homelessness and poverty. Steele (2002) finds in his research that young refugees are six times more likely to face the issue of homelessness than their older counterparts. Visa conditions also sometimes do not allow asylum seekers to work legally. Access to Medicare and other legal benefits is also not possible. As a result, these asylum seekers have to depend on community support service. Most of these community support services are not fully resourced to deal with a wide range of problems faced by refugees. Ill-health issues, lack of food and shelter makes the life of refuges even more miserable. Working with such population also becomes difficult when resources at the part of the service provider group are limited.

Strategy to Reduce Prejudice:

The above account has revealed the lack of resources, linguists and cultural barrier along with the issues of stigmatization and stereotyping make it harder to bring a positive change in the lives of homeless and poor people. The best strategy in this regard is to address the issues of accountability and inclusion. Diverse identities and experiences of marginalized homeless people should be identified and highlighted. Individual issues should also be explored and people can be categorized keeping in view the nature of problems such as ill health, homelessness or abandonment. Efforts can be directed in the requisite direction keeping in view the number of people facing a particular problem. There is also a need to look for resources and assets these people might have. Some of them are highly intelligent while some other have enough strength to work. Participation and capacity building can help in the utilization of these individuals. A sense of identification will build that will help enhance their lives.