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Rola Hariri
Honors 3000
16 December 2016
The Sociological Perspective of Homelessness
Homelessness is an issue that is extremely prevalent in todays society. The issue has
been ongoing and is worsening as time goes on. Numerous efforts have been enforced in
attempts to resolve the issue, with some of these efforts still intact. These efforts are being made
by individuals with a passion for helping the homeless, as well as various nonprofit
organizations, and associations offering a variety of services to the homeless. Typically, poverty
and homelessness are directly correlated. Low-income residents are more likely to be homeless,
in comparison to those who are more financially stable. There are numerous factors that may
contribute to homelessness. Poverty and the National Housing Act are two of the leading factors,
precipitating 85.6% and 83.3% of instances of homelessness respectively (NHCHC). Aside from
these reasons, mental illness is also a huge factor that contributes to homelessness. Additionally,
42.8% of all homeless people suffering from some sort of mental illness, including illnesses such
as substance abuse, dependency, severe depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, severe
anxiety, and delirium (NHCHC). Thus, my own experience allowed me to examine all of these
various components of homelessness. Specifically, I volunteered at the Detroit Rescue Missions
Ministries (DRMM), where I helped prepare lunch and dinner for the homeless.
The DRMM was founded in 1909, has been providing the homeless with food, shelter,
and other service programs (DRMM.com). It is a civic organization and is organized as a shelter.
The organization serves as a method to help people get back on their feet, dealing more directly

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with the latter. It is part of the Continuum of Care Policy that was adopted on the national level
(Continuum of Care 101). The DRMM has sixteen locations throughout the city of Detroit, all
offering slightly different services based on the resources available (DRMM.com). Our location
served as an emergency shelter and transitional housing facility for males. However, we did
come into contact with a few females and some families during the process of volunteering.
Some of the services offered by the DRMM, besides food and shelter, are sub-acute
substance abuse detoxification and substance abuse treatment (DRMM.com). There are over 1000
people at the DRMM that are currently in the drug detox and treatment programs (DRMM.com).
These programs help address the mental health portion of the issue a little more directly, as it
helps the homeless overcome substance dependencies. A wide variety of agencies, such as the
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency, and Detroit Bureau of Substance Abuse
Prevention, Treatment and Recovery provide the majority of the funding for the DRMMs
programs regarding substance abuse and treatment (DRMM.com). Individuals with addictions
who cannot afford insurance, and do not meet the guidelines for insurances, such as Medicaid are
provided treatment through the DRMM. The DRMM has roughly a support funding of $20.65
million from generous donors (Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries).
At the DRMM, I volunteered in the kitchen, helping the staff prepare the food, and serve
it to the homeless. The homeless get served three times a day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Although, this service may seem unrelated to the issue at hand, it actually is a fundamental
aspect of dealing with homelessness as a mental health issue. A balanced diet can protect the
brain and potentially ward off some mental disorders (Wolpert). According to Fernando GmezPinilla, a UCLA professor of neurosurgery and physiological science, Food is like a
pharmaceutical compound that affects the brain (Wolpert). Without a daily intake of food,

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whether a big or small portion, it is difficult for the brain to function properly. It is a basic need
for every human brain. Thus, providing the homeless with consistent meals every day helps to
maintain their brains and mental health. This allows the homeless to focus on their potential
substance abuse, and finding a job and home, rather than having to worry about satisfying some
of their basic physical needs. Also, the DRMM organizes their facility in a way that fosters client
interaction. The area where the homeless are served their meals is set up like a typical school
cafeteria. There are long tables with connect benches lined up after each other. People are
encouraged to speak to one another when they eat. Also, those who arrive before serving time are
asked to sit in a room with chairs, a television, and a piano. It is a lounging area for the homeless
to relax and mingle. Speaking to one another provides a social atmosphere that is both
stimulating and is beneficial towards recovery.
Sociology is the study of the way that we as humans interact with another. In regards to
poverty, sociology is directly influenced by the classes of society. Since, people who are
considered to be poor are lower on the social pyramid, this may affect the way people engage
with them. A homeless person may not have the means to be a quality contributor to society,
since they do not have the adequate resources. This type of person typically is more dependent
on others. On the other hand, someone higher up on the social pyramid is considered to be more
self-sufficient and able to accomplish tasks more easily. Usually, people similar in social class
tend to be more engaging with each other. For instance, an upper class citizen may have an
increased tendency to be around people who make either a significant or larger amount of
income. There have been cases where a wealthy person has chosen not to put their social class
aside and to engage with someone lower on the pyramid. I feel that this may be due to a
superiority complex that people may have, where they think they are better than someone else.

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There is a huge growing economic disparity in the United States today. Moreover, this disparity
translate into the poor being neglected in many aspects. Education is a major aspect, where
poverty has a major impact. Children born into poverty may be put at an educational
disadvantage. To add, Educational inequality goes hand in hand with economic inequality.
According to The glaring gap in the English education system is social class Even
extraordinary schools cannot close gaps on their own. Whenever there is a squeeze on resources
and capacity, it tends to be poorer areas and people that feel it most. I worry that welfare cuts
will take away from families of pupil-premium children and that we might see gaps growing
again (Rustin). Overall, the sociological component of homelessness is dependent on the classes
of society that we are divided in.
As a student in the Irvin D. Reid Honors College at Wayne State University, I was
required to choose a course and volunteering site, and relate the volunteer work back to the
learning outcomes of the class. The purpose of this requirement is to provide a service and to
apply the knowledge I learned from it. After volunteering at the Detroit Rescue Mission
Ministries, I have a whole new insight on homelessness in the sociological aspect. Aside from
poverty and social class, I also observed that there is a great divide between male and female.
Often, there were times where males sat secluded from the women and opted not to engage in
conversation with women. This draws to the popular issue of gender segregation in society. I feel
that this divide is due to the comfortability aspect of it. Some women feel threatened by males
and associate with only themselves, since they feel a sense of inferiority. In addition, there were
gender differences in terms of behavior that occurred during my time volunteering at the site. As
I served the food to the homeless, I noticed that the males accepted their plates and ate
comfortably. On the other hand, the women accepted their plates more graciously and were

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overly protective of their plates while eating. I believe this is because women are easily
intimidated by men. Even in todays society, women are treated poorly and are not given the
same rights as men. For example, in the workplace, there is a large disparity in pay between men
and women. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women only earn 78 cents of a mans
dollar (OBrien). To me this is astonishing, because as much as our society has evolved, women
are still discriminated against. Even after all the efforts of womens rights activists, we are so far
behind men on the pecking order. My service at the DRMM benefited me in getting a better
understanding of gender differences, as I witnessed it first hand on the site.
Overall, I gained valuable information towards my understanding on the different aspects
of sociology. Aside from reading about poverty, social class, and gender differences, I was able
to observe these issues in a real-life setting. This course and my service at the Detroit Rescue
Mission Ministries during this semester changed my view and helped opened my eyes to the way
society really is. I believe this first-hand experience better shaped my understanding of, not only
those specific topics, but my sociology course overall.

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Works Cited
About Us Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries." Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries. 2016. Web.
10 Dec. 2016.
"Continuum of Care 101." HUD Exchange. US Department of Housing & Urban
Development, June 2009. Web. 10 Dec. 2016.
O' Brien, Sara Ashley. "78 Cents on the Dollar: The Facts about the Gender Wage Gap." CNN. A
Time Warner Company, 14 Apr. 2015. Web. 16 Dec. 2016.
Rustin, Susanna. "The Glaring Gap in the English Education System is Social Class." The
Guardian. N.p., 13 Oct. 2014. Web. 16 Dec. 2016.
Viveiros, Janet, Nabihah Maqbool, and Mindy Ault. "The Impacts of Affordable Housing on
Health: A Research Summary." 5-7. National Housing Conference. National Housing
Conference, Apr. 2015. Web. 22 Mar. 2016. Web. 16 Dec. 2016.
Wolpert, Stuart. "Science + Technology." UCLA Newsroom. UCLA, 09 July 2008. Web. 16
Dec. 2016.