The question, often is asked or wondered: Does the colour of one’s skin or religion, or background affect one’s ability to do a job well or give an indication of one’s level of intelligence or motivation? No, of course it doesn’t. So why are ethnic minority people statistically more likely to be unemployed than their counterparts in general category? Do the above factors really influence one’s employability prospects and, if that really is the case, how can one redress the balance?
It’s a long time that it is made in some countries illegal to treat a person less favourably than others on ethnic grounds. Yet there are still significant discrepancies for ethnic groups in the society and in the workplace. According to some research, ethnic minority workers receive less pay than their other counterparts, and are more likely to be unemployed.
In essence, people should not be discriminated in the fields of employment, education, training, housing and the provision of goods, facilities and services.
However, proving one has been discriminated against can be problematic. Discrimination is not the same as prejudice; one need to demonstrate that one was treated less favourably as a result of the other party’s actions.
There are four main types of ethnic discrimination: direct; indirect; victimisation; and harassment. Cases involving ethnic discrimination within employment are heard in employment tribunals . Other ethnic discrimination cases are heard in civil courts.
One of the key elements of any job search is to find an employer that one feels comfortable working for. For many graduates, the knowledge that their employer shares the same ethos and values can be a crucial deciding factor when it comes to accepting a position.
Continuous support in the workplace is as important as the initial advertising and recruitment policy. If a company has an ongoing diversity programme or scheme, it demonstrates a committed approach to embracing a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic workforce.
However, the principles of self-marketing remain the same regardless of one’s ethnic background; one has to demonstrate one’s range of skills and qualifications to their maximum potential. Having said that, some ethnic minority applicants may find themselves concerned about how to market their skills and, moreover, how to ensure that these skills are viewed without discrimination.
One may, for example, be reluctant to disclose information that may be an indicator of one’s ethnicity, Disclosure is a personal choice.
Two trends are largely responsible for the rise in homelessness over the past 20-25 years: a growing shortage of affordable rental housing and a simultaneous increase in poverty. Homelessness and poverty are inextricably linked. Poor people are frequently unable to pay for housing, food, childcare, health care, and education. Difficult choices must be made when limited resources cover only some of these necessities. Often it is housing, which absorbs a high proportion of income that must be dropped. Two factors help account for increasing poverty: eroding employment opportunities for large segments of the workforce, and the declining value and availability of public assistance.
Media reports of a growing economy and low unemployment mask a number of important reasons why homelessness persists, and, in some areas it is worsening. These reasons include stagnant or falling incomes and less secure jobs which offer fewer benefits. While the last few years have seen growth in real wages at all levels, these increases have not been enough to counteract a long pattern of stagnant and declining wages. Low-wage workers have been particularly hard hit by wage trends and have been left behind as the disparity between rich and poor has mushroomed.
The declining value and availability of public assistance is another source of increasing poverty and homelessness. Contrary to popular opinion, welfare does not provide relief from poverty. However, declining welfare rolls simply mean that fewer people are receiving benefits -- not that they are employed or doing better financially. Early findings suggest that although more families are moving from welfare to work, many of them are faring poorly due to low wages and inadequate work supports. Only a small fraction of welfare recipients' new jobs pay above-poverty wages.
A lack of affordable housing and the limited scale of housing assistance programs have contributed to the current housing crisis and to homelessness.
The gap between the number of affordable housing units and the number of people needing them has created a housing crisis for poor people. The problem of migratory work force is totally different in regard to housing. More recently, the strong economy has caused rents to soar, putting housing out of reach for the poorest .
The loss of affordable housing puts even greater numbers of people at risk of homelessness. The lack of affordable housing has lead to high rent burdens (rents which absorb a high proportion of income), overcrowding, and substandard housing. These phenomena, in turn, have not only forced many people to become homeless; they have put a large and growing number of people at risk of becoming homeless.
Housing assistance can make the difference between stable housing, precarious housing, or no housing at all. However, the demand for assisted housing clearly exceeds the supply.
The limited level of housing assistance means that most poor families and individuals seeking housing assistance are placed on long waiting lists.
Housing is a major factor in the growth of homelessness in many cities.
.
Particularly within the context of poverty and the lack of affordable housing, certain additional factors may push people into homelessness. Other major factors, which can contribute to homelessness, include the following:
Lack of Affordable Health Care: For families and individuals struggling to pay the rent, a serious illness or disability can start a downward spiral into homelessness, beginning with a lost job, depletion of savings to pay for care, and eventual eviction.
Domestic Violence: Battered women who live in poverty are often forced to choose between abusive relationships and homelessness.
Mental Illness: A large number of single adult homeless population suffers from some form of severe and persistent mental illness .
Addiction Disorders: The relationship between addiction and homelessness is complex and controversial. While rates of alcohol and drug abuse are disproportionately high among the homeless population, the increase in homelessness over the past two decades cannot be explained by addiction alone. Many people who are addicted to alcohol and drugs never become homeless, but people who are poor and addicted are clearly at increased risk of homelessness.
Addiction and/or mental illness, is a major factor in increased homelessness in many communities. Addiction does increase the risk of displacement for the precariously housed; in the absence of appropriate treatment, it may doom one's chances of getting housing once on the streets. Homeless people often face insurmountable barriers to obtaining health care, including addictive disorder treatment services and recovery supports.
Homelessness results from a complex set of circumstances that require people to choose between food, shelter, and other basic needs. Only a concerted effort to ensure jobs that pay a living wage, adequate support for those who cannot work, affordable housing, and access to health care will bring an end to homelessness.
While the causes and solutions to homelessness are complex, there is much that an individual or community group can do to help. No matter what one’s skills, interests, age, or resources, there are ways one can make a difference for some of the men, women, and children who are homeless. Volunteer work, advocacy efforts, financial or material contributions, and continued self-education are all important and needed as we work our way to a solution.
While the concern and support demonstrated by volunteer work and advocacy are essential, material assistance is also a necessity. Escaping and ending homelessness is a long process. In the meantime, people experiencing homelessness and the programs that serve them need help every day --- both emotional and material.
It’s a long time that it is made in some countries illegal to treat a person less favourably than others on ethnic grounds. Yet there are still significant discrepancies for ethnic groups in the society and in the workplace. According to some research, ethnic minority workers receive less pay than their other counterparts, and are more likely to be unemployed.
In essence, people should not be discriminated in the fields of employment, education, training, housing and the provision of goods, facilities and services.
However, proving one has been discriminated against can be problematic. Discrimination is not the same as prejudice; one need to demonstrate that one was treated less favourably as a result of the other party’s actions.
There are four main types of ethnic discrimination: direct; indirect; victimisation; and harassment. Cases involving ethnic discrimination within employment are heard in employment tribunals . Other ethnic discrimination cases are heard in civil courts.
One of the key elements of any job search is to find an employer that one feels comfortable working for. For many graduates, the knowledge that their employer shares the same ethos and values can be a crucial deciding factor when it comes to accepting a position.
Continuous support in the workplace is as important as the initial advertising and recruitment policy. If a company has an ongoing diversity programme or scheme, it demonstrates a committed approach to embracing a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic workforce.
However, the principles of self-marketing remain the same regardless of one’s ethnic background; one has to demonstrate one’s range of skills and qualifications to their maximum potential. Having said that, some ethnic minority applicants may find themselves concerned about how to market their skills and, moreover, how to ensure that these skills are viewed without discrimination.
One may, for example, be reluctant to disclose information that may be an indicator of one’s ethnicity, Disclosure is a personal choice.
Two trends are largely responsible for the rise in homelessness over the past 20-25 years: a growing shortage of affordable rental housing and a simultaneous increase in poverty. Homelessness and poverty are inextricably linked. Poor people are frequently unable to pay for housing, food, childcare, health care, and education. Difficult choices must be made when limited resources cover only some of these necessities. Often it is housing, which absorbs a high proportion of income that must be dropped. Two factors help account for increasing poverty: eroding employment opportunities for large segments of the workforce, and the declining value and availability of public assistance.
Media reports of a growing economy and low unemployment mask a number of important reasons why homelessness persists, and, in some areas it is worsening. These reasons include stagnant or falling incomes and less secure jobs which offer fewer benefits. While the last few years have seen growth in real wages at all levels, these increases have not been enough to counteract a long pattern of stagnant and declining wages. Low-wage workers have been particularly hard hit by wage trends and have been left behind as the disparity between rich and poor has mushroomed.
The declining value and availability of public assistance is another source of increasing poverty and homelessness. Contrary to popular opinion, welfare does not provide relief from poverty. However, declining welfare rolls simply mean that fewer people are receiving benefits -- not that they are employed or doing better financially. Early findings suggest that although more families are moving from welfare to work, many of them are faring poorly due to low wages and inadequate work supports. Only a small fraction of welfare recipients' new jobs pay above-poverty wages.
A lack of affordable housing and the limited scale of housing assistance programs have contributed to the current housing crisis and to homelessness.
The gap between the number of affordable housing units and the number of people needing them has created a housing crisis for poor people. The problem of migratory work force is totally different in regard to housing. More recently, the strong economy has caused rents to soar, putting housing out of reach for the poorest .
The loss of affordable housing puts even greater numbers of people at risk of homelessness. The lack of affordable housing has lead to high rent burdens (rents which absorb a high proportion of income), overcrowding, and substandard housing. These phenomena, in turn, have not only forced many people to become homeless; they have put a large and growing number of people at risk of becoming homeless.
Housing assistance can make the difference between stable housing, precarious housing, or no housing at all. However, the demand for assisted housing clearly exceeds the supply.
The limited level of housing assistance means that most poor families and individuals seeking housing assistance are placed on long waiting lists.
Housing is a major factor in the growth of homelessness in many cities.
.
Particularly within the context of poverty and the lack of affordable housing, certain additional factors may push people into homelessness. Other major factors, which can contribute to homelessness, include the following:
Lack of Affordable Health Care: For families and individuals struggling to pay the rent, a serious illness or disability can start a downward spiral into homelessness, beginning with a lost job, depletion of savings to pay for care, and eventual eviction.
Domestic Violence: Battered women who live in poverty are often forced to choose between abusive relationships and homelessness.
Mental Illness: A large number of single adult homeless population suffers from some form of severe and persistent mental illness .
Addiction Disorders: The relationship between addiction and homelessness is complex and controversial. While rates of alcohol and drug abuse are disproportionately high among the homeless population, the increase in homelessness over the past two decades cannot be explained by addiction alone. Many people who are addicted to alcohol and drugs never become homeless, but people who are poor and addicted are clearly at increased risk of homelessness.
Addiction and/or mental illness, is a major factor in increased homelessness in many communities. Addiction does increase the risk of displacement for the precariously housed; in the absence of appropriate treatment, it may doom one's chances of getting housing once on the streets. Homeless people often face insurmountable barriers to obtaining health care, including addictive disorder treatment services and recovery supports.
Homelessness results from a complex set of circumstances that require people to choose between food, shelter, and other basic needs. Only a concerted effort to ensure jobs that pay a living wage, adequate support for those who cannot work, affordable housing, and access to health care will bring an end to homelessness.
While the causes and solutions to homelessness are complex, there is much that an individual or community group can do to help. No matter what one’s skills, interests, age, or resources, there are ways one can make a difference for some of the men, women, and children who are homeless. Volunteer work, advocacy efforts, financial or material contributions, and continued self-education are all important and needed as we work our way to a solution.
While the concern and support demonstrated by volunteer work and advocacy are essential, material assistance is also a necessity. Escaping and ending homelessness is a long process. In the meantime, people experiencing homelessness and the programs that serve them need help every day --- both emotional and material.
Comments