- Benjamin Muller
Being part of a community is important to everyone. Community gives a sense of belonging and wellbeing. Zygmunt Bauman, describes community as a “warm place…like a roof under which we shelter in heavy rain” (2001, p.1). There are many people who are in unfortunate situations due to reasons that are out of their control. A significant amount, find themselves in situations that lead them away from their sense of community, away from family and friends and onto the street with no home and no belongings. Issues such as abuse, family conflict, sexual preference, mental health and lack of support lead to the major crisis of homelessness. It is estimated that approximately 70 people per 10,000 are homeless in QLD (ABS, 2004). There are a number of organizations in Brisbane that provide aid for people in need; however their efforts are not enough. There are still many people living on the streets who have not had the opportunity to receive guidance or counseling. Many of these support organizations are run by volunteers and are connected to a church and have a religious or spiritual background and values. These groups are not only providing crisis intervention in the form of food, clothing, support and referral to suitable professional agencies, but also by providing spiritual and religious support, giving comfort to those who have lost their place in the community.
The reason I believe homelessness is a social-religious-spiritual issue, is because homelessness is affecting the wellbeing of a significant part of our population. In John Bruhn’s book on the sociology of community connections, he describes religion as a source of social capital, bringing people together as a community and creating interest in each others welfare (2005). St. Thomas Aquinas stated that a proper relationship with God requires “commitment to the common good of our neighbours and of all creation” (Hollenbach, 1999, p.169). 70 homeless people per 10,000 may not be a statistically significant number, but in a religious and spiritual context it should be. The Mayor of Brisbane, Campbell Newman, referred to the homeless population of Brisbane as, “people who are actually causing fear and anxiety…acting in a way that does not meet normal community standards” (2005). Homeless people are stigmatized as being dangerous, unclean and unwanted, when they are helpless, lonely and in desperate need of assistance. These stigmas result in an individual losing their place in a community. They lose the benefits of friendship and family and are faced with other problems such as decreased personal safety and hygiene, increased risk of violence and no access to social security payments due to their lack of a fixed address (Salom, 2006).
During my own experience, working for DRUG-ARM QLD as a street outreach service volunteer, I have become aware of the sort of people that are homeless. Many are highly intelligent, kind and generous; however, they are also in dire need of assistance. Many are also mentally and physically ill and require urgent medical attention. The first thing I noticed was the lacking sense of community. It came as a shock to me, when I found that many homeless people have absolutely no interaction or contact with anyone except for the volunteer workers who speak with them on a weekly basis. Community is positively related to a subjective sense of well-being. The lack of community, suggests that homelessness is not only an issue of living rough and dangerously, but that homelessness also creates deeper problems relating to spirituality (Davidson & Colter, 1989). Numerous studies conducted by Karren, Hafen, Frandsen and Smith (2006), shine light upon the relationship between the mind and the body. A human being requires social interaction and support to remain mentally healthy. Quite often while working for DRUG-ARM, a client will be visibly, emotionally moved, just by the reality that somebody is taking the time to listen to them speak about their day to day struggles. Similarly, their gratitude is obvious when a volunteer is happy to sit with them and support them when they feel the need to pray to their God. It is during moments like these, whether it is related to religion or not, where one feels the spirituality of communication and interaction.
Support organizations are not aiming to eliminate homelessness completely, as that isn’t a realistic goal. A homeless person needs social connections to “escape” from permanent homelessness (Bruhn, 2005). Martha Burt, describes homelessness as a “revolving-door” crisis, where some people just pass through, some people make multiple entries and exits and others never leave without the help of someone else (1992). This is the aim of support organizations; primarily to build rapport, identify needs and to provide information on where to seek out further support. These are the characteristics of a community. Therefore, support organizations and volunteers act as a temporary community for the homeless, by providing them with the support a community should provide, and to help them escape from their situation to rejoin the community they were once a part of.
The importance of community is made clear by numerous studies, books and articles. It is an aspect of life that is taken for granted, but upon deeper thought and closer observation one may realize how necessary it is. Without being part of a community, spirituality and religion can become meaningless. Without the essential connection to friends, family and the larger community, the wellbeing of an individual becomes negatively affected. Homelessness is the loss of connection with a community, and with this loss, comes the dangers of living on the street as well as the danger of losing ones sense of place, sense of meaning and overall solidarity, as well as risking damage to ones spirituality and wellbeing. Homelessness across the world is a major crisis, however right here in Brisbane, homelessness is also a serious issue. It is up to the stable members of society to understand the importance of being a part of a community and to offer a helping hand to those who are struggling to stay connected with the social interaction that promotes happiness and welfare.
Bauman, Z. (2001). Community. Seeking Safety in an Insecure World. Oxford: Polity Press
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2004). Counting the Homeless. Australian Census Analytic Program.
Bruhn, J. (2005). The Sociology of Community Connection. New York: Plenum Publishers.
Hollenbach, D. (1999). “Civil Rights and the Common Good: Some Possible Contributions of Religious Communities” In G. Orfield & H.J Lebowitz (Eds.) Religion, Race and Justice in a Changing America (pp. 169-174) New York: Century Foundation Press
Newman, C. (2005) BCC Urges Move-on Powers for Public ‘hot spots’. Retrieved March 22, 2009, from http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2005/11/24/1516368.htm
Salom, C. (2006) Communications & Values. DRUG-ARM SOS training workbook pp.5-8
Davidson, B., & Colter, R. (1989). Sense of Community and Political Participation. Journal of Community Psychology, 17, pp.119-125.
Karren, K., Hafen, B., Frandsen, K., & Smith, L. (2006). Mind/Body Health: The Effects of Attitude, Emotioms and Relationships. San Fransico: Pearson/Benjamin Cummings
Burt, M. (1992) Over the edge: The growth of homelessness in the 1980s. New York: Russell Sage Foundation.
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