California State University, Sacramento
Division of Social Work
Spring 2011 Semester
SWRK 136 Section 1
Poverty and Homelessness in America
David Nylund, LCSW, PhD
4014 Mariposa Hall
Telephone: (916) 278-4152
Office Hours
Mondays, 1-3 PM
Fridays, Noon-1 PM
Email: dknylund@csus.edu
Syllabus for Social Work 136: Poverty and Homelessness in America
Course Description
This course is designed to analyze social theory and its relationship to the generation and
retention of institutional poverty. Within this context, public and private welfare programs
serving low –income populations will be examined.
Poverty and Homelessness are issues that are viewed in different ways by those who are
impacted. The way an individual measures their quality of life directly impacts their view of
Poverty. Homelessness can be seen as a sense of identity for many persons who are homeless.
Government views Homelessness and Poverty in different ways as well. In this course we will
be examining the impact that each viewpoint has on one another.
In addition, this course is designed to examine the societal views about homelessness and
poverty. Throughout the semester we will be looking at the viewpoints of society on poverty and
homelessness as well as the worldview of poverty and homelessness.
Course Objectives
As a result of participation in this class, the students will be able to master the following
concepts:
1. To understand the current issues of Poverty and Homelessness locally, in the United
States and in the World
2. Identify the challenges that exist with developing policy for impoverished and
homeless populations
3. To understand the impact of institutional poverty and homelessness on people of
color, women and children
4. Identify the viewpoint of Poverty and Homelessness popular in the media today.
5. To propose new policy in regards to Poverty and Homelessness that will impact local,
state, federal and global populations
6. Identify issues that have arisen in the last decade that had not been identified in the
past.
7. To become sensitive to the issues that surround individuals impacted by Poverty and
Homelessness.
8. To be able to apply the concepts that effect people impacted by Poverty and
Homelessness into Social Work Practice.
Course Outcomes
At the completion of this course students will be proficient in the following:
1. Students will have a clear understanding about how Poverty impacts their lives and
the lives of the people that they work with
2. Students will have a clear understanding about Quality of Life and what this concepts
means in the context of Poverty and Homelessness
3. Students will have a clear understanding about Homelessness and the impact and
issues that arise for individuals that are Homeless.
4. Students will be able to identify the issues that agencies that work with Homelessness
have in working with the homeless population.
5. Students will begin to understand the role of Government in the issues of Poverty and
Homelessness.
6. Students will be able to identify strengths and weaknesses in the Welfare system and
be able to give a historical perspective of the Welfare system in the United States.
7. Students will be able to propose solutions to the problem of Poverty and
Homelessness and be able to offer innovative thoughts on how to end the cycle of
Poverty and Homelessness.
8. Students will have a better understanding of the ethical and moral issues that exist for
people who are impacted by Poverty and Homelessness.
9. Students will be able to understand Poverty and Homelessness as it relates to direct
Social Work Practice.
Required Readings
Duneier, M. (1999). Sidewalk. New York, New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux
Hopper, K. (2003). Reckoning with Homelessness: Ithica, NY: Cornell University Press.
Lister, Ruth. (2004). Poverty: Key Concepts: Malden, MA: Polity Press.
.
D2 Outcomes
1. To explain and analyze issues related to class, gender, immigration, and poverty
confronting U.S. society.
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2. To demonstrate the contributions to human society of women, ethnic and socio-economic
persons
3. To demonstrate diversity in human societies
Means & Methods of Evaluating Work Outcomes of Area D2
To identify social issues of class, gender, immigration and poverty related to the history of social
welfare in America
Course Requirements
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Participation (10 pts): It is required that students come to class prepared to engage in
discussions about the topic of Poverty and Homelessness. Attendance in class is required
and is a requirement that will be graded. Students are required to hand in a 1 page writeup/response of the assigned readings due that week. In the response paper, share what
you liked, disliked about the book and what question would you ask to stimulate class
discussion.
Paper #1. Poverty and Measure of Quality of Life (20 pts) (Due Feb 27): Based on
the readings and class assignments, write a 3-5 page paper based on your experience with
poverty. Include your thoughts on what you consider to be poverty, how poverty has
impacted your choices in life, and which public policy you feel impact the issue of
poverty the most. Students should place specific emphasis on the concept of “Quality of
Life” and what this means to them. Students should be sure to include the people that
have been influential in their lives in the “struggle” to stay out of poverty as they see it.
Meets D2 1 and 3 requirements
Paper #2. Visit to the Department of Human Assistance (DHA) (20 pts) (Due March
20): Plan a trip to the Department of Human Assistance field office (1725 28th Street,
Sacramento, CA 95816, 916-874-2256) . Other locations can be found at following link:
http://sacpros.org/SCDHS.aspx. Write a 1-2 page paper about your experience including
the predominant make up of the population (gender, race, age etc.) and the demeanor of
the population at the office. Students should also focus in on their own biases that come
out as a result of being at the DHA. Meets D2 1 and 3 requirements.
Paper #3. Visit to a Social Service Agency that serves the Homeless (20 pts) (Due
April 17): Plan a trip to a Social Service Agency of your choice that directly serves the
homeless population. Your assignment is to write a 1-2 page paper on the following: 1)
Find out in what capacity the homeless population is served at the particular agency. 2)
Find out how long the agency has been serving the homeless population. 3) How many
homeless persons is the agency able to serve. 4) Find out what the agency has identified
as a primary need in order to serve the homeless population in an effective way.
Paper #4. Final Paper: The Solution (20 pts) (Due May 15): Research and prepare to
write a 8-10 page paper on “The Solution to the chronic problem of Poverty and
Homelessness.” Students should come up with their own solution to the problem of
Homelessness and Poverty. Once the student has created a solution the paper should be
drafted to the “Audience of their choice” with the following opening statement: It has
come to my attention that Poverty and Homelessness has become a great concern in
our society. As a individual who is greatly concerned about the future of Poverty
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and Homelessness please accept the following as recommendations to eradicate
Poverty and Homelessness. Students are to draw on their in class experience with
Poverty and Homelessness and/or their own experience with Poverty and Homelessness.
Students are allowed to expand upon policies that already exist and make
recommendations for changes in those policies. Students showed feel free to be creative
in their solutions to the problem of Poverty and Homelessness. Included in the poverty
solution should be discussion of how the solution will impact, Women, Children and
Ethnic Populations including immigrants. Included in the Homelessness solution should
be discussion about adequate housing options for Single Men, Pregnant women, Women,
Children and at least one special interest group.( i.e. Persons Living with AIDS, Mental
Health patients, parents in the child welfare system) Both sections should keep in mind
the concept of “How to help the poor and homeless become valued in society.” Students
are to cite three outside sources that support their recommendations and reference their
sources in APA format. Meets D2 1, 2, 3 outcomes.
Course Requirements
1. Attendance: It is important that each student attend class from the beginning until the
end of class. If a student has a reason for missing a portion of the class it is expected that
the student inform the instructor prior to missing that portion as far in advance as
possible. Leaving prior to break will constitute a missed class.
2. Lateness: Students should make every attempt to be to class on time. Lessons will
begin at the stated instruction time and will end at the stated instruction time. Students
who arrive late to class are expected to do so with minimal distraction and disruption.
“Chronic Lateness” will result in a verbal warning from the instructor and subsequent
risk of losing “participation” credit. It is expected that students return from all breaks at
the arranged time with the instructor and the rest of the class.
3. Class Room Participation and Preparedness: Participation in class is left up to each
individual student and their own comfort level. Although it is not expected that students
perform above their own comfort level in participation, it is expected that students
contribute to the discussion in some fashion throughout the year. This includes topics
and concepts that they are unclear about and bringing in outside information to the class
to assist in learning. Preparedness in class includes each student having read the
assignment and being prepared to discuss the assignment with the class. Students are
expected to come to class prepared to work the entire class period. Students are
required to hand in a 1 page write-up/response of the assigned readings due that
week. In the response paper, share what you liked, disliked about the book and what
question would you ask to stimulate class discussion.
4. Grading: In this class there are four papers that will assist in assessing your knowledge
of the material that you have read and that we have discussed in class. The main focus of
the papers are as follows: Does the paper assignment answer the question that was
asked, Does the paper include topics and concepts that have been discussed in class,
Does the quality of the paper meet exceptional standards, Does the paper include
ideas that unique and original. Papers that far exceed or exceed these criteria will
receive A or B designation and thus meaning that the student has far exceeded or
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5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
A
C
F
exceeded the expectation of the assignment. Papers that are deficient or severely
deficient in these criteria will
receive a D or F designation meaning that the paper is deficient or severely deficient.
Students receiving a D or F designation will need to set aside time to meet with the
instructor to talk about the deficiencies.
Late Assignments: All assignments are due the day of the class that they are assigned
due on. If a student is aware that an assignment will be late to the instructor, it is
expected that this be communicated to the instructor as far in advance as possible.
Students that inform the instructor about any late assignments may be given a new
assignment date depending on the arrangement made between the instructor and the
student. Assignments are considered to be late if the student and the instructor have
made no prior arrangement and the assignment is not handed in on time. All late
assignments will receive a 5 point
deduction for every day that the assignment is late. The objective is not to lower grades
for assignments so please make every effort to contact prior to the assignment grade
being lowered.
APA Criteria for Written Assignments: All paper assignments should be in APA
format. Papers should be typewritten (double-spaced, 12 point font, with 1 inch margins)
and free of spelling and grammatical errors. Please ask the instructor or consult with the
CSUS Writing Center for further assistance. All citations of materials must follow APA
criteria as well.
Plagiarism and Cheating: Any form of Plagiarism or Cheating will be reported to
administration and will result in an automatic failure for the course.
Students with Learning Needs: Accommodations will be made for any student who
believes that they have a special learning need. The accommodations will be made with
the Office of Services to Students with Disabilities. It is up to each student to notify the
instructor as early as possible in the semester so that adequate accommodations can be
made.
Grading Scale:
100-96
A81-77
C59 Below
96-92
76-72
B
D
87-91
67-71
BD-
82-86
66-60
Grading Policy
Active Participation and Attendance
Paper #1:
Poverty and the Measure of Quality of Life
Paper #2:
Visit to the Department of Human Assistance
Paper #3:
Visit to a Social Service Agency that works with the Homeless
Paper #4-Final Paper:
The Solution
10%
20%
20%
20%
30%
5
Course Calendar of Events and Readings
Class 1
1/30
Introduction and Course overview
Class 2
2/27
Poverty
Readings: Lister
Paper # 1 Due
Class 3.
3/20
Homelessness
Readings: Hopper
Paper #2 Due
Class 4
4/17
Response to Homelessness
Readings: Duneier, Parts One, Two, and Three
Paper # 3 Due
Class 5
5/15
Response to Homelessness
Readings: Duneier, Parts, Four and Five
Paper #4—Final Paper Due
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