How We Can Leverage Social Networks, Tech to Help Homeless Young
How We Can Leverage Social Networks, Tech to Help Homeless Young
This article explains how social relationships apply to the homeless. Rather than homelessness being solely an economic problem, Barman-Adhikari believes it is also a social problem, or a “poverty of relationships.” Therefore, aside from offering homeless people housing, food, and economic leverage, this researcher studies how relationship building can help young people facing homelessness. “Homelessness is often characterized by social isolation, detachment from mainstream society and the absence of a supportive social network.” Therefore, offering young homeless people technology, for example, may help them connect to society in order to gain access to healthy relationships, important safety information, and jobs.
This article relates to Network Exchange Theory discussed in class which is used to identify sources of social power. In a network of people, individual power relies on positioning in a network and the power of others nearby. In the case of the homeless, Barman-Adhikari explains that during an interview when she asked homeless people to list five people they regularly communicate with, some were unable to list any names. In a situation where homeless people are completely isolated from society and have no relationships with others, it is nearly impossible for them to leverage social power. In a single-node network representing a homeless person, that singular node would have no social power and no outside options. Ultimately, this causes homeless people to be in an extremely vulnerable economic and social position where it is difficult to achieve upward mobility.