CHING ZHI HANG

FONG JIE LEI

LOW YING YIN
PISMP SEM 2 PJK/SJK(C)
Homeless People
Mdm.Low

: A very good morning to the examiner, Mdm.Norhana, the panelist and all the
audience. It was great day to discuss and debate about the current issue.
Nowadays, we can heard and seen appreciable words of compassion and
respect for the homeless. Weve also heard and seen words that exude harsh
judgment, oversimplification and overgeneralization; for example, some have
said homeless people contribute nothing, or theyre all lazy and unmotivated.
So, today, I had invited penalist that can share some informations about the
Homeless People. Theres Professor Fong Jie Lei from Taylors College who
had just did a research on Homeless People. Next, Doctor Ching Zhi Hang
who is a psychologist from Hospital Tunku Abdul Rahman to lead us to a
better and healthy lifestyle. I would like to hear some ideas from Professor
Fong, may I?

Prof.Fong

: Yes. Oversimplification and overgeneralization offer nothing of value to a

conversation that will go nowhere if its not constructive. People without homes
have widely different stories; its unfair to make blanket statements about
homeless people or relegate them to stigmatizing stereotypes and labels
weighted down with negative connotations. In the same vein, embracing but a
single definition of homelessness also presents problems. Definitions can limit
our thinking, if we let them. Perhaps the most disturbing phenomenon that has
emerged is the us versus them mentality, tinged with self-righteousness,
heard in public comments as well as appearing in articles and opinion pieces
in local media. Dichotomizing our community does not contribute to workable
solutions. Its counterproductive to say, We need to take our home backto
whom does that our refer?

Dr. Ching

: Solutions for the present problems must arise from a spirit of compassion
and a belief in redemption. Who are we if we have no caring for the less
fortunate? Not much. For this forum, we must set a high standard of behavior
thats based on our humanity. We need to use reasonable language, raise the
level of the dialogue, and embrace an intelligent and responsible narrative. We
need to check our fears and our egos at the door, and promote remedies that
reflect fundamental human decency. In my opinion, we should have
understood why one becomes homelessness.

CHING ZHI HANG

FONG JIE LEI
LOW YING YIN
PISMP SEM 2 PJK/SJK(C)
Mdm.Low

: Yes, youre right. May I have your opinion, Dr.Ching?

Dr.Ching

: Of course. In my opinion, a number of different personal and social factors

can contribute towards people becoming homeless. These may include
individual factors which involve drug and alcohol misuse, lack of qualifications,
lack of social support, debts, especially mortgage or rent arrears, poor
physical and mental health, relationship breakdown, and getting involved in
crime at an early age. These factors would probably caused one to being
homeless. Besides, family background including family breakdown and
disputes, sexual and physical abuse in childhood or adolescence, having
parents with drug or alcohol problems, and previous experience of family
homelessness will be the factors too.

Mdm.Low

: I agree with your opinions, Doctor Ching. Those would be probably the
reason of one to becoming homeless. Undeniablely, parents, friends or
relatives that are unwilling or unable to continue to accommodate them will be
the main reasons. This is said to be so since everyone needs support from the
close one. When one being isolated, one will probably being pessimistic and
thus decide to leave everyone and become homeless rather than facing the
people that would always hurt them and ignore them. On the other hand,
relationship breakdown, including domestic violence will cause one to being
homelessness when they choose to escape from the bad situation of reality.

Prof. Fong

: I think there are also some structural causes of homelessness that are social
and economic in nature, and these are often outside the control of the
individual or family concerned. These may include unemployment, poverty, a
lack of affordable housing, housing policies, the structure and administration of
housing benefit, wider policy developments, such as the closure of long-stay
psychiatric hospitals. These problems require long-term policy solutions such
as changes in the housing benefit system, the building of more affordable
homes, and ensuring that a wider cross-section of society benefits from the
fruits of economic growth.

Dr. Ching

: For me, tackling these problems is a complex business and normally requires
support from public bodies, friends and family, combined with a lot of hard
work from the individual or family in trouble. Public support might include

CHING ZHI HANG

FONG JIE LEI
LOW YING YIN
PISMP SEM 2 PJK/SJK(C)
intervention,

advice,

counselling,

training

or

provision

of

alternative

accommodation by a local authority where appropriate.

Mdm.Low

: Thats great ideas. Professor Fong, do you have any further information on
how to settle this issue?

Prof. Fong

: Despite knowing about the different reasons for homeless people, I think we
could show them concern so that they wont feel as if theyre taken lightly by a
community. In fact, most of them are starving for attention. So, we could help
dispel the stereotypes about the homeless and understand the problems that
they are facing by noticing them, talking to them. In addiction, we are
suggested to give them the same courtesy and respect that we would accord
our family and friends. Treat them as we would wish to be treated if we need
assistance. This action would make quite a difference in their lives when we
respond to them, rather than ignore or dismiss them.

Mdm.Low

: I strongly agree with your opinion. Instead of showing concern, I think we can
also give them the aids on their needs. For instance, we can donate money to
non-profit organizations which is the most direct way to aid the homeless
people to help them go a long way. Besides, we should always keep an eye
out for some clothes that we no longer wearing. If these items are still in good
shape, we can gather them and donate them to organization that provide
housing for the homeless people. For those homeless children who live in
family shelters, we can distribute them by donating toys, books and games.

Dr.Ching

: I would like to share my idea on helping homeless people. They are most
probably jobless and try to find a permanent and well-paid job. I suggested so
that they would be given the chance to make a living on their own.
Furthermore, governmental aid is available for homeless people nowadays,
but many may not know how to apply it. We can just help by directing the
homeless people to help them to apply for the available aid for them.

Mdm.Low

: Yes, I agree. Well, I think this discussion had provided us further knowledge
on the homelessness. Thanks a lot, Professor Fong and Doctor Ching for
evacuate your time to talk about this issue.

Prof.Fong & Dr.Ching : Youre welcome.