AD ALTA
JOURNAL OF INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH
4 Results
Figure 1 : Do you consider homelessness to be a significant and
current social problem?
Regarding their perception of homelessness, 120 respondents
considered it to be an extremely current and visible social
problem. On the other hand, 26 respondents did not perceive
homelessness as a major social phenomenon, while 12
respondents were either unable to comment on the issue or did
not have an opinion.
Figure 2: Do you believe that society is paying sufficient
attention to the issue of homelessness?
It can be concluded from an analysis of the responses that an
overwhelming number of respondents (114) feel that society
does not pay sufficient attention to homelessness. On the other
hand, only 24 respondents were of the opinion that today’s
society is giving the issue proper and sufficient attention, while
20 respondents were unable to express any opinion about the
issue or take a position.
Figure 3: What is your personal opinion of homeless people?
We encountered very interesting opinions when examining
subjective views by respondents about the homeless. The most
common response seen was a neutral attitude regarding these
people (80 respondents), followed by feelings of pity (38
respondents). Negative opinions towards the homeless and
homelessness were expressed by a total of 26 respondents, while
14 respondents had nothing to say about the issue.
Figure 4: Do you believe that the homeless are themselves
responsible for homelessness?
In examining responsibility for homelessness, 52 respondents
were convinced that individual responsibility could be found for
the rise of homelessness, while only 20 respondents believed that
other factors were in the forefront. Something quite interesting
was the option of “other answer”, which 86 respondents entered
and is consistent with the inability seen to generalize all
homeless people and the cause for the rise in homelessness,
while it demonstrates, on the other hand, the necessity of taking
an individual approach toward each person when investigating
homelessness.
Table 1: What do you think is the most common cause of the rise
in homelessness?
No willingness or interest
in working
13.58%
Breakdown in family
or partner relationships
19.20%
Loss of shelter
18.74%
Departure of minors
from children’s homes
6.09%
Incapacity to integrate
into society after being released from custodial
sentences
10.30%
Mental issues
21.08%
Voluntary decision
6.09%
Cannot judge
3.04%
Other answer
1.87%
Figure 5: How would you respond if a homeless person asked
you for help?
In this respect, a heterogeneity in opinion can be seen. While
more than half of the respondents (80 persons) declared their
concern and willingness to provide assistance when asked by a
homeless person, 36 respondents would ignore and refuse to
respond to such a call for help. A very interesting finding was
the large number of respondents (42) failing to state an opinion;
whether it was a positive or a negative attitude on their part
toward the issue.
Figure 6: Have you ever in some way helped someone who was
homeless?
Following up on the previous question, we were still iconcerned
about whether respondents sometimes provided assistance in
some way to homeless people. To this question, the highest
number, 108 respondents, said that they had provided some kind
of assistance, while the exact opposite answer was given by 30
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