What is leading the mentaill to homeless? (Research Proposal Sample)

WHAT IS LEADING THE MENTALLY ILL TO HOMELESS?
ABSRACT
This study will aim at addressing the issues of homelessness in relation to mental health. The research will be based in the United States of America, from the staff of Heathway’s Centre for Women (HCW), homeless people and employees from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The main objectives of the study will be to determine the reasons behind the increasing number of mentally ill people in the streets. It will be hoped that this study would be of great significance to various parties. The study undertook a review of various relevant studies done in the area of homelessness amongst single mothers, mentally ill adults and youths. These were presented in the form of a literature review, which will be indicative of the various books and journals that were used to enrich the knowledge base during the research. Literature review showed the gaps and the existing knowledge regarding the topic. It enabled the researcher to demonstrate and familiarize with the area of study, and showed continuity of the previous work that will be covered in the researcher’s area of study. A critical review will be presented in line with pointing out the evident points of errors of omission or commission in the earlier studies. Conclusions of the studies were also presented, as are the gaps to be filled by the study. To indicate the relationship that exists between the various variables, a conceptual framework will be formulated.  A survey research design will be employed in the study. This will enable the research to obtain a descriptive over view of the study. In this case the 50% of the respondents will be considered for the study. The data collected will be analyzed using quantitative techniques. The researcher will edit, code, classify and sort the data upon collection.  However, since qualitative data will be also generated, it will be analyzed by use of themes and categories.  Graphs, tables and pie charts were used to present frequencies and percentages.  These will  enable the researcher to arrange the data in a logical sequence for easy interpretation and comparison of different classes of data and also compare and interpret data findings appropriately.
   INTRODUCTION
 Mental illness or psychological disorder is a state of mental or behavioral anomaly that causes an inability to carry out an ordinary life. The causes of mental illness are valid and include; excessive substance abuse, stigma and discrimination.  Homelessness   describes the condition of people without a regular dwelling place.
Understanding the reasons behind the increasing number of homeless people, especially the mentally ill is important in giving direction on the salient issues and policies that need to be put in place by the government to solve this menace. According to Substance Abuse and Mental services Administration 20 to25% of the homeless population in United States of America suffers from some form of mental illness.  
Over the last few years the policy makers have neglected the presence of homelessness people in our cities, but with the ever increasing number and pressure to protect human rights by no governmental organization; this matter has sought the attention of many stakeholders.
The main objective of this study is to find the relationship between mental illness and homelessness. Normally mental illness interferes with people’s ability to carry out essential aspects of their life, such as self hygiene and doing basic household chores. Besides, mental illness is attributed to hampering people from forming and maintaining stable relationship. These and other factors cause people to sheer away from mentally ill individuals, thus leaving them homeless.
There is a direct correlation, between mental illness and physical health, especially among the homeless. Due to their impaired judgment these people fail to take precaution and are often victims of physical problems such as respiratory infection, skin diseases and tuberculosis and HIV, furthermore most homeless people in the USA suffer from substance abuse and drug dependence. An integration of mental illness, substance abuse and poor physical health, is for real too much for this people, and better policies need to put in place to solve this mess once and for all. Better mental health facilities, would not only combat mental illness, but homelessness as well.
LITERATURE REVIEW
This chapter presents an overview of existing literature from the theoretical review. It contains information on research carried by other scholars and organizations, as regards homelessness and the mentally ill.
According to Averitt (2003), the population of the homeless people in the united states has grown tremendously over the last 20 years, with mentally ill single mothers representing a higher proportionate of this increasing figures. In another study Averitt (2003), argues that homelessness affects this people greatly, in that they are exposed to violence and other stressful events like physical assault and exploitation.
The physical and mental health of homeless people was found to be worse compared to that of low income individuals with housing. (Bassuk et al. 1998).Homeless mentally ill mothers, do not give proper care to their children, and a recent survey shows they face their children being taken away from them for better care. (Averitt 2003)
These children are negatively affected. They are at high risk of developing emotional and behavioral problems, as well as problems with their physical health and educational achievement. (Buckner, Bassuk and Weinreb 1999; Masten 1992).this risks are higher for the homeless child whose mother has a mental illness.
Burg (1994) notes that the cycle of homelessness and repeated psychiatric hospitalization that most homeless people face may be tackled by an integration approach in which basic needs, independent living skills and mental health issues are addressed. Despite that no integrated program so far exists to cater for the need of homeless mentally ill individuals. (Dickey 2000).
  General objective
Broadly, this study seeks to establish the reasons behind the rising number of mentally ill homeless people.
Hypothesis or specific research questions.
What are the factors behind then increasing number of homeless people?
How does personal care contribute to homelessness?
How does inability to maintain relationship contribute to homelessness?
How do frustrations and stress contribute to homelessness?
How does poor household management contribute to homelessness
Conceptual model
Figure 1
Inability to maintain stable relationshipPersonal carePoor household managementStress or frustrations by caregivers and family members.Number of mentally ill homeless peopleIndependent variable dependent variable
Figure1
Source (author 2014)
The figure shows how the various independent variables that is , inability to maintain stable relationship, personal care, poor household management and frustrations of caregivers and family members on the number of mentally ill homeless people. There is a direct relationship between the variables implying that an increase in the independent variables leads to an increase in the number of homeless mentally ill people.
Limitations of the Study
In the undertaking of the research project, a lot of limitations are likely to be encountered. Such may comprise of the following:
Time limits- the researcher needs to move up and down to collect information concerning the research. Amid the tight academic schedule time becomes insufficient for travelling from place to place collecting the required data. The respondents too may find time to be a limiting factor considering they too need to accomplish their organization’s goals.
Financial constraints- this particular research exercise required a lot of money and other resources that were apparently lacking and if available then in small quantities. Due to this travelling to all places to gather the required could not be effectively and efficiently be achieved.
Inadequate information: Given the nature of the study which requires getting information from mentally ill people, getting relevant respondents who are conversant with area is quite a challenge. However ones just need to be a little bit more careful and focus on the right and defined target population that is the care givers and employees of the mentioned organizations, to some extent one can get information from mentally ill people, sounds funny!
Access to the target resource persons:-getting access to the managers as well as other personnel who are in position is not only a nightmare but also a hurdle since you have to book for appointment which can be rejected or accepted. This limitation can be overcome by applying public relation skills learnt in the course of undergraduate degree courses such as communication skills as well as assuring the responds that the findings will only be used for academic purposes and will be confidential. 
 RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
This chapter presents a research methodology of the study, shedding light on the Research design, population, sample and sampling procedures, instrumentation, and data collection procedures and data analysis.
     Research Design
 The study will employ survey research design. This design is a present oriented methodology used to investigate population by selecting samples to analyze and discover occurrences(Oso and Onen,2009).It will be used to describe and explain events as they are ,as they were and as they will be by providing some numeric description of some part of the ...