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این یک عنوان است

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Goddess Amani

Civil society encompasses a wide range of social institutions that are formed by citizens to achieve their common goals. This society includes organizations that research and study social policies, organizations that raise awareness about social issues, social and humanitarian service organizations, private institutions, associations, and non-profit organizations. Civil society does not include institutions and political parties that seek to seize political power.

Civil society plays a key role in the progress of a society in terms of economic, social, political, and cultural development. The flourishing of a free civil society is one of the prominent indicators of modern democracy. The lack of freedom and independence in creating civil organizations that can independently or in alliance with the private sector and government address social problems, leads to the formation of non-governmental organizations that operate under the political and ideological supervision and approval of the government, and are referred to as “GO NGOs” instead of NGOs. In fact, one of the most prominent aspects of a closed, non-democratic and authoritarian society, where human rights are violated in various areas and layers, is the absence of free and independent non-governmental institutions.

Today, the definition of democracy is no longer limited to elections (even free elections), but rather the “quality of democracy” and its aspects and manifestations shape various definitions of “modern democracy”.

In the 21st century, one of the growing trends is not only in advanced industrialized countries but also in Asian, African, and Latin American countries, the widening gap between poverty and wealth and the growth of poverty in urban society.

Homelessness and the so-called “cardboard sleeping” is one of the reflections of poverty growth in society and the lack of social security for citizens. Naturally, this trend varies in different countries. According to the latest statistics on poverty in European countries, more than one-third of citizens are at risk of poverty in five European countries. Bulgaria with 5.48%, Romania with 4.40%, Greece with 7.35%, and Lithuania with 1.35% are among the countries with the highest number of citizens at risk of poverty. On the other hand, the countries with the lowest number of citizens at risk of poverty are Sweden with 4.16%, Finland with 16%, the Netherlands with 9.15%, and Czech Republic with 6.14%.

While in many Western countries, one-third of income must be spent on housing expenses, in all European Union countries, 40% of income is spent on housing expenses; even in England, which is one of the European economies with higher growth, it has estimated that by 2030, 14 million of its citizens will be living below the poverty line.

Poverty in America is on the rise due to the widening gap between the rich and the poor. According to the statistics from the US Census Bureau in 2014, 14.8% of Americans live below the poverty line. What lies beneath these numbers is the discrimination related to racial issues, which makes the face of poverty even more harsh and alarming. White Americans make up 15.1%, Asian Americans make up 12%, Hispanic Americans make up 23.6%, and African Americans make up 26.2% of the poverty population in America.

Poverty among Native Americans has also been very severe; to the extent that out of 11 residential areas considered to be the poorest in America, 7 are allocated to Native Americans.

According to the rapid growth of poverty, homelessness is also increasing as a manifestation and symbol of poverty in America. According to the annual report of homeless people to the US Congress by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), there are over half a million homeless people in America, of which 40% are families and it is estimated that one-fourth of all homeless people are children under 18 years old. Despite great efforts, there are still 50,000 American soldiers who have returned from war and are among the homeless, spending their nights on the streets or in homeless shelters. This is happening while every year, 4.2 million people use government facilities for housing.

Civil society and government institutions at the national, state, and city levels play a significant role in finding solutions to defend the human rights of homeless individuals, providing assistance and support to them, and working towards strengthening social support systems to prevent citizens from becoming homeless.

In America, there are 5.1 million non-governmental organizations. These institutions and organizations are influential in providing research, statistical analysis, and solutions for social and economic challenges and issues in the community. The wide spectrum of these organizations ranges from environmental improvement to gender inequalities, economic development, healthcare, foreign policy, refugees, immigrants, homelessness, youth, and more. The establishment of these non-governmental institutions, based on the existing democracy in American society, is an independent and legal process that is accessible to all citizens, regardless of their political beliefs, gender, and other diversities of human society. Many of these organizations continue their work with the help of volunteers towards a common goal.

Two national organizations are constantly and diligently working towards the rights and improvement of homeless people, following the government’s shadow and striving towards a more responsive American government.

“The National Coalition for the Homeless is a nationwide network that includes activists, lawyers, charitable religious institutions, and social service organizations, and most importantly, individuals who have experienced homelessness in their lives. The goal of this network is to prevent and end homelessness, and to provide basic needs and support for the civil rights of those who have experienced homelessness. This network, which has been in existence for over 30 years, emphasizes that it is the right of every human being to have shelter and housing, and that the homeless are deprived of this basic human right. The unique feature of this network is that the homeless are actively involved in the development of strategies and policies adopted by the network, and they always have a presence in decision-making processes. “

Furthermore, the National Center for Homelessness and Poverty is one of the legal organizations in America that is dedicated to defending the rights of homeless individuals and those living in poverty, relying on laws and their careful examination. The lawyers at this legal center have made it their mission to advocate for the rights of homeless individuals and those economically marginalized, continuously appearing in city, state, and federal courts and relying on international treaties and resolutions, the constitution, and state and city laws to defend the right to housing as one of the fundamental human rights stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

In 2010, when the Human Rights Council initiated the “Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights in the United States,” the role of civil society organizations, especially these two institutions and network, in providing shadow reports on housing rights violations was remarkable. The US government accepted the recommendations of the Human Rights Council to reduce homelessness, strengthen legal support, create affordable housing in different parts of society, and eliminate gender and racial discrimination in accessing urban facilities. In reports by civil society organizations over the past 6 years, these institutions have criticized the government’s performance for its inaction and are striving to hold federal, state, and local authorities more accountable.

The reasons for homelessness in America include poverty, domestic violence, mental and emotional distress, addiction, and other social issues.

The role of domestic violence in women’s homelessness is evident in all societies. Women and families make up a large portion of the homeless population. In examining homeless families, 90% of them are headed by a single mother. The image of a homeless family in America is a young woman who is the sole provider for her family and responsible for raising children without support or financial resources.

In America, on average, one out of every four women has experienced domestic violence during their lifetime. The relationship between domestic violence and homelessness is a direct one. In America, 8 million work days are lost each year due to domestic violence, and victims of domestic violence incur 1.4 million dollars in medical, emotional, and psychological costs.

It has been estimated that 63% of homeless women have experienced domestic violence in their lifetime. Women who have been in the cycle of violence face not only poverty, but also other challenges such as lack of positive and stable employment history, lack of credit cards, and possible harassment and abuse, even during the period of separation from the person responsible for the violent family relationships. They are unable to take advantage of urban housing facilities and landlords refuse to provide them with housing or rent to them.

According to the statements of the Deputy of Social Affairs of the Welfare Organization, there are between 15 to 17 thousand cardboard beds in Iran (Tadbir website, September 5, 2015). Of this number, one percent are children and 10 to 15 percent are women. However, Shahindokht Malavardi has opposed these statistics and what Reza Jahanegiri, the Deputy of Development and Social Services of the Welfare Organization, has stated that “15 percent of the homeless are women and 80 percent are addicts,” saying that “the volume of homeless women and cardboard beds makes up 30 percent of the total cardboard beds in the country.” Shahindokht Malavardi states that “13 different organizations, including the municipality and the Welfare Organization, are responsible for addressing the situation of homeless women and must take action to solve this problem. The population of these women has now reached 5,000.”

Additionally, Habibollah Masoudi, the deputy of the Welfare Organization, stated in an interview with ISNA that “37% of the addicts in the country are women and 60 to 70% of addicts and homeless people are non-Tehranis.”

The growth of cardboard women, the tragedy of their social exclusion, and the burden of negative cultural norms placed upon them, is one of the most alarming violations of women’s human rights in Iran.

Mainu Mahraz, the head of AIDS Research Center in Iran, states in an interview that “54% of female sex workers in Iran are infected with AIDS” and continues to say that “addiction is on the rise and about 23% of the population between 15 and 60 years old suffer from mental and psychological illnesses.” He emphasizes that “there has been a 53% increase in social damages in the past 5 years and the type of substance abuse has shifted from traditional to industrial, reaching 24% in the past 5 years from 4%.”

What seems to be the case is due to the lack of democracy and non-governmental and civil society organizations that hold the government accountable and provide solutions to the needs of homeless and cardboard sleepers in Iran, on the one hand, the spectrum of homeless people, especially homeless women, is increasing, and on the other hand, the government is unable to respond to the needs of these individuals.

The article titled “Acceptance of Homeless Women in Society is Low” has been written in the capital newspaper. “It should not be forgotten that society’s acceptance of women with street experience is still low in our society and correcting this view is not solely the responsibility of the Tehran municipality. On the other hand, grassroots movements in support of social victims have always faced resistance from some, who see these actions as encouraging a homeless lifestyle.”

Public support for social issues has the greatest impact through non-governmental organizations, which can independently and freely play their role in society and strive to address these issues.

While there are over three thousand government organizations addressing women’s issues in Iran, there is no effective and organized movement from these organizations. This is because these institutions must act under the shadow of ideological power holders, in a situation where democracy and respect for human rights are not recognized. This prevents them from being effective and efficient, and from utilizing the potential of individuals who are willing to voluntarily work towards addressing social issues and benefiting society.

Final note:

During the years 1984 to 1991, I collaborated with a coalition to improve the situation of homeless people in the city of Long Beach, California. This coalition consisted of more than 25 organizations, including a wide range of non-governmental organizations, government agencies, private sector, colleges and universities, and religious institutions in the city. Alongside these institutions, a few individuals, including myself, participated in this coalition as citizens of the city.

I became acquainted with a black woman named “Wiki” in this coalition, who herself had been homeless for three years and spent her nights in her car with her two sons. After she changed her situation from homelessness with the support of existing institutions, she became an activist for improving the conditions of the homeless. According to a census that was conducted during that period of time, there were over 5,000 homeless individuals in the city of Long Beach, California, which has a population of 400,000.

There were not and still are not complete facilities and shelters for these individuals, but the majority can have a place to stay at night and if they wish, take a shower and have breakfast in the morning before returning to the streets.

One of the most effective measures for reintegrating these individuals into normal life is to provide them with facilities such as job opportunities and a residential address or post office box. By providing them with a post office box and assisting in job placement for some of those who became homeless due to poverty, they were able to secure employment and housing. Women who are homeless due to mental illness and those who have been homeless for a long time are at risk of chronic homelessness. A project was implemented over 7 years to provide single-person lightweight tents to homeless individuals and to designate a park in the city for their residence, ensuring they are protected from the winter cold.

During the years that we provided assistance to the homeless in relevant institutions, we encountered two Iranian women, one young and the other middle-aged. The middle-aged woman was affected by a mental illness due to political developments in Iran, but with the help of other Iranians, she was able to overcome homelessness and sleeping in the park for several years and receive treatment and be saved. The young Iranian girl, who had left her family with her American boyfriend and became homeless, was mentally healthy but her attachment to someone who had both mental disorders and drug addiction had led her to become homeless.

Homelessness is a social phenomenon rooted primarily in poverty and economic inequalities. Existing efforts in any country to combat it may weaken it, but to put an end to it, structural and profound social changes may be necessary. As Ern Dati Roy says, “Another world is possible and is on its way, and I can hear the footsteps.”