Surname 1

Student’s Name

Professor’s Name

Course

Date

The world is full of social injustices exacerbated by lack of empathy toward others. The

gap between charity and justice has continued to widen in the philanthropic sector. The paper

below attempts to explain the difference between a charity-minded approach and a justice-

minded approach using the social issue of rural homelessness.

A charity-minded approach aims at promoting the welfare of others by giving back to the

underprivileged in the community. A charity is considered a social service as it provides direct

services like food, shelter and clothing. Charity takes care of the immediate needs of a given

population and is directed towards the effects of social injustice [CITATION Pet07 \p 71 \l 1033 ] . It

also addresses existing problems that exist in the society. a Justice-minded approach on the other

hand, is considered a social change as it seeks to promote a social change in institutions and

political structures. Centrally to charity, the approach tackles long-term needs and is directed

towards the root causes of a problem. It also focuses on the underlying causes of a given

problem and tries to make sure that a mess does not begin in the first place.

Rural homelessness is a difficult phenomenon to measure. Using a charity-minded

approach to combat rural homelessness includes setting up shelter homes and food shelves for

the homeless. Charity directed towards the homeless is considered positive to the society and the
 Surname 2

homeless individual at large. Using a justice minded approach, an individual educates members

in the community how to curb rural homelessness by listening to the stories of the homeless and

offering solutions to them [CITATION Par17 \p 5 \l 1033 ] . The approach seeks on promoting social

policies to eradicate rural homelessness. Although charitable events for the homeless produces

positive results, it may also do harm to the individuals. Building shelters for the homeless and

providing them with basic necessities is a warm-hearted gesture for the vulnerable individuals. It

however fails to provide them with the basics to survival and dignity.

Homelessness by using the charity-minded approach is considered relying on the mercy

of others especially in times where the individuals lack any entitlement to the assistance they

receive [CITATION Fra01 \p 19 \l 1033 ] . For instance, without proper material resources at the

shelters, individuals are not only exposed to social conditions that could cause ill-health, but are

also unable to properly take good care of their health. A justice-minded approach is a better

strategy to combat the issue. Through the approach, social inequalities are disrupted so that the

homeless are able to access resources required to clean, clothe and feed themselves. A justice-

oriented giving involves righting a wrong and fully acknowledging the circumstances that have

led to inequalities in a society and leveling them.

In conclusion it is true that the world is full of social injustices. To achieve equality,

individuals must therefore shift from a charity-minded approach to a justice-minded approach.

charitable acts encourage dependency on good acts from strangers while social justice

encourages individuals to act against inequality. While participating in charitable events might

relieve guilt in the providers, it does not reflect on curbing inequality. It rather exposes

individuals to other forms of harm especially when an individual cannot afford proper healthcare.

Therefore, individuals hoping to help the vulnerable in the society should reclaim charity by
 Surname 3

giving support practices that will liberate the individuals and change the attitudes and behaviors

of the society as a whole. To achieve social justice for all, Grantmakers need to analyze both the

inputs and outputs of their charitable actions with the goal of social justice in mind.

Work Cited
 Surname 4

Loewenberg, Frank M. From Charity to Social Justice. Transaction Publishers, 2001.

Muema, Peter. A Theological Response to the Tragedy of Refugees and Internally Displaced

Persons in Africa: Proceedings of the Ninth Interdisciplinary Session of the Faculty of

Theology, the Catholic University of Eastern Africa. CUEA Publications, 2007.

Parsell, Cameron and Beth Watts. "Charity and justice: a reflection on new forms of

homelessness provision in Australia." European Journal of Homelessness 11 (2017).