Final answer:
As a sociologist studying homelessness, the primary interests would be in examining societal factors such as economic conditions affecting housing stability, cultural attitudes towards the homeless, and systemic societal structures that contribute to or mitigate homelessness.
Step-by-step explanation:
As a sociologist on a panel examining homelessness, you would be interested in exploring several issues, with a specific focus on the societal levels of the problem. Sociologists study the role of social characteristics in outcomes and are likely to consider the economic factors contributing to homelessness such as the impacts of local and national economic conditions, job loss, and housing market trends. In addition, sociologists would examine cultural perspectives on homelessness, looking into how societal views and stigmas affect the homeless population, as well as analyzing societal functions and the relationship between homelessness and social institutions.
Through this lens, sociologists may apply various theoretical approaches, such as functionalism and conflict theory, to understand the dynamics of homelessness within a society. For instance, how do community cohesiveness and lack of social support systems contribute to individuals becoming homeless? A sociologist would also look at patterns of behavior that lead to homelessness, like substance abuse and mental illness prevalence among the homeless population, as well as structural factors like the availability of affordable housing.