This study compared homeless shelters, one was a structured homeless shelter and the other a non-structured homeless shelter, evaluating the residents' level of social functioning and level of self-sufficiency at both shelters. A structured shelter may offer counseling, parenting classes, money management, nutrition classes, a 12-step program and support groups, and after school and summer programs for youths. Whereas a non-structured shelter is one that only offers a place to sleep and some food.

No description available.

Homelessness is a serious national and international issue, with significant implications for societal health. It is such a complicated and multifaceted issue to address, and it needs much more attention than it has currently. Alongside discussions on how to house homeless individuals, it is important to discuss how to help increase this populations overall health. The homeless population is one of the most medically at-risk patient populations. Existing research has shown that homeless individuals are at a higher risk for developing ill health and disease. They face numerous barriers to obtaining health care, and have many competing priorities. As a result, they are more likely to present to hospitals and clinics with advanced stages of disease that could have been prevented, or treated more easily earlier. Overall, the homeless population is at such a high risk of developing disease due to a variety of factors. Some of which are, their chronic exposure to the elements and other ill people, a lack of access to hygiene facilities or healthy food, and certain advantageous preventative resources. Past research has focused on interventions such as housing first over healthcare, and mobile clinical services, but they take a great deal of time and money to be fully realized. It is important to expand resources to include smaller, more feasible, preventative provisions for conditions that homeless individuals are more susceptible to such as skin cancer, tooth decay and loss, and others. More research into practical interventions, which can help improve the health and hygiene of homeless population, will close a gap in the current medical literature. This thesis focuses on practical prevention efforts for the homeless in the form of, SPF 70 spray sunscreen, hard bristled toothbrushes, sugarless gum, body wipes, dry shampoo, hand sanitizer, and more. These scientifically backed interventions can be immediately incorporated into the resources that community healthcare centers, shelters, or any other related homeless care facilities, provide. These supplies should improve homeless individuals’ health and quality of life while waiting for larger interventions such as housing, or free clinics, to be implemented. Importantly, these resources can help to bring an end to this current period in time in which homeless individuals are left to wait for any form of preventative or curative health care. As Ben Carson recently said, “Leaving [the] homeless unsheltered, unhealthy, and unsafe is a human tragedy and unacceptable.”

Magister Administrationis - MAdmin / This study investigates how a civil society organisation, Reclaim the City (RTC), based in the old Woodstock Hospital is attempting to address the plight of the homeless through deepening participatory governance. Homelessness is a growing concern in South Africa. Post-1994 the African National Congress (ANC) embarked on the Reconstruction and Development Program (RDP) to address the imbalances of the past through providing housing, water, electricity and sanitation amongst others. However by 1996 this program was decommissioned and replaced by the Growth, Employment, and Reconstruction (GEAR) policy which ushered in the privatisation of basic services. The challenge was that many of the previously marginalised could not pay for these services. The move away from the RDP meant residents had to pay for housing and when many could not pay their rents they were evicted. The evicted moved into the streets and later, in this case study, to the old Woodstock Hospital. In their new location, they started engaging with Development Action Group (DAG) and Ndifuna Ukwazi (NU) and the City of Cape Town to address their plight.

The purpose of this work is to introduce the reader to people whose lives have only been of marginal interest to modern historiographers. It portrays the formation of personal stories of people who live on the edges of society. The narrators are people who were older than 18 years in 1989 and who have personally experienced homelessness after the Velvet Revolution. Homelessness is explored as a public phenomenon appearing alongside the transformation of the Czech Republic. However the work also touches on the history of homelessness in the area before 1989. The research is based primarily on the oral history method with currently homeless people. Key words homelessness, oral history, 1989

Dissertation submitted for a Masters Degree in Development Studies in the Faculty of Humanities and School of Social Sciences, at the University of the Witwatersrand March 2019 / Over the years Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have been providing a variety of social services, ranging from improving the skills of homeless individuals to helping prevent homelessness. This paper shed light on the current efforts by the Johannesburg Organisation of Services to the Homeless (JOSH), a Non-Profit Company (NPC) providing services to homeless individuals in Randburg. The study aimed to bridge the knowledge gap that exists in understanding the experiences of CSOs in service provision by exploring JOSH’s experiences in providing services to homeless individuals. The study asked the following research question: What are the experiences of JOSH as a CSO in providing services to homeless individuals in the City of Johannesburg? And the following three sub-questions: What services are provided to homeless people by JOSH? What informs the approach taken for service provision by JOSH? How does JOSH understand their experiences of service provision? I adopted a qualitative methodology and administered 15 face to face semi-structured interviews with the Directors, volunteers, and the staff at JOSH. This approach presented the opportunity to listen to the ideas, experiences and stories of people engaged with social action at JOSH. I used participant observation to collect data. I found this valuable as it gave me an opportunity to participate and observe the settings at JOSH in a way that provided a nuanced understanding of the services provided at JOSH. Thinking critically about the parameters of my research, I used purposive sampling to select my interviews. I chose people who worked closely with JOSH, whose knowledge and experiences would enable me to answer my research question and sub-questions. The fight to end homelessness has brought a new strategic de-instutionalised model of community engagement that addresses issues of social justice through spaces of engagement. According to Cloke (2011) these new spaces of engagement that emerge are known as ‘rapprochement’. This concept is developed in the literature review. It provides a framework of how non-statutory agencies uses a post-secular approach to engage with the homeless population through community-based social action. Five major themes emerged from data analysis: (1) A snapshot of JOSH’s homeless services, (2) Defining JOSH’s homeless services (3) JOSH’s view on homelessness, (4) Approach taken by JOSH, (5) A culture of support at JOSH and (6) challenges faced by JOSH. The first theme describes the different types of services that are provided by JOSH. This study has revealed that JOSH offers food services, skills assessment as well as counselling services to persons experiencing homelessness. JOSH does this by using a social entrepreneurial model, which is an example of rapprochement. This social enterprise model allows JOSH to put agency, innovation and hope at the heart of their approach. This approach 5 has enabled JOSH to create a space that is a transformative form of hospitality and a leadership style that allows different stakeholders to develop and acquire a sense of agency. The second theme demonstrated the model JOSH has adopted to provide services to homeless individuals. The third theme described the different terms JOSH uses to conceptualise homelessness. The fourth theme illustrates that JOSH uses a case management and service integration system to identify individuals who are homeless. The fifth theme describes how Directors, volunteers, and the staff at JOSH support homeless individuals. The final theme describes the different challenges JOSH faces in providing services to homeless individuals. The findings of the study revealed that JOSH’s soup kitchen was more successful because food services were the most accessible and reliable service to homeless individuals. JOSH also indicated that there is a need for an overnight shelter which was currently not JOSH’s focus of service delivery. Recommendations are made based on the findings of the study. / NG (2020)

Abstract BACKGROUND: The number of homeless pregnant women is continuing to increase around the world. Homeless women are experiencing difficulties with their pregnancy that others may not face, including birth abnormalities and not seeking appropriate care due to cost and stigmatization. Nurses need to educate homeless pregnant women on what is needed for a healthy pregnancy and childbirth. OBJECTIVE: This exploratory research describes the needs for advocacy in women who are experiencing homelessness while pregnant and how homelessness affects pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care. LITERATURE REVIEW: The search methods used was CINAHL and ETSU Library. Keywords: homelessness, childbirth, homeless women, nursing. There were ten studies established all together. FINDINGS: Homeless pregnant women are not educated on contraceptives and what they need to do to have a healthy pregnancy. For example, they don’t know that being homeless and absence of proper care results in abnormalities such as low birth weights, longer NICU stays, and premature childbirths. CONCLUSION: We conclude that homeless pregnant women should be advocated for in hopes they will feel comfortable and seek proper care for a safe pregnancy. Keywords: homelessness, childbirth, homeless women, nursing

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are state and federally funded income programs that can provide steady health insurance, increasing access to healthcare and other needed services. It has been previously demonstrated that approval for social security disability benefits can lead to better access to housing and long-term subsidies, reduce emergency department usage and recidivism rates, and address systemic problems within the community. However, it has previously been shown that individuals experiencing homelessness are more likely to receive an unfavorable award decision, despite having more severe healthcare treatment needs compared to the general population. In Massachusetts, the state award rate for homeless applicants has averaged 22-33% over the past 2 years, compared to 45% for non-homeless cases awarded. The primary objective of this research study was to investigate applicant and application characteristics associated with disability outcomes among patients at the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (BHCHP) Barbara McInnis House (BMH) Medical Respite Unit and to explore the effect of advocacy in increasing access to benefits for those who qualify. The target population for this study was individuals experiencing homelessness who were admitted to the BHCHP BMH Medical Respite Unit and received assistance with an application or maintenance of Social Security benefits between the fiscal years of 2013 and 2018. The variables of interest included age, gender, race/ethnicity, preferred language, primary diagnosis, and housing status of the applicant. Presence or absence of medical advocacy letter and request of DDS mandated consultative examination were application characteristics of interest. The outcome variables were determination time and application decision. This chart review was retrospective and no patients were engaged with directly. All data of interest was pulled from the BHCHP electronic health record or the Microsoft Access database used for tracking application characteristics and outcomes of disability applications. It was shown that advocacy and assistance with the application process for SSI and SSDI produced an allowance rate for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness considered in this study that was almost twice the allowance rate for the homeless population in the state of Massachusetts and was significantly higher than the state general population. Despite the increase in allowance rate, the application determination times were significantly longer for the population of interest in this study as compared to the general population. The median age of applicant population decreased over the timeline of the study, but the median age of those approved did not change at the same rate. Under the age of 40 and mental health diagnosis, as opposed to over the age of 40 and non-mental health diagnosis, were associated with statistically significant lower odds of approval for disability benefits. Medical advocacy letters were found to aid in access to benefits for those with mental health primary diagnoses. Common denial reasons included inability of the Social Security Administration (SSA) to contact the applicant, missed DDS mandated consultative exam by the applicant, and inadequate documentation to demonstrate severity of the disability. Barriers included severe mental illness, cognitive disorders, chronic physical health conditions, substance use disorders, and lack of accurate record keeping of when, where, and why an individual was treated at a facility. Individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness face many systemic and institutionalized barriers to obtaining disability benefits that they qualify for and deserve. Analysis of current gaps in access to disability benefits could help illustrate how the current system harbors barriers to deter and deny people benefits, especially those who have low literacy, are poor, and have no access to advocates who could potentially help to garner attention to areas in need of intervention. Advocacy can help increase access to benefits and can help individuals achieve better health outcomes by offering a means of preventative care.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Due to a shortage of affordable housing, gaps in social welfare infrastructure, and the criminalization of homelessness, public libraries find themselves providing daytime shelter to patrons experiencing homelessness. Their needs and crises have created demands on staff and security that exceed their training and role. Sometimes police are involved, exposing patrons to possible arrest. To fill this knowledge and service gap, libraries have begun hiring social workers. Early research on the broad role of social workers suggests they are changing how libraries respond to crises with patrons experiencing homelessness in four keyways: by providing an option to calling 911; influencing code of conduct implementation, serving patrons, and equipping staff. However, no study has given an in-depth explanation of how social workers are changing libraries’ responses to crises with patrons experiencing homelessness. The purpose of this study is to explain how the role of the social worker influences how libraries respond when patrons experiencing homelessness are in crises. Considered through lenses of role theory, social cognitive theory, and the humanization framework, this embedded multiple-case study of three U.S. urban libraries collected 91 surveys and conducted 46 Zoom interviews. It includes the perspectives of 107 participants across six roles: patrons experiencing homelessness, social workers, front-facing staff, security, location managers, and CEOs. The social workers’ influence was perceived to reduce behavior incidents, exclusions, and arrests around three themes: (1) being an option, with subthemes of in-house referrals and de-escalation; (2) running interference, with subthemes of low barrier access and barrier-busting services; and (3) buffering, with subthemes of equipping, influencing code of conduct implementation, and advocating and being present during security and police interactions. Three models of library social work and their impact on the social worker’s role of de-escalation were identified and described: The Sign Up and Summon Model, the Outreach and Summon Model, and the Social Work Center Model. In addition, a commingled rival was found: the impact of the Black Lives Matter movement. The implications of the findings include recommendations for structuring library social work practice to reduce exclusions and arrests of patrons experiencing homelessness. / 2025-05-22

Syftet med vår studie är undersöka och få en allsidig belysning kring ett lågtröskelboende, som vi har valt att namnge som DD. Vi vill undersöka kring hur personalen går till väga för att uppnå funktionen och målet med verksamheten. Detta är en studie som ha en kvalitativ metod som ansats, därav baseras på sex stycken halvstrukturerade intervjuer. Vi kommer i studien ge en kort redogörelse kring verksamheten. DD är en verksamhet som erbjuder plats för hemlösa personer som har en omfattande problematik bakom sig, där många har blivit utslussade från härbärge till härbärge, boende till boende. Personalen ger de boende en chans till att finna vägen tillbaka till en fungerande vardag.Nyckelord: hemlikhet, hemlöshet, lågtröskelboende och trygghet. / The objective of this study is to investigate and make a comprehensive analysis of a particular shelter, which we refer to as DD. We want to investigate how the staff go about achieving the goals and purposes with the service.. This study uses qualitative methods in the format of six semi-structured interviews. In this study, we will give a short description of the services of DD, which offers homeless people a short-term housing solution. The subjects of the shelter have problematic backgrounds having been excluded from previous shelters, and being transferred between different housing solutions. The staff at DD give the tenants a chance to find their way back to a well-functioning life.