<p dir="ltr">Families experiencing homelessness and housing instability (FEH/HI) face myriad challenges, placing their children at risk for adverse outcomes. Research typically adopts a deficit-based approach to meet immediate needs, but this may limit understanding of the children’s experiences. Recognizing children’s strengths is important for improving their health, development, and support. Resilience and family resilience are concepts that draw on a strengths-based approach. However, there is a need for more research to identify the strengths, such as resilience, among families and their children who are not stably housed. The present research seeks to address the gaps in the literature by examining the resilience perceptions and experiences of adolescents in FEH/HI, as much of the existing research focuses on the adult perspectives, within a family resilience framework through multiple studies. Study 1 (Chapter 2) systematically reviewed existing research on resilience and family resilience within FEH/HI. An analysis of 27 studies identified resilience-related factors across individual, interpersonal, and community domains. Study 2 (Chapter 3) integrated a strengths- and deficit-based approach to explore the challenges and strengths of children in FEH/HI from the perspectives of parents/caregivers and service providers. Semi-structured interviews with 17 parents/caregivers and 15 service providers identified challenges and strengths at the individual, interpersonal, and system levels. Study 3 (Chapter 4) investigated how adolescents within FEH/HI experience and make meaning of family resilience in their day-to-day lives using photo-elicitation (PE) and Froma Walsh’s family resilience framework. Four adolescents participated and took photographs depicting family resilience within their families. Together, findings from these studies provide insights into the strengths and resilience within FEH/HI. Moreover, they emphasize the need for strengths-based approaches in research and practice to support the health, development, and wellbeing of children and adolescents in FEH/HI.</p>

In recent years, we have witnessed a strong global resistance to the acceptance of gender and sexuality rights. This resistance is theorized to be driven by a clash between pro-liberal international forces and traditionalist local political powers, suggesting a reverse trend from the previously anticipated liberal progression. However, existing literature often overlooks the divergent dynamics between various issues by relying on single-issue analyses. This dissertation aims to bridge this gap by examining the multifaceted nature of this resistance, using the case study of Russia, which has become a key sponsor of anti-gender policies on the global stage. By providing a comprehensive understanding of the broader socio-political landscape of this process, I suggest a nuance to the existing explanation for global political dynamics.The central concept of this dissertation, which I have named strategic traditionalism, explains how political state actors can opportunistically promote traditionalist views on certain issues while avoiding others that do not advance their political interests. I argue that a nation’s stance on gender and sexuality does not necessarily align with purely liberal or illiberal trends but is rather relational and dependent on political alliances and opportunity structures. I develop this argument through three interrelated studies. In the first chapter, I investigate why the Russian state promotes strategic traditionalism and explain how it relates to anti-Western ideology. Using the logic of a natural experiment in media analysis, I zoom in on the state's role in shaping media discourse on homosexuality and abortion. I analyze the changes in narratives before and after a prominent Russian news agency underwent an unexpected state takeover. I find that pre-takeover, both issues were framed as traditional values versus human rights conflicts. After the takeover, the narrative shifted to a competition between Russia and the West, with Russia portrayed as defending against Western elites using "LGBT ideology" for global dominance, while the abortion discourse remained unchanged. This study highlights the strategic reinforcement of illiberal position on one topic but maintaining neutrality on others to preserve its hegemony, rather than embracing universally traditional or religious views on both topics. This enhances our understanding of how opposing homosexuality aligns with a state's global and domestic interests. The second study examines the extent to which the public adopts state-sponsored strategic traditionalism by exploring public opinion. Globally, public opinion on homosexuality and abortion tends to correlate, but this is not the case in Russia. Quantitative analysis of a nationally representative public opinion survey reveals that negative attitudes towards homosexuality in Russia are associated with traditional values, religiosity, and anti-Western sentiments. However, negative attitudes towards abortion are linked to religiosity but not to traditional values or anti-Western sentiments, suggesting that the public opinion aligns with the state sponsored ideology. Qualitative findings provide an important nuance, indicating that support for the state’s stance might be influenced by the non-democratic nature of public-state relationships in Russia. Respondents understand and can reiterate the state’s logic, assuming that this conformity is non-negotiable in an authoritarian context. However, when discussing their views on sexuality and gender, they distinguish between public and private spheres. While some respondents support the actions framed in terms of combating foreign influence and defending Russian interests in the global sphere, they reject state intervention in the private sphere, which includes same-sex relations and abortion. Thus, this chapter demonstrates that the state’s propaganda had a significant effect on public opinion, showing that framing in terms of strategic traditionalism was effective but deeper probing reveals limits to this adaptation, highlighting the boundaries within which the state operates. This explains the specific form that state action took, distinguishing strategic traditionalism in Russia from what traditionalist pushback, suggested by the literature so far. Finally, I delve into the connection between two core elements of the Russian state’s anti-Western politics: political homophobia, as a part of strategic traditionalism, and anti-Ukrainian campaign. Although the link between two might not be immediately obvious for the outside viewers, the Russian state framed both anti-LGBT measures and the Ukrainian conflict as strategies to counter perceived Western influence while upholding "traditional values" and national sovereignty. Here, I establish the correlation between anti-LGBT and anti-Ukrainian sentiments in Russian public opinion, analyzing the period before and after the introduction of anti-LGBT+ legislation and the onset of the Russian aggression against Ukraine. The results show no statistically significant correlation between attitudes toward Ukraine and homosexuality in 2010. However, in 2016, following the anti-gay law and Crimea’s annexation, anti-gay views and anti-Ukrainian sentiments became positively correlated. This suggests that the Russian public has embraced a multifaceted anti-Western ideology promoted by the political leadership.

The Eviction is a film about the forced eviction of a large homeless encampment in Dallas. In an effort to understand the gravity over a month of filming I will capture the stories of people, events, and the trials of those who are trying to offer a hand up.

Homelessness is an increasing social challenge both locally and globally. Social problems associated with street homelessness and services provided to homeless people by social workers are well documented in South Africa. Little is known though concerning the collaborative role of social workers and homeless people in addressing street homelessness. This study explored the role of social workers in promoting social justice through a collaborative purpose amongst the homeless people in addressing street homelessness. A qualitative, explorative, descriptive, and contextual study was undertaken with 14 homeless participants aged 21 to 63, and eight social work participants aged 25 to 38. This study was informed by an amalgamation of two theories, indicating the collaboration theory and the structural theory. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, analysed by following Tesch’s eight steps (Creswell, 2009:186). The data was collected and verified, employing the Lincoln and Guba’s model of trustworthiness. The ethical considerations adhered throughout this study are informed consent, confidentiality and anonymity, management of information and debriefing. The major findings identified first, poverty and unemployment as major homelessness causes. Second, deprived, or non-existing family support, family or marital breakdown, substance use, migration of individuals from rural or foreign countries to city centres, as major contributing factors towards homelessness. Third, homeless people are more vulnerable to personal harm than the housed population. Fourth, the society and derogatory labels, such as crazy, nyaopes, and criminals are often used to describe these individuals. Finally, homelessness places homeless people at substantial risk of elevated mental health conditions. Implications for social work and recommendations for future research are presented. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Work)

Den här studien sker mot bakgrund av uppgifter i nyhetsmedier där det berättats om de svårigheter som hemlösa möter om det är föräldrar till barn som inte delar deras situation i hemlöshet. Den sker också mot bakgrund av att Barnkonventionen inom kort inkorporeras i svensk lagstiftning. Studiens syfte är att undersöka hur det sociala problemet “att vara hemlös förälder i missbruk” konstrueras i vetenskapliga texter om två modeller för arbete med motverkan av hemlöshet i Sverige. Studiens syfte är också att skapa en djupare förståelse av om, och i så fall hur, nämnda modellers lösningar möjliggör för föräldern att tillgodose den rätt barnet enligt Barnkonventionen har till sina föräldrar, till bostad och till skydd, genom förälderns deltagande i respektive modell. Studiens metod är kvalitativ innehållsanalys och perspektivanalys utgör både teori och analysmetod utifrån socialkonstruktivistisk grund. De två problemperspektiv vi funnit har vi valt att kalla för ”behandling först – boende sedan” respektive ”boende först – behandling sedan”. De skiljer sig avsevärt från varandra beträffande hur det sociala problemets karaktär, orsak, konsekvenser, lösning och utveckling konstrueras. Det visar sig också finnas skillnader mellan hur problemperspektiven möjliggör tillgodoseendet av barnets rättigheter enligt Barnkonventionen. En viktig slutsats är avsaknaden av tydliga barnperspektiv i de bägge problemperspektiven. Studien finner även att ”behandling först – boende sedan” är ett problemperspektiv som bygger på en voluntaristisk orsaksförklaring medan ”boende först – behandling sedan” istället bygger på en deterministisk.

This thesis deals with social services for homeless people from the perspective of their employees. The aim of this paper is to chart the barriers which influence providing social services to homeless people. The main question is asked about what barriers are perceived by social workers whilst working with the homeless. This is followed by four subquestions concerning the ways in which the employees perceive the barriers from their personal, the users' and the society's perspective as well as regarding the employees' work environment. In the theoretical part, the following terms are defined: homelessness, social work with homeless people, social services for the homeless. Furthermore, selected organizations helping the homeless are mentioned. The research is described in the empirical part of the thesis, including the hypotheses, research questions, methodology and results. The research utilizes qualitative methods, survey methodology and the semi-structured interview method. The basic data sample has been comprised of social workers employed in registered social services for the homeless in the town of České Budějovice. The final results show that there is a large number of barriers in all the aforementioned areas. Some of them are e.g. the clients' psychical difficulties, their addiction to alcohol and drugs. According to the social workers, a significant barrier are some prejudices of the society. The homeless are often perceived as the main instigators of their current situation, who do not want to find a solution to the problem, and they are judged by their appearance. Furthermore, the research has shown that, from the social worker's experience, the society's perception of the social services for the homeless and the profession of social workers is rather negative. Other barriers are observed by the social workers in their working environment, primarily in equipment and working space. The workers do not feel as unsafe while working as it may seem, however they sometimes feel helpless and disappointed when their clients do not do what they should. Other barriers found include system barriers connected to deficiencies in providing medical care and deficiencies in social services for homeless people. The results of this thesis can serve as a complementary study material, as feedback for social workers, or as a basis of improving a specific service to a provider of social services.

Trata-se de análise a respeito do Consultório na Rua, estratégia de atenção básica às pessoas em situação de rua. Foram utilizados três métodos para compreender este serviço: análise comparada das propostas legais das unidades móveis de Portugal, Estados Unidos da América e Brasil; estudo sócio-histórico, por meio da sociogênese proposta por Pierre Bourdieu, com base em documentos oficiais, literatura indexada e entrevistas de agentes; e avaliação de implantação de uma equipe de Consultório na Rua da cidade de São Paulo, utilizando-se de observação participante, informações oriundas de relatórios e prontuários, entrevistas com trabalhadores e usuários do serviço, e apoiando-se em modelo lógico e matriz de avaliação de grau de implantação. A proposta brasileira de unidade móvel apresentou semelhanças no uso de equipes multiprofissionais e oferecimento de ações de redução de danos entre as demais analisadas, elementos que contribuem para o alcance da equidade. Sua gênese foi possível em contexto político favorável ao investimento de políticas sobre drogas e expansão da Política Nacional de Atenção Básica. Porém sofreu influências de conflitos entre agentes de diferentes polos do espaço social. A análise de implantação revelou adaptações da proposta federal oriundas de programas anteriores do município de São Paulo, de limitações da rede de serviços, e influências de conflitos identificados na gênese / This is an analysis of the Clinic on the Street, a strategy of basic care for people in homelessness. Three methods were used to understand this service: comparative analysis of the legal proposals of the mobile units of Portugal, the United States of America and Brazil; socio-historical study, through the sociogenesis proposed by Pierre Bourdieu, based on official documents, indexed literature and interviews of agents; and evaluation of the implantation of a \'Clinic on the Street\' team from São Paulo, using participant observation, information from reports and records, interviews with workers and users of the service, and based on a logistic model and evaluation matrix of degree of implantation. The Brazilian proposal of mobile unit showed similarities in the use of multiprofessional teams and offering harm reduction actions among the others analyzed, elements that contribute to equity. Its genesis was possible in a political context favorable to the investment of policies on drugs and expansion of the National Policy of Basic Attention. However, it was influenced by conflicts between agents from different poles of the social space. The implementation analysis revealed adaptations of the federal proposal from previous programs in the city of São Paulo, limitations of the service network, and influences of conflicts identified in the genesis

Situated in one of the wettest climates in America, Houston, TX has had a long history of heavy rains and unprecedented floods. Unfortunately, floods have become more common over the last few decades as climate change increases the frequency and intensity of hurricanes around the globe. To complicate matters further, Houston has quickly sprawled to accommodate over 2.5 billion people. Rapid urbanization has rendered the landscape even more susceptible to floods through excess concretization and watershed disturbance. This thesis traces the history of the Bayou City in relation to the damages caused by Hurricane Harvey. By mapping out the original neighborhoods and the current demographics of the city, I argue that low-income and minority groups have been systematically forced into higher-risk floodplains via prejudice housing practices. Furthermore, I explore the roles of the National Insurance Flood Program (NIFP) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the rebuilding of the city following Harvey, and I detail the sudden spike in unsheltered homeless people across the region. The thesis closes by critiquing projects that have been proposed for the future well-being of Houston (i.e. reservoir remediation, conveyance projects, coastal dykes, etc.). Evidently, local and outside experts across fields and organizations need to cooperate to determine the immediate and specific needs of neighborhoods and people across the city of Houston.

With homelessness continuing to rise over the past two decades, disenfranchised unhoused people have sparked a national movement to build for themselves democratically governed communities of affordable housing. Dignity Village, in Portland Oregon, is one of the longest running and most organized self-help housing communities in the nation. This paper presents a theoretical systems-based model of a developmental pathway out of homelessness in the U.S. that has as one of its key steps membership and participation in humane and dignified "self-help micro-housing"; communities such as Dignity Village. This research involved working collaboratively with Dignity Village on a participatory action research (PAR) project aimed at understanding and facilitating processes for mobilizing community and socio-political engagement. The research process involved a team of up to 24 co-researchers (nine attended meetings regularly) working once weekly over 15 months, with consultation from the broader Village community throughout. The research followed a systems approach to creating five action tools as multiple points of leverage to create long-term positive change within the community. One point of leverage utilized participatory video methodology to co-create a video action tool as an orientation video for newcomers, intended to build cooperative relationships and facilitate empowerment within the community. The impact of the research process was documented on multiple levels in the community using multiple data sources. Data were analyzed using an inductive approach to identify key themes and processes that influenced participation and empowerment in the community. The predominant themes suggested three paradoxical tensions that were creating barriers to change in the community. This PAR process attempted to create movement beyond these barriers. Findings suggested that four main changes occurred in the community during and after the research: a) an increase in collaborative participation, b) enhanced engagement and sense of community, c) an emergence of critical consciousness, and d) changes in the organizational leadership/power structure. These findings are critically examined and discussed with respect to the effectiveness of utilizing this PAR process to facilitate community empowerment. A portion of this dissertation (Results section) was created in video format to enhance report accessibility for community partners and other non-academic audiences.

The continued increase in homelessness in Portland, Oregon is in part a result of the systemic restructuring of the welfare state as well as a shift in local governance purviews. Primarily this has eradicated the affordable housing stock in the city which is compounded by the limited availability of emergency shelter spaces. These and other financial constraints have left a depleted service support system to cover a rising homelessness problem. In response to this, contemporary social movements have been focusing attention on economically marginalized groups such as the homeless, calling for rights to access resources in cities such as housing. This approach critiques the neoliberal policies that have bolstered entrepreneurial approaches to urban growth. Neoliberal policies result in a failure to maintain financial support for the well-being of the homeless and connected support services. This research examines one alternative to the traditional approach to sheltering the homeless. It focuses on a self-organized homeless tent city in downtown Portland, Right 2 Dream Too, which has become a critical resource in homeless emergency service provisioning. The rest site's success as an emergency service is primarily predicated on its geographic proximity to a nexus of social services in the Old Town neighborhood. Drawing on ethnographic work and archival data, I analyze the multiple spatialities of this self-managed site to better understand homeless individuals' experience with this place and other related spaces, as a means to understand its value as an emergency service for the homeless in Portland, and other cities with similar constraints. I argue this perspective is essential for mitigating homelessness in Portland and informing the decision-making surrounding its relocation.