M.A. (Social Work) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

This study examined the ethnic makeup of individuals who seek services from San Bernardino County, Department of Behavioral Health, Mentally Ill Homeless program.

A research project submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MA Masters in Community-Based Counselling Psychology (Psychology) in the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 15/03/2017. / This research examines the interaction between beggars and motorists at traffic light intersections in Johannesburg CBD. Drawing on approximately 80hrs of video recorded interactions, the research primarily demonstrates the ways in which beggars and motorists produce embodied actions in the management of their asymmetrical socioeconomic positions, and more so the inequalities consequent of which. The phenomenon in question takes place in everyday settings constituted by mundane practices and embodied actions. As such, an ethnomethodologically oriented means towards gathering data served best suited to this research. A qualitative Conversation Analysis approach serves an apt technique for analysing the kind of fine-grained focus of the interactional phenomena observed (both verbal and non-verbal). The analysis has been rooted in the analytic framework of the greeting, request and offer adjacency pair types The progression of the analysis, as it unfolds, lends an eye to a particular sequence organization that appears to have crystalized, and further been reproduced in all of the beggar-motorist cases that have been examined here. The discussion turns towards unpacking some of the socio-structural implications of the embodied practices highlighted in the interaction of interest; particularly converging some of the ideas presented regarding the way in which the beggar-motorist interactional practices contribute to and maintain what can be seen as an institutionalized form of inequality. / XL2018

O fenômeno do crack na atualidade tem despertado atenção em virtude da gravidade das consequências sociais e de saúde vivenciadas pelos usuários, que pode chegar ao extremo de causar experiências de situação de rua. Embora as pessoas vivam nas ruas por diferentes razões, os usuários de crack têm potencializadas as características vinculadas à situação de rua, podendo provocar marginalização e dificuldades de permanecer junto às famílias. Diante do exposto, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi compreender como ocorre a trajetória de usuários de crack para a situação de rua na perspectiva de seus familiares. Estudo qualitativo que utilizou a abordagem sistêmica como referencial teórico e a narrativa como referencial metodológico. O estudo foi desenvolvido no Centro de Atenção Psicossocial em Álcool e Drogas II do município de Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, inicialmente a partir de grupos terapêuticos de família e posteriormente por indicações dos profissionais do serviço. Participaram 11 familiares de usuários de crack escolhidos intencionalmente de acordo com critérios previamente estabelecidos. Foram utilizados os seguintes instrumentos de coleta dos dados: 1) questionário com informações socioeconômicas e demográficas dos familiares e das familias, 2) questionário com dados dos usuários, 3) genograma, 4) entrevista em profundidade com enfoque narrativo e sistêmico, a partir de uma questão disparadora e 5) diário de campo. A dinâmica das entrevistas seguiu a composição dos instrumentos de coleta de dados, sendo que todos os participantes foram entrevistados duas vezes. Após a transcrição integral da primeira entrevista, foi elaborado um relatório contendo os principais tôpicos abordados pelos sujeitos, bem como a construção de questões para aprofundamento na segunda entrevista. As narrativas produzidas por meio de ambas entrevistas foram agrupadas e transcritas em sua totalidade. Foi utilizada a análise temática indutiva e validação das categorias por juízes. Verificou-se que os familiares compreenderam a trajetória dos seus entes para a situação de rua a partir de dois momentos principais, configurando as categorias do estudo: um anterior ao processo da situação de rua, onde eles recorreram ao passado para narrar eventos sobre a história de vida dos usuários, intitulado \"No caminho das pedras\": o retorno ao passado para explicar o presente; e um posterior, onde eles narraram sobre eventos relacionados especificamente à iniciação ao uso de crack e ao processo da situação de rua, denominado de \"Há um nóia entre nós\": a compreensão familiar sobre a ocorrência da situação de rua. Conclui-se que estratégias de prevenção ao uso de drogas devem se iniciar precocemente, especialmente no sistema escolar, e que ações que levem conhecimento a respeito das drogas para o sistema familiar dos usuários de crack é uma necessidade urgente / The crack cocaine phenomenon nowadays has attracted attention due to the gravity of the social and health consequences experienced by users that can reach the extreme to lead homelessness experiences. Although people living on streets for different reasons, crack cocaine users have potentiated the characteristics linked to homelessness, which may cause marginalization and difficulties to remain with families. The aim of this research was to comprehend how happens the crack cocaine user\'s trajectories to the street situation from the families\' perspective. Qualitative study that used the systems approach as a theoretical framework and the narrative as methodological framework. The study was conducted in a Psycho-Social Care Centre for substance misuse of Ribeirão Preto city, São Paulo, firstly from family therapy groups and later by indications of professionals from this service. The participants were 11 families of crack users intentionally chosen according to criteria established previously. The following data collection instruments were used: 1) questionnaire with socioeconomic and demographic information of the relatives and the families, 2) questionnaire with user\'s data, 3) genogram, 4) in-depth interview with narrative and systemic focus, from a guiding question and 5) field diary. The dynamic of the interviews followed the composition of the data collection instruments, and all participants were interviewed twice. After the full transcript of the first interview, was prepared a report containing the main topics addressed by the subjects, as well as construction of questions for deepening in the second interview. The narratives produced by both interviews were grouped and transcribed fullly. Was used the inductive thematic analysis and validation of the categories by judges. Was found that the family understands the crack cocaine user\'s trajectories from two moments, configuring the categories of study: one before the process of the street situation, where they return to the past to narrate events about the life history of the users, entitled \"On the road of stones\": the return to the past to explain the present\"; and later, where they narrated about related events specifically related to the initiation to the crack cocaine use and the process of homelessness, called \"There is a nut among us\": the familiar understanding of the occurrence of the street situation. In conclusion, we belive that drug use prevention strategies should begin early, especially in the school system, and actions to take knowledge about drugs to the family system of crack cocaine users is urgent need

Compreende-se que a população em situação de rua, enquanto grupo social, transita entre zonas de vulnerabilidade e desfiliação conforme definidas por Robert Castel, pois está freqüentemente submetida à ausência de emprego ou a trabalhos temporários e a uma trajetória marcada por rupturas. Em muitos casos, a rede de assistência é o elemento fundamental na sua organização cotidiana. A heterogeneidade deste grupo social constitui uma premissa neste estudo. No interior de tal diversidade, foram identificados grupos e pessoas que pareciam proporcionar referência para a discussão de formas endógenas/internas (e de auto-organização) de superação dessa condição. Assim, meu interesse neste estudo esteve voltado para a compreensão dos processos contrários ao movimento de dissociação social, além de abranger o desenvolvimento de estratégias como a criação de redes sociais e o fortalecimento de identidades. Trata-se de pesquisa etnográfica, envolvendo convívio prolongado com o grupo social estudado e aproximação com seus modos de vida. A coleta de dados foi realizada por doze meses em 2006, com observação de campo, entrevistas e coleta de documentos. Foram realizadas entrevistas com cinco colaboradores e visitas aos seus circuitos e \"pedaços\" pela cidade. Os critérios para inclusão dos colaboradores da pesquisa foram: estar inserido em programa de moradia; participar de organização política (movimentos sociais específicos); integrar redes de relações de caráter religioso; integrar circuitos ligados a arte e cultura; utilizar serviços da rede assistencial como recurso complementar para organização de seu cotidiano; possuir formas de geração de renda. Além destas dimensões, que sugerem diferentes formas de participação social, foi critério de seleção o colaborador estar ou ter vivido em situação de rua por mais de dois anos. A análise foi realizada em duas perspectivas. Uma refere-se à reconstituição da história de vida de cada colaborador, com o objetivo central de mostrar suas redes de interdependência, as quais transcendem os circuitos assistenciais, e de discutir sua singularidade no processo de construção de identidades capazes de ressignificar e dar historicidade à experiência da situação de rua. Outra perspectiva de análise foi partir da percepção de eixos e temáticas comuns que contribuem para repensar possíveis conexões, propostas assistenciais e outras redes de proximidade, as quais foram trabalhadas nos itens relativos a recurso à assistência social, participação política e educação. Observou-se a construção de movimentos opostos à desfiliação cujos processos significam a construção de identidades diferenciadas que tornam relativo e contextualizado o lugar atribuído à pessoa em situação de rua, geralmente associado a fracassos e à dependência dos serviços. Há, porém, necessidade de se produzir situações preventivas e alternativas coletivas. O estudo das redes sociais dentro do campo da terapia ocupacional social pode contribuir para a construção de ferramentas de leitura e análise socioculturais, assim como para o desenvolvimento de procedimento metodológico no âmbito da ação da terapia ocupacional social, ou seja, intervenção social em que universo cultural e a participação dos usuários sejam eixos-guiasna formulação de projetos pessoais e coletivos. / Homeless population, as social group, transits between vulnerability and disaffiliation zones (as defined by Robert Castel), for it is frequently submitted to unemployment or temporary jobs and a trajectory marked by ruptures. In many cases, the assistance net is the fundamental element in its daily organization. That social group heterogeneity constitutes a premise of this study. Inside such diversity, groups and people were identified as a possibility of reference for the discussion of endogenous/interior (and auto-organizing) ways of overcoming that condition. Therefore, this study focus on comprehending the process opposed to the movement of social dissociation, besides covering the development of such strategies as the creation of social nets and the identity strengthening. This ethnographic research involved extended close acquainting with the study group and their ways of life. Data collection took 12 months in 2006, with field observation, interviews and document collecting. Five collaborators were interviewed, and their city circuits and points were visited. Criteria for including collaborators included to be engaged in a lodging program, to participate in a political organization (specific social movements), to integrate relationship nets of religious character, to integrate circuits linked to art and culture, to use services of the assistance net as complementary resource for the daily organization, and to have ways of income generating. Besides these dimensions, that suggest different social participation forms, another criterion for selecting collaborators was to be or to have been homeless for more than two years. Analysis was conducted under two perspectives. First, with reference to each collaborator life story reconstitution, with the main objective of showing their interdependence nets, which transcend assistance circuits, and discussing its singularity in the constructing process of identities able to re-signify and give historicity to the homeless condition. The other analysis perspective was to start from the perception of common axes and themes the contribute to the rethinking possible connections, assistance propositions and other proximity nets, dealt in items referring social assistance, political participation and education. It was observed the construction of disaffiliation-opposed movements, a process that signify the construction of diversified identities that make relative and contextualize the place attributed to homeless people, normally associated to unsuccessfulness and dependence on official services. Notwithstanding, it is urgent to produce preventive situations and collective wayouts. The study of social nets in occupational therapy field may contribute to the construction of socio-cultural reading and analyzing tools, as well as to the development of methodological procedure in social occupational therapy, that is, social intervention in which cultural universe and user\'s participation are guidelines for personal and collective projects formulation

Compreende-se que a população em situação de rua, enquanto grupo social, transita entre zonas de vulnerabilidade e desfiliação conforme definidas por Robert Castel, pois está freqüentemente submetida à ausência de emprego ou a trabalhos temporários e a uma trajetória marcada por rupturas. Em muitos casos, a rede de assistência é o elemento fundamental na sua organização cotidiana. A heterogeneidade deste grupo social constitui uma premissa neste estudo. No interior de tal diversidade, foram identificados grupos e pessoas que pareciam proporcionar referência para a discussão de formas endógenas/internas (e de auto-organização) de superação dessa condição. Assim, meu interesse neste estudo esteve voltado para a compreensão dos processos contrários ao movimento de dissociação social, além de abranger o desenvolvimento de estratégias como a criação de redes sociais e o fortalecimento de identidades. Trata-se de pesquisa etnográfica, envolvendo convívio prolongado com o grupo social estudado e aproximação com seus modos de vida. A coleta de dados foi realizada por doze meses em 2006, com observação de campo, entrevistas e coleta de documentos. Foram realizadas entrevistas com cinco colaboradores e visitas aos seus circuitos e \"pedaços\" pela cidade. Os critérios para inclusão dos colaboradores da pesquisa foram: estar inserido em programa de moradia; participar de organização política (movimentos sociais específicos); integrar redes de relações de caráter religioso; integrar circuitos ligados a arte e cultura; utilizar serviços da rede assistencial como recurso complementar para organização de seu cotidiano; possuir formas de geração de renda. Além destas dimensões, que sugerem diferentes formas de participação social, foi critério de seleção o colaborador estar ou ter vivido em situação de rua por mais de dois anos. A análise foi realizada em duas perspectivas. Uma refere-se à reconstituição da história de vida de cada colaborador, com o objetivo central de mostrar suas redes de interdependência, as quais transcendem os circuitos assistenciais, e de discutir sua singularidade no processo de construção de identidades capazes de ressignificar e dar historicidade à experiência da situação de rua. Outra perspectiva de análise foi partir da percepção de eixos e temáticas comuns que contribuem para repensar possíveis conexões, propostas assistenciais e outras redes de proximidade, as quais foram trabalhadas nos itens relativos a recurso à assistência social, participação política e educação. Observou-se a construção de movimentos opostos à desfiliação cujos processos significam a construção de identidades diferenciadas que tornam relativo e contextualizado o lugar atribuído à pessoa em situação de rua, geralmente associado a fracassos e à dependência dos serviços. Há, porém, necessidade de se produzir situações preventivas e alternativas coletivas. O estudo das redes sociais dentro do campo da terapia ocupacional social pode contribuir para a construção de ferramentas de leitura e análise socioculturais, assim como para o desenvolvimento de procedimento metodológico no âmbito da ação da terapia ocupacional social, ou seja, intervenção social em que universo cultural e a participação dos usuários sejam eixos-guiasna formulação de projetos pessoais e coletivos. / Homeless population, as social group, transits between vulnerability and disaffiliation zones (as defined by Robert Castel), for it is frequently submitted to unemployment or temporary jobs and a trajectory marked by ruptures. In many cases, the assistance net is the fundamental element in its daily organization. That social group heterogeneity constitutes a premise of this study. Inside such diversity, groups and people were identified as a possibility of reference for the discussion of endogenous/interior (and auto-organizing) ways of overcoming that condition. Therefore, this study focus on comprehending the process opposed to the movement of social dissociation, besides covering the development of such strategies as the creation of social nets and the identity strengthening. This ethnographic research involved extended close acquainting with the study group and their ways of life. Data collection took 12 months in 2006, with field observation, interviews and document collecting. Five collaborators were interviewed, and their city circuits and points were visited. Criteria for including collaborators included to be engaged in a lodging program, to participate in a political organization (specific social movements), to integrate relationship nets of religious character, to integrate circuits linked to art and culture, to use services of the assistance net as complementary resource for the daily organization, and to have ways of income generating. Besides these dimensions, that suggest different social participation forms, another criterion for selecting collaborators was to be or to have been homeless for more than two years. Analysis was conducted under two perspectives. First, with reference to each collaborator life story reconstitution, with the main objective of showing their interdependence nets, which transcend assistance circuits, and discussing its singularity in the constructing process of identities able to re-signify and give historicity to the homeless condition. The other analysis perspective was to start from the perception of common axes and themes the contribute to the rethinking possible connections, assistance propositions and other proximity nets, dealt in items referring social assistance, political participation and education. It was observed the construction of disaffiliation-opposed movements, a process that signify the construction of diversified identities that make relative and contextualize the place attributed to homeless people, normally associated to unsuccessfulness and dependence on official services. Notwithstanding, it is urgent to produce preventive situations and collective wayouts. The study of social nets in occupational therapy field may contribute to the construction of socio-cultural reading and analyzing tools, as well as to the development of methodological procedure in social occupational therapy, that is, social intervention in which cultural universe and user\'s participation are guidelines for personal and collective projects formulation

This study examines the conditions of hopelessness in the city of San Bernardino. The purpose of this study was to examine the ways in which women and men's accessing of services for homelessness differ. This study employs a survey administered at an event given specifically for the homeless population in San Bernardino, and the differences between men and women and their access to support is documented.

published_or_final_version / Housing Management / Master / Master of Housing Management

Within the context of a rapidly urbanizing population, both globally and nationally, this dissertation investigates how street living strategies can assist in conceptualizing a nurturing inner city environment. Responding to the dearth of implementable social policies in South Africa, this research sets out to explore methods for architects to enhance the life opportunities and choices of pavement dwellers by incorporating their livelihoods and aspirations in the design of the built environment. The research was carried out by way of reviewing existing literature on the subject, relevant case studies and precedent studies. The theories and literature discussed guide the focus of this dissertation highlighting the importance of taking people's needs, interests, livelihood strategies and their circumstances into account. The discussion illustrates how the inner city environment, underpinned by theoretical analysis of Theory of Living, Complexity Theory and Critical Regionalism, can be nurturing to life. Quantitative and qualitative methods are used to gather social and architectural data, outlining the interaction between street living strategies and the built environment, illustrating how an inner city can cater to the needs and well being (positive orientation) of the community, or in other cases, fail to do so. This will be further understood through an examination of the pavement dwellers' complex and difficult life in the Durban CBD, and how this creatively assists the design of a nurturing multipurpose dream centre, as a solution to the needs of street living and a conceptualization of a nurturing inner city environment. The outcome is the conceptualization of an inner city environment from which a set of principles and guidelines are established to inform the design of a new multipurpose dream centre in the inner city - the Durban CBD. A dream centre is possible because of the ability of "The architect [to] confront human needs and desires [and] mould the environment closer to the human dream" (Mumford, 1938: 403). / Thesis (M.Arch.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2013.

This thesis is an attempt to improve the economic problems of the homeless people, either scrappers or squatters living in abject poverty, in the shrinking city of Flint by trying to balance the social problems of the city. This balance in the social life will not be real unless there is a kind of resilience architecture that is able to adjust and be adjusted to that degradation in the social and economic conditions in the shrinking cities. The resilience architecture, from which the self built spirit may spur, may be the only way to give the poor their lost dignity.The specific research deals with the problem of shrinkage in the Rust Belt cities in the USA and the means of its improvement by readopting three terms: evolution, resilience, and alchemy from a social perspective. Suggesting a resilient architecture design project in the particular city of Flint, Michigan relies on the large number of the homeless people living in these devastated places.Shrinking cities, living a state of flux all time, are much more insecure and weighty. The potential profound role of the architecture profession to work with the poor societies, and assist them in the execution of their spiritual needs, relies upon some of the key questions: could architects be a reason in building a resistant community? What kind of architecture do we collectively want to combat the degradation of the world? The key question is: Will architecture able to activate this self built spirit, by reusing some of the leftover materials, in Flint? In this context, I will investigate the architects' ability to intervene by providing an implementation proposal designed to use the city materials. This intervention of the architect will be effective when the potentials of those homeless are empowered. Therefore, I suggest an initial idea for a particular design proposal titled `Scrap and Build; On Our Own Village' that could be used as a catalyst for self builders' spirit. The project is seeking a resilient new vision for the future of shrinking cities, which necessitates surpassing the barriers which exist in the real complexities in these cities' lives. / Department of Architecture