Thesis advisor: Susan A. Michalczyk / For my thesis I not only looked at the research that has been done on the topic of homelessness, but I also used my first-hand experience from volunteering at Pine Street Inn, a homeless shelter in Boston's South End. Although I focused more specifically on the older homeless population, I also looked at how society perceives the homeless in general. I realized that the homeless are constantly looked down upon by the more fortunate members of society, and that they are seen as some how deserving of their situation. I came to the conclusion that before we can eradicate homelessness, we, as a society, must change out attitudes and perceptions of the homeless. We must view the homeless as individuals, as human beings. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2006. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: College Honors Program.

North American histories of homelessness have focused upon the specific image of the “tramp.” Exemplified by Charlie Chaplin, Jack London, and various other popular representations in a variety of media formats, the tramp, hobo or bindlestiff is a classic North American symbol. This “tramp” is often represented as a young, white, heteronormative man, and many histories of homelessness focus upon subjects like him. However, newly accessible police, charity and census materials suggest the early twentieth century homeless population in the Pacific Northwest was more racially and sexually diverse than previously thought. Using a Gramscian liberal order framework theory, I argue that the tramp became a North American liberal ideological icon in response to a growing tension between the needs of capital for a free moving body of labourers and the growing panoptic state. By breaking down the tramp mythos and offering a more accurate image of turn of the century homeless people, we can see the ways liberal ideology has been twisted to justify incarceration, harassment, and exclusion. / Graduate / 2019-08-24

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Hepatitis (HCV) is a communicable disease that impacts many Americans. The scholarly literature lacked the knowledge pertaining to the relationships between poverty and HCV diagnosis and prescription for HCV medication. The purpose of the study was to measure the magnitude and statistical significance of these relationships, as modeled by the health belief model and public health surveillance and action framework. Specifically, the study was designed to determine whether there is a statistically significant relationship between living below the poverty line and being diagnosed with HCV, as well as living being below the poverty line and being prescribed HCV medication. A total of 78 records of HCV-positive individuals from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey dataset were evaluated by applying the statistical procedure of odds ratio (OR) analysis. The results of the analysis revealed that (a) there was not a statistically significant relationship between being below the poverty line and being diagnosed with HCV, OR = 0.99 (SE = 0.38, z = -0.03, p = .974); and (b) there was not a statistically significant relationship between being below the poverty line and being prescribed HCV medications, OR = 0.32 (SE = 0.55, z = -0.66, p = .507). Numerous recommendations for improving measurements of the relationship between poverty and HCV are provided. This study may promote positive social change by indicating the importance of poverty as an agenda item for public health policy and practice.

The purpose of this study was to interview the social workers that work with the homeless population within the Inland Empire. Explored were the social workers perceptions of and attitudes about the homeless population as well as hoping to understand the lack of housing for the homeless and to find out what can be done to provide housing for them.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the meaning of formerly homeless Veteran’s male relationships to better understand their participation in intervention programs relying on interpersonal support. Interpretive phenomenological analysis was used to interpret five semi-structured interviews with previously homeless Veterans between the ages of 45-65 with serious mental illness. These men were participating in a peer-support based housing program. Analysis yielded the following five major themes and fourteen subordinate themes: Internalized Role Conflict i) internal conflict, Masculinity as a Barrieri) restricted emotions between men, ii) pride, iii) dominance, and iv) fear of other men, Building Supportive Relationships between Men i) negotiating masculinity, and ii) balancing power in men’s relationships, Experience Accepting Support i) de-shaming, ii) emotional relief, and iii) insight. Experience Giving Support i) strengthen self by supporting other man, and ii) use personal experience to support other men. Implications for providers and programs are discussed, as well as areas for future research.

Shifting away from the traditional focus of enumeration and prevention of, or early exit from, homelessness, the present study was directed towards understanding the homeless experience and how the health and life quality of homeless people could be improved during their homelessness. To answer key questions, a mixed method inquiry explored the lived experience of homelessness in Darwin between June, 2004, and June, 2005. The study was undertaken through St. Vincent de Paul’s Ozanam House meal and shelter service. Their clients’ life worlds and experiences were documented through participant observation, informal interviews and individual narratives. This study has found that there were very few treatment options available to homeless people who suffered from trauma related illnesses. Self management of wellbeing and health reinforced the negative perception of homeless people held by mainstream society, in turn reinforcing the stigmatising processes individuals spent much of their daily life managing. By addressing the key dimensions of the homeless experience which have had the greatest influence on health, the relevant agencies can begin to create living environments which reflect the experiences and the hopes of the homeless people and which are supportive of good health and a better quality of life. / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Aboriginal young people are exposed to the impact of colonisation in Australia. They are at risk of becoming alienated from their homelands, cultures, communities and families. Some have become alienated, joining one of the most marginalised groups in Australian society – homeless people. Aboriginal young people, many of whom are already marginalised because of their indigeneity, join a group that can be described as further marginalised – that is, Aboriginal and homeless. In essence, Aboriginal homelessness can be seen and described as a loss of sovereignty. The Hebersham Aboriginal Youth Service (HAYS) is an organisation that is responding to the phenomenon of Aboriginal youth homelessness. HAYS is funded and operates under a joint Australian Federal, State and Territory government programmatic response that assists people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. This thesis reviews the design and development of HAYS as an Aboriginal service organisation. The central thesis research question is: How should a service for homeless Aboriginal youth be designed and developed? In addressing this question, a case study methodology is utilised which is capable of facilitating research in contemporary organisational settings, such as in HAYS where its design participants operate around specific visions and goals. The research findings indicate that HAYS should become a ‘modern-day tribal ground’ in the form of the Mount Druitt Aboriginal Homeland Centre (MDAHC). In order to progress this model, a substantive theory of coherent dialogue is presented containing five critical design and development propositions educed from the research. The theory contains lessons for the design and development of urban Aboriginal community service organisations. This thesis concludes with a plea for consciousness-raising between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people involved in the design and development of Aboriginal community service organisations – a move towards the development of a critical consciousness for a better world through coherent dialogue. / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

<p>This article examines how former street children experienced going from street life to life within an organization. Through semi-structured interviews with six children and one field worker, the aim has been to identify key points that made these children going all the way while other left, but also to highlight challenges and difficulties along the way. Reports from Ghana and other parts of the world about a low rate of success in working with these children made the subject interesting. Findings suggest that the process of leaving the street is more than just a physical move. The ability of the organizations to motivate and assist the children to change character has shown to be very critical for making the children stay within the program. Also the influence and assistance between the boys themselves has been of uttermost importance.</p>

The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires federally-funded homeless service providers to participate in an homeless management information system (HMIS). While federally mandated, no one has examined how these technologies are being used. Theory and research suggest that the technology dissemination is contingent upon the organizational culture in which it is used. This study represents the first empirical analysis of HMIS use and explores the cross-level relationship between staff members’ HMIS use and organizational culture. Staff members at 24 homeless service providers completed the Organizational Social Context (OSC) survey and scores from each provider were aggregated to assess the organizational culture. Data on HMIS use, measured as the number of times that an individual attempted to log on to the system, were collected from 142 individuals. Data were analyzed using a negative binomial hierarchical generalized linear model. Results suggest that organizational proficiency is related to HMIS use and is moderated by gender. The rate of log on attempts for male staff members increases in organizations with higher levels of proficiency. Moreover, organizational culture results revealed that the sample reported significantly higher levels of organizational proficiency, rigidity, and resistance, compared to a national sample of children’s mental health providers. The study concludes with the recommendation that policy makers view HMIS implementation as an ongoing, cyclical process of interactions among the organizational social context, the software, and the researchers developing the technology.