Pub Date : 2017-07-03DOI: 10.1080/10530789.2017.1362735
J. Tsai
Since I am starting a new “Perspectives” column, I suppose it is befitting that I write the first article for the column to describe my viewpoint as Editor of the Journal. I’ve had the privilege of serving as Editor for nearly two years and I regularly think about how to improve the Journal. I am creating this new column series to feature first-person narratives or unique perspectives on work related to social distress and homelessness. Most of the regular articles in the Journal describe studies with quantitative or qualitative data, which of course is important, but they often are not the right venue for more personal notes or broad viewpoints about the field which also have their value for the field. As a first article for this column, I will write from my perspective as a Journal Editor in what lessons I have learned that I think are important to share with others. Specifically, I will describe several things I look for as an Editor/Reviewer and lessons I have learned through submitting my own work for peer-reviewed publication. In addition to my Editorship on this Journal, I have served on the Editorial Board of seven other journals and have reviewed for various other journals as well so I bring those experiences to bare in describing my perspective.
{"title":"Perspectives","authors":"J. Tsai","doi":"10.1080/10530789.2017.1362735","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10530789.2017.1362735","url":null,"abstract":"Since I am starting a new “Perspectives” column, I suppose it is befitting that I write the first article for the column to describe my viewpoint as Editor of the Journal. I’ve had the privilege of serving as Editor for nearly two years and I regularly think about how to improve the Journal. I am creating this new column series to feature first-person narratives or unique perspectives on work related to social distress and homelessness. Most of the regular articles in the Journal describe studies with quantitative or qualitative data, which of course is important, but they often are not the right venue for more personal notes or broad viewpoints about the field which also have their value for the field. As a first article for this column, I will write from my perspective as a Journal Editor in what lessons I have learned that I think are important to share with others. Specifically, I will describe several things I look for as an Editor/Reviewer and lessons I have learned through submitting my own work for peer-reviewed publication. In addition to my Editorship on this Journal, I have served on the Editorial Board of seven other journals and have reviewed for various other journals as well so I bring those experiences to bare in describing my perspective.","PeriodicalId":45390,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Social Distress and the Homeless","volume":"26 1","pages":"157 - 158"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2017-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/10530789.2017.1362735","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42547384","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2017-07-03DOI: 10.1080/10530789.2017.1349598
J. Gerlitz, R. Joyce, A. Gadermann, A. Hubley, Sophie Ma Zhu, Meagan Stowe, A. Palepu
ABSTRACT Conducting longitudinal research with homeless or vulnerably housed (HVH) participants is challenging. Homelessness, poverty, mental health issues, and addiction are social issues with which most cities in North America are grappling today. The study purpose was to explore the experiences of, and lessons learned by, staff in interviewing and retaining HVH adults in a marginalized neighborhood over the course of a 4 year longitudinal study. Four frontline interviewers from the Vancouver Health and Housing in Transition research team participated in six focus group sessions. Content analysis of transcriptions revealed three dominant themes: tracking and retention strategies; interviewer training and support; and interview dynamics. Participants’ mental health and substance use impacted all stages of the research. Interviewers’ experiences, observations, and recommendations contribute to the literature on interviewing and retaining HVH adults in longitudinal research as well as the training and support of staff.
{"title":"Observations from the field: interviewers’ experiences interviewing and retaining homeless and vulnerably housed participants in longitudinal health research","authors":"J. Gerlitz, R. Joyce, A. Gadermann, A. Hubley, Sophie Ma Zhu, Meagan Stowe, A. Palepu","doi":"10.1080/10530789.2017.1349598","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10530789.2017.1349598","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Conducting longitudinal research with homeless or vulnerably housed (HVH) participants is challenging. Homelessness, poverty, mental health issues, and addiction are social issues with which most cities in North America are grappling today. The study purpose was to explore the experiences of, and lessons learned by, staff in interviewing and retaining HVH adults in a marginalized neighborhood over the course of a 4 year longitudinal study. Four frontline interviewers from the Vancouver Health and Housing in Transition research team participated in six focus group sessions. Content analysis of transcriptions revealed three dominant themes: tracking and retention strategies; interviewer training and support; and interview dynamics. Participants’ mental health and substance use impacted all stages of the research. Interviewers’ experiences, observations, and recommendations contribute to the literature on interviewing and retaining HVH adults in longitudinal research as well as the training and support of staff.","PeriodicalId":45390,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Social Distress and the Homeless","volume":"26 1","pages":"128 - 137"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2017-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/10530789.2017.1349598","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47767237","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2017-07-03DOI: 10.1080/10530789.2017.1366110
A. Lovell
{"title":"Homelessness in New York City: policymaking from Koch to De Blasio","authors":"A. Lovell","doi":"10.1080/10530789.2017.1366110","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10530789.2017.1366110","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":45390,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Social Distress and the Homeless","volume":"26 1","pages":"159 - 160"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2017-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/10530789.2017.1366110","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42701981","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2017-07-03DOI: 10.1080/10530789.2017.1350333
B. King, D. Abrego, S. Narendorf, Yoonsook Ha, Diane M Santa Maria
ABSTRACT Between 31 and 46% of youth with histories of foster care placement were homeless at least once. Studies of the incidence of runaway behavior have identified a host of risk factors associated with running away from foster care placement, but less is known about the internalized processes of these individuals at risk for running away or the contextual experience surrounding it. This study is designed to investigate the representations made by individuals who have engaged in running away to uncover and explore thematic patterns. Accordingly, a secondary analysis was performed on data from four group interviews (n = 15) collected from youth under the care of one child protective services (CPS) agency-operated emergency shelter setting, using thematic content analysis by two independent reviewers. Codes were networked and themes that emerged were discussed through a framework of power dynamics. Themes around the participants’ perceptions of homelessness, lack of control, and their resistance to authority were all identified as contributory to the theme of running away. The act of running away is, therefore, framed as a threshold event representing a multifaceted phenomenon combining perceptions of self-identity, conflict, and power in the home.
{"title":"Representations of homelessness, home environments, and authority in the context of runaway behaviors reported by foster care youth residing in an emergency shelter","authors":"B. King, D. Abrego, S. Narendorf, Yoonsook Ha, Diane M Santa Maria","doi":"10.1080/10530789.2017.1350333","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10530789.2017.1350333","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Between 31 and 46% of youth with histories of foster care placement were homeless at least once. Studies of the incidence of runaway behavior have identified a host of risk factors associated with running away from foster care placement, but less is known about the internalized processes of these individuals at risk for running away or the contextual experience surrounding it. This study is designed to investigate the representations made by individuals who have engaged in running away to uncover and explore thematic patterns. Accordingly, a secondary analysis was performed on data from four group interviews (n = 15) collected from youth under the care of one child protective services (CPS) agency-operated emergency shelter setting, using thematic content analysis by two independent reviewers. Codes were networked and themes that emerged were discussed through a framework of power dynamics. Themes around the participants’ perceptions of homelessness, lack of control, and their resistance to authority were all identified as contributory to the theme of running away. The act of running away is, therefore, framed as a threshold event representing a multifaceted phenomenon combining perceptions of self-identity, conflict, and power in the home.","PeriodicalId":45390,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Social Distress and the Homeless","volume":"26 1","pages":"138 - 147"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2017-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/10530789.2017.1350333","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42642064","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2017-07-03DOI: 10.1080/10530789.2017.1363505
Gabrielle Poon, Lori K. Holleran, Joyce P Chu, P. Goldblum, B. Bongar
ABSTRACT Suicide completion rates among homeless individuals are approximately nine times higher than the general population. The purpose of this study was to capture the state of social support among homeless individuals, understand how homeless community members support peers in crisis, examine the awareness of suicidal ideation, identify common methods for suicide, and generate strategies for means restriction within a shelter. Twenty individuals residing at an emergency shelter were interviewed. Participants were of diverse cultural identities overrepresented in the sample relative to the general population. Interviews revealed that 40% of participants lacked social support. However, the majority indicated that if they encountered someone at risk for suicide, they would provide support and encouragement to the at-risk individual. Almost half of participants reported knowing of an individual in the shelter who had previously attempted suicide and/or was currently or previously feeling suicidal. Overdose was identified as a primary method for suicide; however, the majority of participants were unable to generate strategies for means restriction. The present study offers a glimpse into the experience of homeless individuals and provides valuable information regarding risk factors for suicide within this highly marginalized and underserved population.
{"title":"A qualitative analysis of suicide risk factors, preferred means, and means restriction feasibility within a homeless shelter environment","authors":"Gabrielle Poon, Lori K. Holleran, Joyce P Chu, P. Goldblum, B. Bongar","doi":"10.1080/10530789.2017.1363505","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10530789.2017.1363505","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Suicide completion rates among homeless individuals are approximately nine times higher than the general population. The purpose of this study was to capture the state of social support among homeless individuals, understand how homeless community members support peers in crisis, examine the awareness of suicidal ideation, identify common methods for suicide, and generate strategies for means restriction within a shelter. Twenty individuals residing at an emergency shelter were interviewed. Participants were of diverse cultural identities overrepresented in the sample relative to the general population. Interviews revealed that 40% of participants lacked social support. However, the majority indicated that if they encountered someone at risk for suicide, they would provide support and encouragement to the at-risk individual. Almost half of participants reported knowing of an individual in the shelter who had previously attempted suicide and/or was currently or previously feeling suicidal. Overdose was identified as a primary method for suicide; however, the majority of participants were unable to generate strategies for means restriction. The present study offers a glimpse into the experience of homeless individuals and provides valuable information regarding risk factors for suicide within this highly marginalized and underserved population.","PeriodicalId":45390,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Social Distress and the Homeless","volume":"26 1","pages":"148 - 156"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2017-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/10530789.2017.1363505","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47956628","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2017-07-03DOI: 10.1080/10530789.2017.1349597
A. Ponce, B. Cowan, P. Toro, J. Schumacher, S. Z. Gross, J. Bray, H. Aralis, N. Milburn
ABSTRACT Homelessness in the U.S. remains a pernicious social problem despite national coordinated efforts to end it. Psychologists are well positioned to address homelessness through direct service, advocacy, research, and policy work. Results of a survey of psychologist members (n = 197) and student members (n = 209) of the American Psychological Association highlighted activities they engaged in related to helping people who experience housing instability and showed psychologists are more compassionate toward those who experience homelessness than is the general public. Respondents suggested a number of factors that would encourage their greater involvement with homelessness issues including receiving more focused training, increased funding for services, and simply being asked by someone to help. Given the continued problem of homelessness, psychologists can play an important role in supporting those who are in this situation. Suggestions for increasing training and engagement of psychologists are discussed.
{"title":"Psychologists’ roles in ending homelessness","authors":"A. Ponce, B. Cowan, P. Toro, J. Schumacher, S. Z. Gross, J. Bray, H. Aralis, N. Milburn","doi":"10.1080/10530789.2017.1349597","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10530789.2017.1349597","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Homelessness in the U.S. remains a pernicious social problem despite national coordinated efforts to end it. Psychologists are well positioned to address homelessness through direct service, advocacy, research, and policy work. Results of a survey of psychologist members (n = 197) and student members (n = 209) of the American Psychological Association highlighted activities they engaged in related to helping people who experience housing instability and showed psychologists are more compassionate toward those who experience homelessness than is the general public. Respondents suggested a number of factors that would encourage their greater involvement with homelessness issues including receiving more focused training, increased funding for services, and simply being asked by someone to help. Given the continued problem of homelessness, psychologists can play an important role in supporting those who are in this situation. Suggestions for increasing training and engagement of psychologists are discussed.","PeriodicalId":45390,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Social Distress and the Homeless","volume":"26 1","pages":"116 - 127"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2017-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/10530789.2017.1349597","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43046298","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2017-06-25DOI: 10.1080/10530789.2017.1341462
Brian Park, E. Beckman, Catherine Glatz, Andrew J. B. Pisansky, John Y. Song
ABSTRACT Homeless patients have longer hospital stays than housed persons due, in part, to a lack of safe discharge locations. Respite care for homeless individuals decreases hospital length of stay and readmissions rates. This study aimed to develop client-centered recommendations for medical respite care. We conducted four focus group interviews (n = 25 participants) between August 2010 and February 2013 of homeless adult residents in Minnesota. Four domains of respite care were identified from content analysis of interviews: physical, relational, facilitation, and amenities. Novel recommendations include (a) a facility equipped to address mental health and substance dependence needs, (b) a standardized training protocol for respite staff, (c) the creation of a patient advocate, and (d) the creation of a respite case manager to facilitate post-discharge instructions and connection to primary care and social services. These new and actionable recommendations could help inform policies and the development of future medical respite care facilities.
{"title":"A place to heal: a qualitative focus group study of respite care preferences among individuals experiencing homelessness*","authors":"Brian Park, E. Beckman, Catherine Glatz, Andrew J. B. Pisansky, John Y. Song","doi":"10.1080/10530789.2017.1341462","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10530789.2017.1341462","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Homeless patients have longer hospital stays than housed persons due, in part, to a lack of safe discharge locations. Respite care for homeless individuals decreases hospital length of stay and readmissions rates. This study aimed to develop client-centered recommendations for medical respite care. We conducted four focus group interviews (n = 25 participants) between August 2010 and February 2013 of homeless adult residents in Minnesota. Four domains of respite care were identified from content analysis of interviews: physical, relational, facilitation, and amenities. Novel recommendations include (a) a facility equipped to address mental health and substance dependence needs, (b) a standardized training protocol for respite staff, (c) the creation of a patient advocate, and (d) the creation of a respite case manager to facilitate post-discharge instructions and connection to primary care and social services. These new and actionable recommendations could help inform policies and the development of future medical respite care facilities.","PeriodicalId":45390,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Social Distress and the Homeless","volume":"26 1","pages":"104 - 115"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2017-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/10530789.2017.1341462","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47821902","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2017-05-29DOI: 10.1080/10530789.2017.1332559
R. Newman, Amy Donley
ABSTRACT Homeless men represent the majority of homeless people. While federal funding priorities have shifted to permanent housing solutions, quality emergency shelters are vital in communities to help these men. To determine the best practices in emergency shelter delivery to homeless men based on top agency representatives’ opinions. Leaders from 21 emergency shelters that serve single men throughout the U.S.A. were interviewed about their facilities, their opinions on the best practices of emergency shelters, and barriers that single men face in exiting homelessness. The main goal of emergency shelters is to offer a welcoming environment. Emergency shelters try to offer a variety of services on-site, but find it difficult to offer medical and dental services at facilities with smaller budgets. Access to beds, showers, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, case management, and access to medical services are seen as vital to the success of the emergency shelter. These emergency shelters have many services in place to help the single male population. The most important services are ones that address the basic needs of human beings first: food, showers, beds, medical services, and storage. Mental health and breaking substance dependency are also priorities.
{"title":"Best practices for emergency shelters that serve male populations","authors":"R. Newman, Amy Donley","doi":"10.1080/10530789.2017.1332559","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10530789.2017.1332559","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Homeless men represent the majority of homeless people. While federal funding priorities have shifted to permanent housing solutions, quality emergency shelters are vital in communities to help these men. To determine the best practices in emergency shelter delivery to homeless men based on top agency representatives’ opinions. Leaders from 21 emergency shelters that serve single men throughout the U.S.A. were interviewed about their facilities, their opinions on the best practices of emergency shelters, and barriers that single men face in exiting homelessness. The main goal of emergency shelters is to offer a welcoming environment. Emergency shelters try to offer a variety of services on-site, but find it difficult to offer medical and dental services at facilities with smaller budgets. Access to beds, showers, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, case management, and access to medical services are seen as vital to the success of the emergency shelter. These emergency shelters have many services in place to help the single male population. The most important services are ones that address the basic needs of human beings first: food, showers, beds, medical services, and storage. Mental health and breaking substance dependency are also priorities.","PeriodicalId":45390,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Social Distress and the Homeless","volume":"26 1","pages":"103 - 97"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2017-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/10530789.2017.1332559","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42216189","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2017-05-24DOI: 10.1080/10530789.2017.1328007
D. Srebnik, L. Sylla, M. Hoffman, R. Franzen
ABSTRACT For people experiencing chronic homelessness, supportive housing with intensive social, health, and behavioral health services reduces the likelihood of re-entering homelessness and the public costs of associated acute medical care, shelter use, and incarceration. Due to a limited supply of supportive housing, it must be allocated to those most in need. This paper examines findings from a unique, region-wide method for prioritizing individuals for supportive housing based on utilization of high-cost public services and vulnerability if left on the street. A sample of 196 individuals were prioritized for housing based on this method, while a comparison group of 102 were housed not using the method. Results showed that those housed under the prioritization method achieved greater reductions in utilization of high-cost public services, but were also less likely to have positive dispositions when exiting the housing programs, suggesting the need for a greater intensity of supports and/or multiple “doses” of supportive housing before stability can be expected. The method described in the paper can provide a starting point for developing regional, comprehensive systems of coordinated, prioritized entry into supportive housing, such as those now required by US Department of Housing and Urban Development.
{"title":"Impact of a supported housing prioritization system using vulnerability and high service utilization","authors":"D. Srebnik, L. Sylla, M. Hoffman, R. Franzen","doi":"10.1080/10530789.2017.1328007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10530789.2017.1328007","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT For people experiencing chronic homelessness, supportive housing with intensive social, health, and behavioral health services reduces the likelihood of re-entering homelessness and the public costs of associated acute medical care, shelter use, and incarceration. Due to a limited supply of supportive housing, it must be allocated to those most in need. This paper examines findings from a unique, region-wide method for prioritizing individuals for supportive housing based on utilization of high-cost public services and vulnerability if left on the street. A sample of 196 individuals were prioritized for housing based on this method, while a comparison group of 102 were housed not using the method. Results showed that those housed under the prioritization method achieved greater reductions in utilization of high-cost public services, but were also less likely to have positive dispositions when exiting the housing programs, suggesting the need for a greater intensity of supports and/or multiple “doses” of supportive housing before stability can be expected. The method described in the paper can provide a starting point for developing regional, comprehensive systems of coordinated, prioritized entry into supportive housing, such as those now required by US Department of Housing and Urban Development.","PeriodicalId":45390,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Social Distress and the Homeless","volume":"26 1","pages":"90 - 96"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2017-05-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/10530789.2017.1328007","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45316728","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2017-05-16DOI: 10.1080/10530789.2017.1324358
M. Young, N. Abbott, Emily Goebel
ABSTRACT In a climate of reduced access to affordable and appropriate housing, tent cities have emerged as a unique solution to homelessness. Conducted with a semi-structured interview schedule, this qualitative study presents the findings of research conducted at Tent City, Victoria in 2016. Using snowball sampling, 12 residents of Tent City participated in research that revealed four themes for analysis: (1) push and pull motivations to join the encampment; (2) the role of services in resident’s lives; (3) residents’ experiences with the outside community; and (4) Tent City as a home community. Push factors included substance abuse, mental health problems, unemployment, family problems while pull factors included lack of affordable and appropriate housing, loss of housing, and personal issues. Residents’ experiences with services were generally negative with social/health services being considered inadequate, housing options overly restrictive and controlling. The outside community was considered hostile and uninformed as the workings of Tent City and the benefits it provided. Importantly, Tent City provided both a psychological and functional sense of community for residents. While the directions for future research are many, further examination of the broader sociopolitical context in which tent cities emerge could be examined. As well, the themes identified here could be explored further in terms of how existing services could be restructured to better respond to the needs of homeless persons.
{"title":"Telling their story of homelessness: voices of Victoria’s Tent City","authors":"M. Young, N. Abbott, Emily Goebel","doi":"10.1080/10530789.2017.1324358","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10530789.2017.1324358","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT In a climate of reduced access to affordable and appropriate housing, tent cities have emerged as a unique solution to homelessness. Conducted with a semi-structured interview schedule, this qualitative study presents the findings of research conducted at Tent City, Victoria in 2016. Using snowball sampling, 12 residents of Tent City participated in research that revealed four themes for analysis: (1) push and pull motivations to join the encampment; (2) the role of services in resident’s lives; (3) residents’ experiences with the outside community; and (4) Tent City as a home community. Push factors included substance abuse, mental health problems, unemployment, family problems while pull factors included lack of affordable and appropriate housing, loss of housing, and personal issues. Residents’ experiences with services were generally negative with social/health services being considered inadequate, housing options overly restrictive and controlling. The outside community was considered hostile and uninformed as the workings of Tent City and the benefits it provided. Importantly, Tent City provided both a psychological and functional sense of community for residents. While the directions for future research are many, further examination of the broader sociopolitical context in which tent cities emerge could be examined. As well, the themes identified here could be explored further in terms of how existing services could be restructured to better respond to the needs of homeless persons.","PeriodicalId":45390,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Social Distress and the Homeless","volume":"26 1","pages":"79 - 89"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2017-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/10530789.2017.1324358","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46767310","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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