New Homelessness Resource Center Articles

The State of Homelessness in Canada 2013

Gaetz, Stephen; Donaldson, Jesse; Richter, Tim; Gulliver, Tanya — 2013-06-19T09:23:25

The State of Homelessness in Canada: 2013 is the first extensive Canadian report card on homelessness. This report examines what we know about homelessness, the historical, social and economic context in which it has emerged, demographic features of the problem, and potential solutions. The State of Homelessness provides a starting point to inform the development of a consistent, evidence-based approach towards ending homelessness. Our goal in developing this report was to both assess the breadth of the problem and to develop a methodology for national measurement. We believe that homelessness is not a given and that not just reducing, but ending, the crisis is achievable. The information for the State of Homelessness in Canada report has been compiled by the Canadian Homelessness Research Network (Homeless Hub) and the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness from the best available research to date. Because we lack strong data on homelessness in Canada, our estimates of the scale of the problem are just that: an estimate, but they represent an important starting point. As the first national report card on homelessness, the evaluation of the response to homelessness by Canada’s homeless sector provides an important means of benchmarking progress toward ending homelessness.

Organization: Canadian Homelessness Research Network (CHRN); Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness

The New Brunswick Economic and Social Inclusion Plan Progress Report March 2013

2013-06-17T01:43:05

This update, which covers the period from April 1, 2011, to March 31, 2013, consists of a general report on the Overcoming Poverty Together; a report on the activities and projects undertaken by the community inclusion networks; and a report on the priority action plan established at the onset of the initiative.

Organization: NB Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation

State of Homelessness in Canada: 2013 to be released June 19, 2013

2013-06-17T12:12:01

The Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness and the Canadian Homelessness Research Network will release the first extensive Canadian report card on homelessness called State of Homelessness in Canada: 2013 this week in Toronto.

2013 PATH Annual Reporting Tools

2013-06-14T04:30:29

This resource contains materials related to the new PATH Annual Report form. It includes the new PATH Annual Report form, the new Provider Guide, a recording of the PATH Annual Reporting webinar for PATH Providers, and the PowerPoint presentation from the webinar.

Organization: Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness

Tags: PATH; data reporting; data collection

Saskatoon Plan to End Homelessness June 2013

2013-06-13T02:33:51

In 2013, Saskatoon adopted a new strategy to deal with homelessness. Fundamental to this strategy is a belief that ending homelessness is possible: when fully implemented, a person who falls into homelessness will be able to rely on a system that will help move them into permanent housing within seven days. Stable, safe housing is a basic need for every human being and the foundation for building a strong community for all residents. This plan is grounded in the belief that every resident strengthens our community’s social and economic development and deserves the opportunity to thrive.

Organization: United Way Saskatoon & Area

Niagara Resource Service for Youth

2013-06-12T10:39:50

One of the few youth-serving organizations in the region, Niagara Resource Service for Youth (The RAFT) offers services to high risk and homeless youth throughout Niagara, while working collaboratively with peer agencies and support groups to foster cooperation and eliminate duplication of services. The Youth Reconnect Program, first piloted by the RAFT in 2008, now links young people from the Niagara region with a range of services in order to prevent homelessness, or to get them back into housing as soon as possible.

Organization: The Homeless Hub

Train for Trades - A Program of Choices for Youth

2013-06-12T10:37:04

Choices for Youth (CFY) is an organization that works with young people who have experienced, and continue to experience substantial barriers and trauma in their lives. The organization was founded in 1990, as a response to an identified need among youth, the community, and government to have an empowerment-based program available to youth. The Train for Trades program at CFY was created as a means of providing employment opportunities and services to meet the needs and challenges of the most hard-to-serve homeless youth in St. John’s.

Organization: The Homeless Hub

Promising Practices in Preventing and Reducing Homelessness

2013-06-12T10:33:12

The Canadian Homelessness Research Network (CHRN), supported by the Homelessness Partnering Secretariat, has developed a framework to identify and share promising practices to support communities in the development of effective solutions to preventing and reducing homelessness. This webinar will provide an overview of the framework, as well as highlights from two promising practice case studies. The Victoria Cool Aid Society will present their holistic approach to providing housing and support services geared for specific needs. The Boys and Girls Club of Calgary will present an innovative housing-first program for youth.

Organization: The Homeless Hub

Incarceration Histories of Homeless Veterans and Progression Through a National Supported Housing Program

Tejani, N.; Rosenheck, R. ; Tsai, J. ; Kasprow, W.; McGuire, J.F. — 2013-06-11T11:08:22

There is increasing concern that adults with a past history of incarceration are at particular disadvantage in exiting homelessness. Supported housing with case management has emerged as the leading service model for assisting homeless adults; however there has been limited examination of the success of adults with past history of incarceration in obtaining housing within this paradigm. Data were examined on 14,557 veterans who entered a national supported housing program for homeless veterans, the Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program (HUD-VASH) during 2008 and 2009, to identify characteristics associated with a history of incarceration and to evaluate whether those with a history of incarceration are less likely to obtain housing and/or more likely to experience delays in the housing attainment process. Veterans who reported no past incarceration were compared with veterans with short incarceration histories (≤1 year) and those with long incarceration histories (>1 year). A majority of participants reported history of incarceration; 43 % reported short incarceration histories and 22 % reported long incarceration histories. After adjusting for baseline characteristics and site, history of incarceration did not appear to impede therapeutic alliance, progression through the housing process or obtaining housing. Within a national supported housing program, veterans with a history of incarceration were just as successful at obtaining housing in similar time frames when compared to veterans without any past incarceration. Supported housing programs, like HUD-VASH, appear to be able to overcome impediments faced by formerly incarcerated homeless veterans and therefore should be considered a a good model for housing assistance programs.

Journal Name: Community Mental Health Journal

Social Housing in Manitoba

2013-06-10T03:57:59

The Manitoba Centre for Health Policy (MCHP) in conjunction with Manitoba Housing and Community Development (Manitoba Housing), Manitoba Energy, Innovation, and Mines (IEM) who maintain the database, and Manitoba Health worked collaboratively to integrate fourteen years of social housing data (1995/96–2009/10) into the Population Health Research Data Repository (Repository) maintained at MCHP. This allowed for an unprecedented opportunity to describe the population of individuals living in social housing and, through data linkage, to compare them to the rest of the province on a number of health and social indicators. We started by investigating the overall quality of the data. Due to changes in systems and policies over time, we have concluded that data collected since 2000 are the most consistent. Of the many elements contained in these data, we believe that the information regarding when a person or family moved into a social housing unit and when they moved out were the most reliable and was pertinent to this study. While there is much more information in the database, much of it should be interpreted cautiously in the context of the policy and procedures that were in place during a given point in time. The first three chapters of this report describe the social housing units provided by Manitoba Housing and the people living in them. The remaining chapters explore the health and social factors of individuals living in social housing compared to a cohort consisting of all other Manitobans. Despite previous limited government data on the health of eople living in social housing, where possible, our findings have been compared to published research. It is important to note that in this report we only discuss people living in social housing directly managed by Manitoba Housing. There are many other social housing locations in the province that could not be included— about 21,800 units are managed by non–profit groups or as co–ops. Person–level data are not collected by Manitoba Housing for these units, as they provide block funding to these entities.

Organization: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba

Is It Enough? Considering the Adequacy of Public Care for LBGT Youth

Kovacs, Jacob — 2013-06-10T03:43:18

Through mapping and feminist care ethical analysis, this paper evaluates current services (public care) for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth (LGBT) in Washington State, identifying several potential areas and dimensions of unmet need. To contextualize this need, I argue that LGBT youth’s demand for public care originates in LGBT youth’s exclusion from private sources of care, and that any assessment of adequacy should consider what role community service organizations need to fill—that of family. I suggest that literature on services for LGBT youth underemphasizes this vital point, and that organizations serving LGBT youth would benefit from incorporating a care ethical analysis into their service missions and advocacy work.

Journal Name: Plenum

Delivering Integrated Service Responses to Homelessness: A Best Practice Review of Leading Communities for the Building Community Capacity Project in the Comox Valley, Vancouver Island BC.

2013-06-10T11:36:42

The report describes the results of an examination of available research on homelessness, approaches, plans and practices as they relate to ending homelessness and interviews with key stakeholders conducted in the Comox Valley and leading communities in BC and Alberta; Victoria, Calgary, Nanaimo, Red deer, Port Alberni, and Grand Prairie.

Organization: Comox Valley Housing Task Force; The Comox Valley Community Capacity Initiative Collective

10 Year Plan to End Homelessness – City of Kingston and County of Frontenac

2013-06-10T11:11:04

Under the Province’s Long Term Affordable Housing Strategy (LTAHS) and the Housing Services Act (HSA), each Service Manager is obligated to develop a 10 Year Housing & Homelessness Plan effective January 1, 2014. The City of Kingston, as Service Manager, hired OrgCode Consulting in August 2012 to conduct consultations and prepare a 10 Year Homelessness Plan for the Service Manager area which includes the County of Frontenac. The Implementation Compendium of the Homelessness Plan includes several recommendations to be undertaken within the next several months including the re-allocation of homelessness funding for 2014. Once the plan has been endorsed, City staff can begin developing the method for adjusting funding allocations to service providers, based on the recommendations in the Plan and Compendium and will report to City Council on staff’s recommended funding methodology.

Organization: City of Kingston

Building Families’ Futures and Opportunities Through Habitat Homeownership

2013-06-10T10:15:39

This Research Highlight summarizes the results of a 2012 Canada-wide survey of families who purchased a home through Habitat for Humanity Canada (hereafter Habitat). The CMHC research study built on a previous small-sample survey that demonstrated benefits to Habitat homebuyers and sought to provide information for assessing the impacts of homebuying with Habitat across Canada. It examines the outcomes for Habitat homebuyers, including social, financial and other outcomes.

Organization: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

Homeless sexual minority youth: An overview for the nurse practitioner

Parr, M. M. — 2013-06-10T10:00:17

Homeless sexual minority youth are overrepresented among homeless youth and experience more negative health outcomes than their heterosexual peers. Barriers to access and ethical challenges contribute to make this population one of the most underserved in the United States. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the evidence related to the health of homeless sexual minority youth and to identify a theoretical model of care for the nurse practitioner. A systematic literature review was used to determine the state of the evidence related to the health and health needs of homeless youth who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender and to search for a theory-based model of care. Findings confirm significant disparities in health and access to care. Among homeless youth, those who do not identify as heterosexual are at greater risk for suicide, substance use, mental health problems, and victimization. They are more likely to experience discrimination and to be affected by stigma than similar heterosexual youth. The nurse practitioner is well-suited to provide care to this population. Ecological systems theory provides one theoretical base for the development or adaptation of practice models. A new model based on existing ecological models is proposed.

Journal Name: The Internet Journal of Advanced Nursing Practice

A Qualitative Exploration of the Spatial Needs of Homeless Drug Users Living in Hostels and Night Shelters

Neale, Joanne — 2013-06-07T02:35:34

Qualitative data were deployed to explore the spatial needs of homeless drug users staying in hostels and night shelters. Findings indicated that Fitzpatrick and LaGory's four categories of spatial need (‘privacy’, ‘personal space’, ‘social interaction’, ‘safe and defensible spaces’) all had good analytical purchase. However, three further need categories (‘institutional support’, ‘amenities and standards’, ‘spatiotemporal structures and boundaries’) were identified. While hostels and night shelters met the spatial needs of some homeless drug users, there was considerable scope for improvement; indeed, failure to meet spatial needs could result in increased drug use, risky injecting practices, worsening health and a return to the streets. Our seven-fold categorisation of spatial needs requires further empirical study but could potentially inform other place-based approaches to health.

Journal Name: Social Policy and Society

Reading the landscape of public libraries as place : experiences of homeless men in public libraries in Vancouver, BC

McKendry, Jean Marie — 2013-06-07T01:52:46

Some homeless men are very frequent public library users, but are rarely asked by librarians for their opinions about libraries. Semi-structured individual interviews of 23 homeless men investigated how they used libraries and explored their understanding of the library as a place in downtown Vancouver, BC. Despite not being eligible for regular library membership privileges, often due to simply not having an address, 14 participants were still very frequent Central Library users. Homelessness is a high risk lifestyle and 4 participants who purposely avoided street danger in the Downtown Eastside found a safer niche within the Central Library, while 15 participants purposely chose to physically distance themselves from the stigma of homelessness and mostly kept to themselves while they were at the Central Library, which was often daily from opening until closing. Public space in libraries is especially valuable to homeless people who have no private space of their own. Amenities such as washrooms, comfortable seating and access to the Internet, which are not as freely available elsewhere as they are at libraries, made the Central Library the preferred library among all participants. Just like many of the other library users at the Central Library, participants enjoyed very ordinary library experiences, such as reading for pleasure, learning, playing online games, searching the Internet and sending and receiving emails, and some of the most frequent users created a new social identity for themselves as library users, which is far more socially acceptable than the stigmatized social identity of homelessness. Being a frequent library user gave some participants a routine and stability and the anonymity of being an ordinary library user at the Central Library gave participants an opportunity to be treated respectfully by other library users. Seventeen participants believed that using public libraries had greatly improved their lives and used libraries as transition spaces to improve their circumstances. Some participants who were frequent library users said they would like to have their own library membership for the Central Library, perhaps as much to give them a sense of belonging in their own community as for borrowing library materials.

An Occupational Therapy Intervention Service to hostels for homeless people: an overview

Parmenter, Vanessa; Fieldhouse, Jon; Barham, Ruth — 2013-06-07T01:36:50

This evaluation of an Occupational Therapy Intervention Service within homeless persons' hostels in Bristol, England, highlights the efficacy of occupational therapy with this service user group and reflects on the practicalities of delivering such a service in an inter-agency context. Occupational therapy engaged homeless individuals with complex needs who were often defended against change in their own lives. Over 7 months an Occupational Therapy Intervention Service provided an individual service for 16 residents and made a further 542 contacts through group work. The creation of psychosocial microenvironments within hostels allowed individuals to experience themselves differently and contemplate the possibility of change. The importance of collaborative working between occupational therapists and hostel staff is examined in the light of the psychologically informed environments agenda.

Journal Name: The British Journal of Occupational Therapy

Correlates of Energy Intake and Body Mass Index among Homeless Children in Minnesota

Richards, Rickelle; Smith, Chery; Eggett, Dennis L. — 2013-06-07T12:51:02

This study evaluated environmental, personal, and behavioral correlates of BMI-for-age percentiles, dietary intake (kilocalories, carbohydrates, protein, fat, and Food Guide Pyramid food groups), and physical activity variables among homeless children. Methods: A 74-item survey, using social cognitive theory as the theoretical framework, height, weight, and one 24-hour recall were collected from homeless children aged 9–13 (n=159) at two shelters in Minneapolis, MN. Principal component analysis was performed on the subsections of the survey. Independent t-tests, Fisher exact tests, and chi-squared statistics evaluated sociodemographic and BMI percentile variables. Nonparametric tests evaluated dietary data. Stepwise regression models evaluated correlates of BMI percentiles, physical activity, and dietary intake variables. Results: Approximately 45% were overweight or obese (≥85th percentile). Dietary data represented intake on a given day, with children consuming a median 1.2 servings from the fruits and vegetables food group, 17.3 servings from the fats and sweets food group (one serving=grams in 1 Tbsp. fat/1 tsp. sugar), and the percent of calories from fat varying significantly between shelter 1 (S1) versus shelter 2 (S2) boys (37.1% vs. 31.7%, p<0.001). Factors identified from survey items and sociodemographic variables accounted for between 6% and 14% of the variance in energy intake and other dietary and physical activity variables (p range, 0.008 to <0.001). Conclusions: Parental role modeling of eating behaviors and getting enough food were associated with less favorable food choices among homeless children. Policy interventions and program initiatives in the homeless environment could promote healthier food choices among children.

Journal Name: Childhood Obesity

Assessment of Youth-Friendly Health Care: A Systematic Review of Indicators Drawn From Young People's Perspectives

2013-06-07T12:42:32

Three bibliographic databases were searched to identify studies that purportedly measured young people's perspectives on health care. Each study was assessed to identify the constructs, domains, and indicators of adolescent-friendly health care. Results Twenty-two studies were identified: 15 used quantitative methods, six used qualitative methods and one used mixed methodology. Eight domains stood out as central to young people's positive experience of care. These were: accessibility of health care; staff attitude; communication; medical competency; guideline-driven care; age appropriate environments; youth involvement in health care; and health outcomes. Staff attitudes, which included notions of respect and friendliness, appeared universally applicable, whereas other domains, such as an appropriate environment including cleanliness, were more specific to particular contexts. Conclusion These eight domains provide a practical framework for assessing how well services are engaging young people. Measures of youth-friendly health care should address universally applicable indicators of youth-friendly care and may benefit from additional questions that are specific to the local health setting.

Journal Name: Journal of Adolescent Health

The mental health effects on adolescents of moving from a high- to low-poverty neighbourhood differ by gender and baseline health vulnerability

Georgiades, K. — 2013-06-07T12:19:11

A total of 3557 adolescents aged 12–19 years (50% women, 63% black ethnicity, 30% Hispanic) from families volunteering to take part in the Moving to Opportunity Study. These families had children younger than 18 years and lived in public housing in high-poverty areas. Moving from a high-poverty to low-poverty neighbourhood. The experimental group received vouchers for government-funded rental subsidies so they could move into private apartments. The control group remained in public housing.

Journal Name: Evidence-Based Mental Health

Attitudes toward mental health services among homeless, runaway and housed youth

Martin, Jared K. — 2013-06-07T11:59:19

Youth homelessness is a serious concern in the United States that is commonly influenced by family conflict and parental maltreatment leading youth to flee their homes. Early traumatic experiences, combined with high rates of victimization, contribute to elevated levels of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, and suicidality among homeless and runaway youth. A small number of studies have been conducted on mental health service use among homeless and runaway youth, with the majority of those studies reporting an under-utilization of services. The current study provides an analysis of homeless and runaway youths’ attitudes towards mental health services in order to identify possible factors that can assist service providers with understanding and increasing service engagement. Variables examined included help seeking propensity, psychological openness, concern for mental health stigma, parental maltreatment, street victimization and services needs assessment. The current study also examines the relationship between social support and attitudes toward mental health services. A comparison sample of housed youth was obtained in order to determine if mental health attitudes are unique to homeless youth. Fifty-six youth who identified as homeless were recruited through youth drop-in centers and a shelter in Northern California, and 97 housed youth were recruited from alternative community continuation schools in the same region. Analysis of variance showed that homeless and housed groups did not differ significantly on attitudes toward mental health services, help seeking propensity, psychological openness, and concern for mental health stigma. Additional findings revealed that, for homeless youth, the more perceived friend support, the more their concern for mental health stigma decreased and the more supportive individuals available, the more positive attitudes toward mental health services and help seeking propensity increased. Comparison of correlations between homeless and housed groups revealed only one significant difference; the association between perceived family support and help seeking propensity was strongest for the housed group than for the homeless group. Results demonstrated that homeless youth and housed youth share similar attitudes toward mental health services, help seeking propensity, psychological openness, and concern for mental health stigma. Mean scores obtained on these measures were comparable to the only existing study on adolescents’ attitudes toward mental health services, which suggested that these attitudes might be typical across multiple youth populations. Findings also indicate that higher social support is associated with increased attitudes toward mental health services, increased help seeking propensity, and decreased concern for mental health stigma for homeless youth and high perceived family support is associated with increased help seeking propensity for housed youth. Service providers can benefit from these results by modifying programs or outreach efforts to include assistance with transportation to services (a key barrier youth identified), target social support and emphasize positive youth development practices in order to increase positive attitudes toward service providers and increase service use.

Service provision for mentally disordered homeless people

Salize, Hans J.; Werner, Amelie; Jacke, Christian O. — 2013-06-07T11:52:15

Service provision for homeless mentally ill or the effectiveness of care is a neglected research topic. Research budgets are not primarily spent on a clientele with very weak lobbying power. Administrative barriers between social welfare and healthcare systems are not helpful in stimulating research on adverse effects of these barriers. Additionally, homeless people suffering from psychiatric disorders show a reduced insight into need for care and a weak help seeking behavior. The current economic crisis accelerates both the social decline and the deterioration of physical and mental health in high-risk groups worldwide, which increases the need for prevention or care strategies for mentally disordered homeless people.

Journal Name: Current Opinion in Psychiatry

Senior Community Centers of San Diego As a Preventive Care Model: A Perspective

Pettigrew, Kate A. — 2013-06-07T11:43:40

As the elderly population continues to grow, the challenges of providing it with respectful, high-quality, cost-effective care is becoming a focal point for all healthcare stakeholders. In a disease-centric medical system such as that in the U.S., very few organizations focus on all aspects of wellness. Senior Community Centers of San Diego's innovative solutions address key needs of a vulnerable, high-cost, aging population, including housing, nutrition, chronic disease management, acute illness prevention, health literacy, social support, preventive care, and the coordinated relationships among them. These services support seniors' independence and help keep them engaged in the surrounding community.

Journal Name: American Journal of Preventive Medicine

Predicting to Placement: A Population-based Study of Out-of-Home Placement, Child Maltreatment, and Emergency Housing

Perlman, Staci; Fantuzzo, John — 2013-06-06T11:28:51

Guided by a developmental epidemiology framework, this study examines the extent to which first experiences of child maltreatment and use of emergency housing are predictive of out-of-home placement in early childhood. The study sample is a population of 12,045 second grade students in a large, urban school district. Information on birth, maternal, and social risk factors was obtained and linked through an integrated data system. Life table analyses were used to develop a descriptive picture of the timing of first out-of-home placement experience. Findings demonstrate that children are most likely to experience a first out-of-home placement during their first year of life. Cox regression analyses are used to examine the extent to which variables for risk factors (specifically child maltreatment and use of emergency housing) predict the first out-of-home placement experience while controlling for demographics, birth risks, and maternal risks. Results demonstrate that children with histories of child maltreatment or emergency housing use are more likely than peers without such histories to be placed in out-of-home care. Further, children with histories of both child maltreatment and emergency housing use are less likely to be placed in out-of-home care than children who have experienced either child maltreatment or emergency housing use (but not both). Findings point to the importance of interagency collaboration and a focus on young children for addressing the needs of vulnerable young children and their families.

Journal Name: Journal of the Society for Social Work Research

Follow-Up Implementation and Fidelity Evaluation of the Mental Health Commission of Canada's At Home/Chez Soi Project: Toronto Site

2013-06-05T11:09:44

This report reflects findings from the one year follow-up Implementation Evaluation conducted at the Toronto site. It includes the results of a fidelity assessment completed in April 2012 by a Quality Assurance team for the At Home project, as well as the perspectives of service providers from the Toronto Site. The purpose of this evaluation is to identify changes in program fidelity as well as to understand continued and emerging strengths, challenges and improvements in the implementation of the At Home / Chez Soi program over a period of one year (May 2011- May 2012).

Organization: Mental Health Commission of Canada; St. Michael's Hospital

Follow-Up Implementation and Fidelity Evaluation of the Mental Health Commission of Canada's At Home/Chez Soi Project: Cross-site Report

2013-06-04T12:42:57

This report presents the overall findings from an implementation and fidelity evaluation of the At Home/Chez Soi initiative, a pan-Canadian Housing First demonstration project presently being implemented in Moncton, Montréal, Toronto, Winnipeg, and Vancouver. The present study examined the second phase of implementation, using a mixed methods strategy. The quantitative data were gathered by an external Quality Assurance team, which produced 10 fidelity reports for the 5 sites (excluding site-specific arms). Program fidelity ratings are based on 89 staff interviews, 11 consumer focus groups, and 102 chart reviews. In addition, 5 site qualitative implementation evaluation reports were produced, and interviews with members of the QA team were conducted. These reports are based on 36 key informant interviews, 17 staff focus groups, and 57 interviews with landlords and caretakers. The present report synthesizes the fidelity reports and qualitative reports, and presents findings related to: (1) ongoing and emerging fidelity strengths and challenges; (2) stakeholder perceptions of what accounts for fidelity strengths and challenges; (3) lessons learned about the Housing First theory of change; (4) landlord/caretaker issues; and (5) issues regarding sustainability and the future of the project. Cross-cutting themes and lessons learned are also identified.

Organization: Mental Health Commission of Canada

Inadequate Housing Among Families Under Investigation for Child Abuse and Neglect: Prevalence from a National Probability Sample

2013-06-04T12:02:20

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of inadequate housing that threaten out-of-home placement among families under investigation by child welfare. Data came from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being, a nationally representative longitudinal survey of child welfare-involved families. Child protective services caseworkers as well as caregivers provided information on families whose child remained in the home after initial investigation (N = 3,867). Multilevel latent class analyses tested the presence of inadequately housed subgroups using 4 housing problem indicators at baseline. Logistic regressions assessed convergent and predictive validity. A two class latent solution best fit the data. Findings indicated that inadequate housing contributed to risk for out-of-home placement in approximately 16 % of intact families under investigation by child protective services. These families were 4 times more likely to need housing services 12 months later. Federal legislation emphasizes integration of social services as necessary to end homelessness. This study demonstrates overlap across public agencies. Enhanced coordination of child welfare and housing services facilitates interventions to prevent and mitigate homelessness.

Journal Name: American Journal of Community Psychology

Using Photovoice Methodology to Give Voice to the Health Care Needs of Homeless Families

Bredesen, Joyce A.; Stevens, Marcia S. — 2013-06-04T11:54:43

Photovoice is a participatory action research strategy that enables community members to document and discuss their life conditions as they see them. This photographic technique can give ―voice‖ to vulnerable populations who seldom have access to policymakers in positions to make change on their behalf. Thirteen homeless individuals living in St. Paul, Minnesota were provided cameras and asked to document the everyday reality of their personal or family‘s health. They were directed to photograph any image they believed either positively or negatively influenced their personal or family‘s health. The primary investigator met with each participant to conduct a semi-structured interview using the participant‘s photographs to guide the interview. Content analysis procedures were used to analyze the recorded interviews. This report is a description of the initial phase of a project that culminated with a public forum designed to develop recommendations for a community action plan.

Journal Name: American International Journal of Contemporary Research

Management of chronic kidney disease and dialysis in homeless persons

Podymow, Tiina; Turnbull, Jeff — 2013-06-04T11:44:28

End-stage renal disease and dialysis are complicated illnesses to manage in homeless persons, who often suffer medical comorbidities, psychiatric disease, cognitive impairment and addictions; descriptions of this population and management strategies are lacking. A retrospective review of dialysis patients who were homeless or unstably housed was undertaken at an urban academic Canadian center from 2001 to 2011. Electronic hospital records were analyzed for demographic, housing, medical, and psychiatric history, dialysis history, adherence to treatment, and outcomes. Two detailed cases of homeless patients with chronic kidney disease are presented. Eleven homeless dialysis patients with a mean age of 52.7±12.3 years, mostly men and mostly from minority groups were dialyzed for 41.1±29.2 months. Most resided permanently in shelters, eventually obtained fistula access, and were adherent to dialysis schedules. Patients were often nonadherent to pre-dialysis management, resulting in emergency starts. Many barriers to care for homeless persons with end-stage kidney disease and on dialysis are identified, and management strategies are highlighted. Adherence is optimized with shelter-based health care and intensive team-oriented case management.

Journal Name: Kidney International Supplements

Strengthening Neighbourhood Resilience: Opportunities for Communities and Local Governments

2013-06-04T11:19:55

This report highlights some of the research and approaches that have been explored and the lessons that have been emerging during the beginning phases of the Building Resilient Neighbourhoods project. This pilot project in BC’s Capital Regional District is working to support neighbourhood resilience today as a way to strengthen the cohesion and capacity of neighbourhoods to respond to climate, resource, and economic challenges in the future.

Organization: Community Social Planning Council of Greater Victoria; Transition Victoria; Fraser Basin Council’s Smart Planning for Communities Program; Canadian Centre for Community Renewal

Free Movement and Homelessness - Spring 2013

FEANTSA — 2013-06-04T11:01:21

Free movement of persons is often considered as one of the most important achievements and as a fundamental principle of the European Union. However, free movement of persons has always provoked discussion about the level of rights accommodated for and has always been confronted with Member States that have tried – and still try – to impose restrictions on it or limit it outright, especially when it comes to persons who are not economically active.

Journal Name: Homeless in Europe

Food choice and nutrient intake amongst homeless people

Sprake, E. F.; Russell, J. M.; Barker, M. E. — 2013-05-29T12:55:24

Homeless people in the UK and elsewhere have typically been found to consume a nutritionally inadequate diet. There is need for contemporary research to update our understanding within this field. The present study aimed to provide an insight into the nutrient intake and food choice of a sample of homeless adults. Methods In this mixed-methods study, 24 homeless individuals accessing two charitable meal services in Sheffield, UK, participated in up to four 24-h dietary recalls between April and August 2012. Twelve individuals took part in a semi-structured interview focusing on food choice. Results Energy intake was significantly lower than the estimated average requirement. Median intakes of vitamin A, zinc, magnesium, potassium and selenium were significantly lower than reference nutrient intakes. Contributions of saturated fat and nonmilk extrinsic sugars to total energy intake were significantly higher, whereas dietary fibre was significantly lower, than population average intakes. Charitable meals made an important contribution to intakes of energy and most micronutrients. Thematic analysis of interview transcripts revealed three major themes: food aspirations; constraints over food choice; and food representing survival. Conclusions The present study reveals risk of dietary inadequacies amongst homeless people alongside a lack of control over food choices. Charitable meal services are suggested as a vehicle for improving the dietary intake and nutritional health of homeless people.

Journal Name: Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics

The Poor Among Us: A History of Family Poverty and Homelessness in New York City

Nunez, Ralph da Costa; Sribnick, Ethan G. — 2013-05-29T11:38:57

Conditions that perpetuate homelessness and poverty today have deep roots in America's past. In The Poor Among Us, Ralph da Costa Nunez and Ethan G. Sribnick explore the world of New York's poor children and families, from the era of European settlements to the present day: their physical and social environments, the causes of their poverty, and the institutions and social movements that evolved to improve and regulate their lives. This comprehensive history examines the successes and failures of past efforts to reduce poverty and homelessness, providing the historical context that is often lacking in contemporary policy debates. More than 100 photographs, etchings, and maps bring the reader face-to-face with the realities of poverty and homelessness.

Priced Out in 2012: The Housing Crisis for People with Disabilities

Cooper, Emily; O’Hara, Ann; Singer, Nikki; Zovistoski, Andrew — 2013-05-29T09:40:35

Priced Out in 2012 is a study of the severe housing affordability problems experienced by people with disabilities. Priced Out calculates the difference between what an individual receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) can reasonably afford to pay for housing costs and the average cost of modest housing units. Priced Out in 2012 confirms that non-elderly adults with disabilities living on SSI confront an enormous housing affordability gap across the entire nation.

Organization: Technical Assistance Collaborative, Inc.; Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, Housing Task Force

Train for Trades - An innovative housing and social enterprise project focusing on “green jobs” employment training for homeless youth

2013-05-29T09:28:43

Responding to Youth Homelessness: A Systems Approach Learning Series - Session #6 Keynote: Sheldon Pollett, Executive Director of Choices for Youth In the 6th session of our learning series on youth homelessness, Sheldon Pollett presents "Train for Trades" - an innovative housing & social enterprise project focusing on “green jobs” employment training for homeless youth.

More than a Home: How Affordable Housing for New Yorkers Living With HIV/AIDS Will Prevent Homelessness, Improve Health and Reduce Costs

2013-05-28T12:45:00

A report from VOCAL-NY and the Community Development Project of the Urban Justice Center calls for New York state to bring its HIV/AIDS housing assistance in line with other low-income housing programs in the state, by requiring tenants to pay no more than 30% of their income towards rent. Currently, tenants receiving aid under the NYC HIV/AIDS Services Administration pay upwards of 70% of their disability income for housing, often forgoing other basic needs such as medical care.

Organization: VOCAL-NY; Community Development Project of the Urban Justice Center

The Case for a Canada Social Report

Battle, Ken; Torjman, Sherri — 2013-05-28T12:23:18

Publicly available information is essential to democratic government and rational policy making. It is the life blood of fair and effective public policy. Unfortunately, Canada does not have a national repository of information on social programs and socioeconomic data. The need to fill this data gap is becoming all the more pressing as the federal government sheds important data sources. The Caledon Institute believes that the public interest is best served by a robust public capacity to collect and analyze data. But the federal government clearly is not going to change direction and restore lost sources of information any time soon. So Caledon will fill the breach and launch a Canada Social Report, starting with our rescue of the National Council of Welfare’s series on welfare incomes and poverty trends.

Organization: Caledon Institute of Social Policy

Youth Migration and Homelessness in Rural and Urban Areas - HPS Webinar

2013-05-28T11:36:55

The presentation featured two new studies which explored the extent and causes of youth migration in rural and urban communities. This webinar is relevant to Stakeholders who deliver services to youth in rural and remote areas as well as in urban centres where migration has occurred. Dr. Karen Rempel, Director of the Centre for Aboriginal and Rural Education Studies in the Faculty of Education at Brandon University, presented results of a study on NEET youth (young people who are not engaged in employment, education or training) in rural and remote Manitoba. Data from at-risk youth in 12 rural Manitoba communities were analyzed to learn more about the extent of youth mobility and factors that contribute to it. Findings show that youth mobility is correlated to being at risk of homelessness, low educational achievement, chronic unemployment, mental and physical health problems and at-risk behaviours. Dr. Jeff Karabanow, Ted Naylor, and Caila Aube of Dalhousie University presented findings of a study exploring the experiences and trajectories of marginally housed and homeless youth in rural and urban contexts. The researchers interviewed rural homeless youth who are presently located in Halifax, N.S., as well as rural service providers. This study sheds light on the intricacies of leaving rural places and surviving in urban spaces and what that means in terms of services to this population in both rural and urban areas.

Organization: Homelessness Partnering Strategy

Youth in Need: The Economic Challenges 2013

2013-05-23T12:43:40

The following report is based on responses from a March 2013 survey of more than 180 representatives from youth and family service programs at Salvation Army facilities nationwide. The report was done to gain a better understanding of how the recession has directly impacted youth assisted by The Salvation Army. The report revealed trends in demand, program viability, volunteerism and donations, as well as how The Salvation Army has responded over the past several years to help alleviate some of the financial burden on families and provide a safe and educational environment for youth. Since 2008, 66 percent of programs reported seeing an increase in demand for their services. During this time, The Salvation Army expanded its youth programming by 53 percent.

Organization: The Salvation Army

The Last American Adventure

DiRosa, Maria; Long, Eric — 2013-05-21T03:32:16

The Last American Adventure is a documentary that follows the story of John, a Master of Social Work, who's sudden recollection of childhood trauma left him homeless on a path towards self-fulfillment and acceptance. John lets us in to his world on the streets and shows us what it means to be homeless in America.

Evolving Schemas of Homeless Children: Encouraging Hope and Personal Mastery

Griffore, Robert J.; Phenice, Lillian A.; Miller, Julia R. — 2013-05-21T02:57:32

Young homeless children face many adverse circumstances, unlike children who are nurtured in supportive families and stable homes. Given experiences of chaos, unpredictability, and upheaval, homeless children are placed in jeopardy with regard to meeting their needs for successful developmental outcomes. In particular, these experiences likely cause fear and anxiety, with consequences that adversely affect psychological development and lead to disempowerment of the self and learned helplessness. Using principles of positive psychology and guiding homeless children toward the creation of schemas of resilience and self-confidence can provide them with the basis for adaptation, happiness, and appropriate decision making.

Journal Name: Critical Social Work

Barriers to Safe and Affordable Housing

Christensen, Sam; Meyer, Josh; Picket, Jacob — 2013-05-21T02:53:42

As one of the largest cities in Missouri, with 160,628 residents as of the 2007‐2011 American Community Survey, Columbia experiences problems in achieving affordable housing comparable to other metropolitan areas across the United States. The current stock of housing includes 69,250 units, of which 57.6% are owner‐occupied while the other 42.4% are renter occupied. Approximately 57% of individuals live in owned homes, with 22.8% paying more than the HUD defined cost burdened threshold of 30% of total household income in mortgage costs to own the home. Of the 36.7% of individuals residing in rentals units, 49.7% paid more than 30% of total household income in rent (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2013; HUD: Affordable Housing, 2013). To help address the shortage of affordable housing, Columbia receives funding assistance from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for housing development, improvement and subsidization of rent payments. To be eligible for future HUD funding, the City of Columbia must develop a five‐year consolidated plan, with details of how federal funds will be used in addition to specific objectives of interest that are to be completed by the next planning session. In the most recent 2010‐2014 consolidated plan, objective number 42 is to “conduct a formal survey of the low‐to-moderate income segment to determine the highest priority barriers to affordable housing.” The primary purpose of this research project is to aid the City of Columbia in the fulfillment of objective number 42, both to better understand local barriers to affordable housing and remain eligible for future HUD funding. To maximize the effectiveness of this research, insights from current academic literature will be combined with the best practices regarding survey design and methodologies. The insights obtained from this survey and literature review are expected to greatly aid future City of Columbia community development efforts.

Correlates of Frailty Among Homeless Adults

2013-05-21T02:43:32

Frailty, a relatively unexplored concept among vulnerable populations, may be a significant issue for homeless adults. This cross-sectional study assessed correlates of frailty among middle age and older homeless adults (N = 150, 40-73). A Pearson (r) bivariate correlation revealed a weak relationship between frailty and being female (r = .230, p < .01). Significant moderate negative correlations were found between frailty and resilience (r = −.395, p < .01), social support (r = −.377, p < .01), and nutrition (r = −.652, p < .01). Furthermore, Spearman’s rho (r_s) bivariate correlations revealed a moderate positive relationship between frailty and health care utilization (r_s = .444, p < .01). A stepwise backward linear regression analysis was conducted and in the final model, age, gender, health care utilization, nutrition, and resilience were significantly related to frailty. Over the next two decades, there is an anticipated increase in the number of homeless adults which will necessitate a greater understanding of the needs of this hard-to-reach population.

Journal Name: Western Journal of Nursing Research

Hearing the Silent Voices: Narratives of Health Care and Homelessness

Wise, Caitlin; Phillips, Kenneth — 2013-05-21T02:34:45

Most homeless individuals lack adequate health care. With existing literature as a backdrop, this study sought to understand the experience of homeless persons in the health care system. Using a phenomenological approach, 11 homeless participants were interviewed and the transcripts from these interviews were analyzed for meaning. The health care experiences of the participants could be understood only when viewed within the context of homelessness. The four polar themes that emerged from the analysis—same/different, fair/unfair, freedom/barriers, and choice/no choice—highlighted the great divide between the health care experiences of those with a home and those without. Such understanding can help mental health nurses provide more appropriate care to this population.

Journal Name: Issues in Mental Health Nursing

Predictors of Transience Among Homeless Emerging Adults

Ferguson, Kristin M.; Bender, Kimberly; Thompson, Sanna J. — 2013-05-21T02:29:24

This study identified predictors of transience among homeless emerging adults in three cities. A total of 601 homeless emerging adults from Los Angeles, Austin, and Denver were recruited using purposive sampling. Ordinary least squares regression results revealed that significant predictors of greater transience include White ethnicity, high school degree or equivalent, homeless residence in the 6 months prior to the study, longer period of homelessness, history of arrest and juvenile detention, earning income through informal sources, history of physical abuse, alcohol/drug addiction, and resilience characteristics. Quantitative findings were expanded upon with data from in-depth interviews with 145 of these homeless emerging adults regarding their reasons and motivations for transience. Identifying predictors of transience will facilitate customizing interventions that, when needed, aim to stabilize homeless emerging adults, prevent their mobility, and/or offer mobile services to them on the road.

Journal Name: Journal of Adolescent Research

Subjective Health-Related Quality of Life in Homeless and Vulnerably Housed Individuals and Its Relationship with Self-Reported Physical and Mental Health Status

Gadermann, Anne M.; Hubley, Anita M.; Russell, Lara B.; Palepu, Anita — 2013-05-21T02:23:56

Although the association between homelessness and objective indicators of poor health is well-established, little research has focused on the subjective health-related quality of life of homeless and vulnerably housed (HVH) individuals. This study examined the subjective health-related quality of life of HVH individuals, using the Multiple Discrepancies Theory (MDT) Scale for Health of the Quality of Life for Homeless and Hard-to-House Individuals (QoLHHI) Inventory, and its association with self-reported functional health status, as measured by the SF-12, and self-reported physical and mental health conditions in a sample of 100 HVH individuals recruited in Vancouver, Toronto and Ottawa. Our findings indicate that physical and mental health conditions are highly prevalent among HVH individuals and that the SF-12 Physical and Mental Component Summary scores are substantially lower compared to US population norms. The MDT Health items were not statistically significantly associated with physical or mental health conditions and only showed correlations of small to moderate magnitude with the SF-12 Component Summary Scales. These findings suggest that the QoLHHI MDT Scale for Health can provide information about HVH individuals’ subjective health experiences that is different from, and can serve as a valuable complement to, health status information for use in research and evaluation studies, as well as for policy purposes to make informed decisions based on subjective health-related quality of life data from HVH individuals.

Journal Name: Social Indicators Research

Aging Trends in Homeless Populations

2013-05-21T02:09:52

Longitudinal data suggests that the single adult homeless population is going through a demographic transition, where the overall population is aging but there are indications that a younger cohort may be emerging. Scholars Dennis P. Culhane, Stephen Metraux, Thomas Byrne, Magdi Stino, and Jay Bainbridge argue that interventions at both ends of this transition: housing the aging and increasingly infirm elements of this population while diverting at-risk younger populations from homelessness, have the potential to make a lasting reduction in this population.

Journal Name: Contexts

The impact of unstable housing on emergency department use in a cohort of HIV-positive people in a Canadian setting

2013-05-21T01:43:58

The social–structural challenges experienced by people living with HIV (PHA) have been shown to contribute to increased use of the emergency department (ED). This study identified factors associated with frequent and nonurgent ED use within a cohort of people accessing antiretroviral therapy (ART) in a Canadian setting. Interviewer-administered surveys collected socio-demographic information; clinical variables were obtained through linkages with the provincial drug treatment registry; and ED admission data were abstracted from the Department of Emergency Medicine database. Multivariate logistic regression was used to compute odds of frequent and nonurgent ED use. Unstable housing was independently associated with ED use (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] =1.94, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.24–3.04]), having three or more ED visits within 6 months of the interview date [AOR: 2.03 (95% CI: 1.07–3.83)] and being triaged as nonurgent (AOR = 2.71, 95% CI: 1.19–6.17). Frequent and nonurgent use of the ED in this setting is associated with conditions requiring interventions at the social–structural level. Supportive housing may contribute to decreased health-care costs and improved health outcomes amongst marginalized PHA.

Journal Name: AIDS Care: Psychological and Socio-medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV

Patterns of Homelessness and Implications for HIV Health After Release from Jail

2013-05-21T01:33:24

This empirical study examines the association between substance abuse, mental illness, health behaviors and different patterns of homelessness among recently released, HIV-infected jail detainees. Using longitudinal data from a 10-site study, we examine correlates of homelessness, transitions to and from stable housing and the effect of housing on HIV treatment outcomes. Based on our analysis, we found evidence that the transitions from homelessness are closely associated with a reduction in the use of alcohol and illicit drugs, a decline in drug addiction severity, and an improvement in mental health. In addition, we found evidence that disparities in the housing status contributed substantially to the observed gap in the HIV treatment outcomes between homeless and non-homeless patients, including in achievement of virological suppression over time.

Journal Name: AIDS and Behavior

Community Engagement: Computer Skills for the Homeless

Cox, Fannie M. — 2013-05-21T01:22:54

What does it mean to provide information literacy skills? The number of homeless people is growing regardless of their socio-economic status, age, gender, race, religion, or ethnicity. An Outreach Librarian from a university developed a community partnership to teach computer skills to residents of a homeless shelter. This paper presents the benefits, impacts, and outcomes of these classes for both the residents and librarians.

Organization: American Library Association

Gardening for the Mental Well-Being of Homeless Women

Grabbe, Linda; Ball, Janell; Goldstein, Allison — 2013-05-21T01:09:17

Journal Name: Journal of Holistic Nursing

Barriers to and Interventions for Improved Tuberculosis Detection and Treatment among Homeless and Immigrant Populations: A Literature Review

Tankimovich, Mariya — 2013-05-21T01:05:18

Tuberculosis (TB) cases worldwide have declined over the last 10 years, but strong barriers to detection and treatment of TB still exist, especially among 2 special subgroups of low-income populations, immigrants and the homeless, where the incidence of TB can be up to 20 times higher than the general population even in affluent countries. A systematic review of literature was performed, aimed at identifying the main (1) barriers to and (2) effective interventions for the improved detection and treatment of TB in homeless and immigrant populations. Data were collected from 22 studies out of 80 potentially relevant citations worldwide published between 1998 and 2012. Key findings show that hard-to-reach groups like immigrants and the homeless seem willing to obtain care if they believe it is important, but any new detection/treatment efforts must go beyond current bio-medical models to bio-psychosocial models of the target populations’ cultural values. Preliminary results also suggest that the best interventions for the homeless and immigrant populations will be a combination of, at least, monetary incentive and improved accessibility of care.

Journal Name: Journal of Community Health Nursing

Reducing Service and Substance Use Among Frequent Service Users: A Brief Report From the Toronto Community Addictions Team

2013-05-21T11:11:54

The Toronto Community Addictions Team (TCAT) is an intensive case management intervention designed to serve people with addictions who are frequent service users, thus addressing a health system priority. Questionnaires given to 65 participants at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months and semi-structured interviews of 10 program participants explored participants’ outcomes and experiences with the program. Qualitative findings, analyzed using thematic content analysis, suggest that participants value the program's commitment to harm reduction, financial trusteeship, and recovery orientation. Quantitative findings from paired t-tests reveal that participants improved in community functioning and decreased days of problematic substance use and money spent on alcohol and drugs as early as 3 months after program participation. Future research should used a controlled design and explore predictors of positive outcomes in this vulnerable population.

Journal Name: Substance Use & Misuse

Homelessness and child welfare involvement: risks for co-occurring mental health symptoms and substance use?

Thornton, Tiffany; Goldstein, Abby; Tonmyr, Lil — 2013-05-21T11:00:51

The association between homelessness, current or past history of child welfare involvement and substance use is a concern in Canada. As a result, the youth often share common experiences of maltreatment, victimization, mental health symptoms and substance use. This study was designed to examine the factors associated with co-occurring mental health symptoms and substance use among 219 youth participants aged 16–21: 150 were homeless and 69 currently involved with child welfare. Two data sets were used to conduct the analyses: The Youth Pathways Project and the Maltreatment and Adolescent Pathways Longitudinal Study. The results indicate that youth who were homeless experience significant mental health symptoms and substance use, particularly when there is a history of involvement in child welfare. Homelessness is also associated with co-occurring mental health symptoms and substance use when there is a history of child welfare involvement whereas current child welfare involvement without homelessness appears to be protective. Implications for interventions and policy development are discussed, with reference to strategies targeting both youth who are homeless and those with a history of child welfare involvement.

Journal Name: International Journal of Mental Health Promotion

Living in Two Worlds

Batuner, David — 2013-05-21T10:44:05

Native American communities experience disproportionate levels of homelessness, substance use, and mental health issues. Jimi Kelley, from the First Nation’s Behavioral Health Association, speaks about his experiences, shares his views on the struggles of Native American communities, and expresses his hopes for addressing and eliminating these issues in the future.

Organization: SAMHSA

Tags: feature; Native Americans; minority health; healthcare; mental health

Crossing Borders—Sharing Untold Stories Through Images and Text

Miller, Niki — 2013-05-21T10:31:16

After 15 years abroad, photojournalist Susan Robens returned to Portland, Oregon where she brought the Crossing Borders project to local shelter residents. The international project has been in Haiti, Bosnia, Iraq, Jerusalem, and the West Bank. Now in Portland, Crossing Borders offers a series of photography workshops where participants are supplied with disposable cameras, group support, and the technical skills to capture images that give voice to their lives.

Organization: SAMHSA

Tags: feature; activism; stories; voices

A qualitative exploration of relations and interactions between people who are homeless and use drugs and staff in homeless hostel accommodation

Stevenson, Caral — 2013-05-21T10:27:45

This article explores relations and interactions between hostel staff and people who are homeless, use drugs (PHUD) and stay in hostels and shelters. Methods: Data collection took place in six areas of South Central England. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 40 participants who were staying or had recently stayed in an emergency hostel or shelter. Recordings were professionally transcribed and coded and analysed using Framework. Results: Despite there being some positive experiences, generally PHUD had negative experiences of living in hostels. Poor treatment, not listening, lack of privacy, infantilization and unprofessionalism emerged as key themes and impeded the development of social capital. Conclusions: Hostel staff are not always assigned a therapeutic role. However evidence from the current study suggests that care and consideration may go a long way in aiding homeless drug users’ progression in hostel settings.

Journal Name: Journal of Substance Use

It’s What Home Should Feel Like

Thom, Katherine — 2013-05-21T10:18:44

The field of recovery services is undergoing a shift away from its traditional short-term, acute care model towards a model focused on sustained recovery. Recovery housing, an innovative approach to recovery, is gaining support and momentum on a national level due to its focus on empowering and supporting residents who live in sober communities of their own creation.

Organization: SAMHSA

Tags: feature; recovery; Recovery Support; substance abuse; housing

Sixth Report Card on Homelessness in Greater Moncton - 2013

2013-05-21T09:52:38

The 6th Report Card on Homelessness documents the current state of homelessness in Greater Moncton. We have many positive changes to report for 2012, and some not so positive. Food Bank use continues to be at an all-time high. The number of people on the waiting list for subsidized housing jumped by 24% to 1,219, compared to a year earlier. And only 15 new subsidized housing units were added to the inventory in Greater Moncton.

Organization: The Greater Moncton Homelessness Steering Committee

On the Brink? A Pilot Study of the Homelessness Assets and Risk Tool (HART) to Identify those at Risk of Becoming Homeless

2013-05-17T12:24:38

Homelessness has become an all-too pervasive and visible problem in Canada. It has spread from large urban centres to rural, northern and remote communities. While a number of programs have been developed to address the needs of the homeless in the hope of re-housing them, a large population of those at risk of homelessness receive little attention until their needs become dire. There are both societal and individual costs to be borne when this occurs. Preventing homelessness has the potential to save countless individuals from the misery of life on the streets. However, with the major effort focusing on assisting those that become homeless, where does one start to prevent this significant social ill? The few authors who have written about prevention provide no clear answers, but raise the importance of prevention as a focus (Burt, Pearson & Montgomery, 2007, US; Moses, Kresky-Wolf, Bassuk & Broundstein, 2007, US; Wireman, 2007, US). One key question is how to define the population of those at risk of becoming homeless. The research team originally conducted a literature review summarizing research, particularly published studies from the past decade or so, that focus on the risk factors, predictors and pathways in and out of homelessness (Tutty et al., 2009). Unpublished research reports from reputable organization, especially Canadian ones, were also included. Our primary focus was on factors that differentiate those that have become absolutely homeless from those that are on the cusp of homelessness, either being relatively homeless, or living in hidden homelessness. As such, the analysis focused particularly on studies that differentiated between these groups. We also searched for articles on resilience and protective factors, again finding relatively few. These assets and protective factors formed the core of a screening tool, The Homelessness Assets and Risk Screening Tool (HART) that could be used to identify vulnerability to homelessness in at-risk populations, but those not yet experiencing homelessness, in the hope of providing early interventions. The purpose of the current research is to test the validity of the HART, including its predictive validity with respect to identifying those at risk of homelessness. A second objective was to determine the applicability of the HART tool in a Calgary context and assess the tool’s feasibility from an administrative perspective. This was achieved by utilizing the HART tool with an initial sample of service recipients at multiple community agencies within the city of Calgary. This allowed us to test the tool’s content validity (the ability to capture elements of risk) by comparing responses to the HART to responses to the ETHOS (described below) and to test the HART’s predictive validity (ability to predict homelessness) by tracking a sub-sample of participants over a one-year period.

Organization: Calgary Homeless Foundation

Conducting Homeless Counts On Native American Lands: A Toolkit

Oberdorfer, Eric ; Anderson, Jacquelyn; Reah, Leah C.D. — 2013-05-17T08:28:02

This report serves as a resource for tribal communities that wish to conduct accurate homeless counts to more effectively serve the needs of their populations (Authors).

Organization: Housing Assistance Council

Tags: rural homelessness; Native Americans; housing; homeless counts

Services for Seniors in Toronto

2013-05-16T11:14:57

Welcome to the first edition of “Services for Seniors” from the City of Toronto’s Shelter, Support and Housing Administration Division. The focus of this guide is to provide vulnerable seniors and their caregivers with information about services that can help them to maintain their independence and stay housed. The listings are restricted to programs and services provided by governments and non-profit organizations. These are offered in Toronto unless otherwise indicated. Services are grouped according to subject with an index provided at the back to help you locate information. While general information about service access and eligibility criteria is provided along with service descriptions, it is important to note that many programs have waiting lists, catchment areas or other criteria that may not be listed. Also, information may have changed since time of publication. Please call ahead to verify information and avoid a wasted trip.

Organization: City of Toronto’s Shelter, Support and Housing Administration Division

Passion Professionalism Performance CMHC 2012 Annual Report

2013-05-15T11:11:52

“Providing a detailed examination of CMHC’s performance in 2012, this report includes in-depth information on CMHC’s mortgage loan insurance and securitization activities that have promoted an accessible, competitive and stable mortgage market throughout Canada,” said Karen Kinsley, President and Chief Executive Officer of CMHC. “At the same time, the quality of the loans in our insured portfolio underscores our ongoing commitment to robust underwriting and risk management practices.” CMHC helps ensure the stability and efficiency of Canada’s housing finance system by managing its mortgage loan insurance and securitization activities in a responsible, commercially viable manner, while minimizing risk to Canadian taxpayers. CMHC does this while continuing to be the only insurer of loans for large multi-unit rental properties, including nursing and retirement homes. In addition, a significant percentage of CMHC’s high ratio homeowner units are in rural areas and smaller communities. Together, these types of loans made up 47.2% of CMHC’s total rental and high ratio homeowner business in 2012.

Organization: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

Beyond Homelessness: Final report 2013

Tabner, Katey — 2013-05-14T10:29:41

The Beyond Homelessness research studied Scottish Local Authorities, service providers and those affected by homelessness over a three year period (2010-2013) to understand the impact of a networks approach on support delivery and the outcomes for service users. It aimed to demonstrate the positive impact supportive relationships can have for those affected by homelessness and how the use of a networks approach can help deliver sustainable support outcomes.

Organization: The Rock Trust Edinburgh

A Housing Strategy For Nova Scotia

2013-05-14T09:49:01

We launched a conversation with Nova Scotians over our most pressing, fundamental housing challenges. And with insight and ideas from over 500 individuals and organizations, we’ve crafted our province’s first Housing Strategy, one that stresses affordability, choice, partnership and community-building.

Organization: Province of Nova Scotia

Integrated housing model for Aboriginal youth - Foyers for youth organized through the bands

McGee, Susan — 2013-05-13T03:29:31

Responding to Youth Homelessness: A Systems Approach Learning Series - Session #5 Keynote: Susan McGee, Homeward Trust Edmonton In the fifth session of this Learning Series, Susan McGee shares an integrated housing model for Aboriginal youth - Foyers for youth organized through the bands.

Literature Review: Library Services for Low-Income and Homeless Users

Hansen, Stephanie — 2013-05-09T04:45:15

Libraries are responsible for providing equal service to all users, though not all users have the same information needs, making equal service a tough endeavor. Librarians should carefully learn about their community when planning programs and services so that users have relevant information available to them at their local library. One user group in particular, however, requires special attention, as their information needs are very different from most. Homeless and low-income users deserve the same access to information and services through their local library, but literature suggests that this audience is more difficult to reach, despite their strong need for information about day-to-day survival.

Organization: SLIS-University of North Texas

Disrupting Myths of Poverty in the Face of Resistance

Pollock, Katina; Lopez, Ann; Joshee, Reva — 2013-05-09T04:33:47

This case disrupts some of the prevalent myths about families from low-income and poor households held by educators. Recognizing the inherent tensions, this case demonstrates the importance of creating equitable and inclusive learning environments. We presented some of the challenges faced by Marcus, a progressive principal, as he attempts to challenge the myths about low-income and poor families held by his teaching staff to create a positive and inclusive learning environment where all students can learn.

Journal Name: Journal of Cases in Educational Leadership

Homeless Youth in Philadelphia: An innovative method for identifying youth who are homeless

Perlman, Staci; Willard, Joe — 2013-05-09T04:28:53

At least one out of every twenty high school students enrolled in the School District of Philadelphia has experienced homelessness or has been kicked out or has run-away from home. Left unaddressed, these experiences place these youth at increased risk of dropping out of high school, unemployment, and adult homelessness. In spite of this, little is known about these youth or their experiences. Information on the prevalence and experiences of youth homelessness is needed to inform the development of interventions and policies that promote positive well-being for this vulnerable population. The purpose of this report is to share data from a Philadelphia-based study of youth homelessness. This report presents responses from Philadelphia public high school students who participated in the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) in 2009 and 2011. Most of the survey questions focus on risk behaviors ranging from smoking to symptoms of depression.

Organization: People’s Emergency Center

Helping Older African American Homeless Women Get and Stay Out of Homelessness: Reflections on Lessons Learned From Long-Haul Developmental Action Research

Moxley, David P.; Washington, Olivia G. M. — 2013-05-09T04:23:18

Inspired by narrative theory, the authors offer a storied perspective on collaborative developmental action research in which, over a ten-year period, they designed, tested, and refined practices and tools useful in addressing homelessness among older African American women in a Midwestern city. We consider how progressive ideas interacting with social and organizational learning guided our efforts to translate an understanding of homelessness among older minority women into personal support and social action that the women found beneficial. By prototyping advocacy, group work, and community building and by employing the arts in social action, the project created a distinctive participatory practice knowledge base.

Journal Name: Journal of Progressive Human Services

Correlates of HIV Risk Behaviors Among Homeless and Unstably Housed Young Adults

2013-05-09T04:18:39

Journal Name: Public Health Reports

“Well, if you can’t smile you should go home!” Experiences and reflective insights on providing outreach to young sex trade workers

Saldanha, Kennedy; Parenteau, Derek — 2013-05-09T03:58:26

This case study relates experiences and candid reflections of front-line staff in the STAND program (Street Trade Alternatives and New Directions) providing outreach to young sex trade workers in downtown Toronto. The authors describe how this project came to be and the lessons learned in setting it up and providing services to this vulnerable, very hard to reach but resilient population. Through a sharing of tales and narratives of outreach, the authors corroborate some of the reasons why there is much written on outreach but little specifically about reaching out to sex trade workers. The traditional response and approach in working with children and youth is also questioned in the light of negotiating power, building relationships, and actively waiting for the client to lead the change process.

Journal Name: Children and Youth Services Review

Barriers to Education in Homeless Youth

Solomon, Michelle S. — 2013-05-09T03:52:21

Most homeless youth in Canada have not completed high school. Lack of education is a critical issue that affects pathways to gainful employment, financial security, and positive health. Several risk factors affect their ability to succeed in school; however, there has been limited research in Canada that identifies the most influential factors. This study is a secondary analysis of the Youth Matters in London: Mental Health, Addiction and Homelessness study in London Ontario. It is guided by Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory of human development. The effects of several environmental factors on the academic achievement of 187 homeless youth with mental health and addiction issues were assessed using logistic regression. Results indicated that housing stability was the most significant predictor of academic achievement. This study has implications for affordable, accessible housing and educational program policy that will assist youth with their academic achievement.

High rates of head injury among homeless and low-income housed men: a retrospective cohort study

Svoboda, Tomislav; Ramsay, Jason T — 2013-05-09T03:49:01

Journal Name: Emergency Medical Journal

Housing and harm reduction: What is the role of harm reduction in addressing homelessness?

Pauly, Bernadette (Bernie); Reist, Dan; Belle-Isle, Lynne; Schactman, Chuck — 2013-05-09T03:35:52

Homelessness and drug use often overlap and the harms of substance use are exacerbated by homelessness. Responding to the twin problems of homelessness and substance use is an important aspect of strategies to end homelessness. The introduction and development of ten year plans to end homelessness in North America heralds a new era of systemic responses to homelessness. Central to many of these plans is the adoption of ‘Housing First’ as a policy response. Housing First focuses directly on housing people regardless of current patterns of substance use. As such, harm reduction is a key principle of Housing First. In this paper, we examine Housing First as an example of the integration of housing and harm reduction and then put forth a community level policy framework to further promote the integration of harm reduction as part of a response to homelessness. Drawing on Rhodes’ risk environment framework and current evidence of Housing First and harm reduction, we describe four key policy areas for action: (1) social inclusion policies; (2) adequate and appropriate supply of housing; (3) on demand harm reduction services and supports and (4) systemic and organizational infrastructure. We conclude by identifying areas for future research.

Journal Name: International Journal of Drug Policy

Deservingness, children in poverty, and collective well being

Cousins, Linwood H. — 2013-05-09T03:28:35

Rising numbers of children and families have been thrust into poverty. However, debates about poverty policies and aid are in fact debates about ourselves—our logic of life and our humanity—as a nation, a culture, a people; and social welfare programs will always be underfunded and of limited effectiveness if people don't believe in them due to their ambivalence and confusion about poverty. Because poor children are innocent and indisputably dependent on adult caretakers, they may be our route out of this malaise. Their circumstance and our aspirations as a nation to be just, fair, and progressive, force us to resolve the confusion, conflict and ambivalence that fuel ineffective and inhumane social welfare policies and practices.

Journal Name: Children and Youth Services Review

Promising Practices to Help Children and Youth who have been Exposed to Violence.

2013-05-09T03:18:59

Children and youth in challenging contexts, both in Canada and overseas, face common threats to their mental health that can be better addressed when researchers, service providers, practitioners, and communities pool their knowledge, resources, and lessons learned of what works best for improving young peoples’ mental health. If these groups continue to work within their occupational and disciplinary boundaries, they will fail to mobilize the full potential of the evidence documented by researchers, the practice-related knowledge of service providers and practitioners, and the local knowledge of communities. The CYCC Network was developed in response to this need and in the summer of 2013, released three thematic knowledge synthesis reports: violence, technology, and youth engagement. Violence against children and youth, in particular, is a complex public health problem that affects communities worldwide, and can lead to potentially devastating consequences for young people and their families if left unaddressed. To tackle this problem, a coordinated effort to share and document best practices for addressing young peoples’ mental health needs is urgently needed. Without opportunities to share this knowledge, there is a risk of delivering potentially ineffective interventions that are difficult for young people and their families to access or relate to. Additionally, poorly-researched or evaluated interventions often ignore the structural barriers (e.g. limited access to mental health practitioners, stigma, and a lack of resources to evaluate programs) that shape young peoples’ mental health and wellbeing. In light of these challenges, the knowledge synthesis report on violence explores the effective strategies used among children and youth in challenging contexts who have been exposed to violence, in order to help them overcome trauma and feel safe in their families, schools, and communities.

Organization: CYCC Network

Unmet Need for Medical Care and Safety Net Accessibility among Birmingham’s Homeless

2013-05-09T03:09:33

Although homeless individuals often experience health problems requiring care, there are limitations to available research concerning the scale of their needs and the accessibility of safety net agencies to meet them. Traditional access-to-care surveys calculate unmet need among all persons queried (rather than persons needing care), making it difficult to calculate what percentage of persons requiring care actually obtain it. Additionally, no research has compared the relative accessibility of safety net programs to homeless persons in need. This cross-sectional, community-based survey assessed the prevalence of unmet need for several specific types of health care and compared the accessibility of agencies in Birmingham, AL. Substantial proportions of respondents reported unmet needs for general medical care (46 %), specialty care (51 %), mental health care (51 %), dental care (62 %), medications (57 %), and care of a child (23 %). The most commonly mentioned sites where care was sought included a federally funded Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) program (59 %), a religious free clinic (31 %), and a public hospital emergency department (51 %). The HCH program was most commonly cited as the location where care, once sought, could not be obtained (15 %), followed by the county hospital primary care clinics (13 %). In this survey, unmet need was common for all types of care queried, including primary care. Key components of the safety net, including a federally funded homeless health care program, had suboptimum accessibility.

Journal Name: Journal of Urban Health

Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) 55: Behavioral Health Services for People Who Are Homeless

2013-05-09T03:03:34

This TIP covers a broad range of skills and resources useful in work with people experiencing homelessness or at significant risk for homelessness. For instance, the TIP addresses different types of homelessness: transitional,episodic, and chronic. It provides information on different resources and services for people who lack adequate housing, including emergency, temporary, transitional supportive, and permanent supportive housing resources. It describes a variety of strategies that are instrumental in services to people who are homeless, including outreach, initial screening and evaluation, early intervention and stabilization, coordination with other resources in the community, treatment planning, case management, client retention in treatment and rehabilitation, and relapse prevention and recovery management. It also sensitizes clinicians to the special effects of psychological trauma, both as a precursor and a contributing factor to homelessness and as a secondary outcome of homelessness. The TIP considers the effects of co-occurring disorders as a causative factor of homelessness and the special needs of clients who are homeless and have co-occurring substance use and mental disorders.

Organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Hidden in Plain Sight: An Assessment of Youth Inclusion in Point-in-Time Counts of California’s Unsheltered Homeless Population

Auerswald, Colette L.; Lin, Jessica; Petry, Laura; Hyatt, Shahera — 2013-05-09T02:49:10

Homeless youth are a hidden population that has historically been undercounted in local, state, and federal efforts to enumerate the homeless population. In recent years, researchers and advocates have emphasized the importance of considering the needs of homeless youth as a distinct sub-population of the homeless population overall. A clear recognition has emerged that improvements to the wellbeing of homeless youth in the US must be informed by accurate data regarding the prevalence and composition of the homeless youth population. In 2013, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which mandates communities receiving federal funds for homelessness programming to conduct a biennial Point-in-Time (PIT) count of their unsheltered homeless populations, required for the first time that communities report the number of unsheltered, unaccompanied minors and 18 to 24-year-old youth (known as transition age youth, or TAY). Prior to this, CoCs had been required to report the numbers of unaccompanied minors but had not been required to record or report numbers of TAY separately from their adult homeless population. Communities have had a range of responses to this new directive, from changing little about their practices to establishing separate youth-specific count initiatives.

Organization: California Homeless Youth Project

Homeless Youths’ HIV Risk Behaviors with Strangers: Investigating the Importance of Social Networks

Tyler, Kimberly A. — 2013-05-09T02:42:40

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between homeless youths’ HIV risk behaviors with strangers and risk and protective characteristics of their social networks. Data were from the Social Network and Homeless Youth Project. A total of 249 youth aged 14–21 years were interviewed over 15 months in three Midwestern cities in the United States using a systematic sampling strategy. Multivariate results revealed that homeless youth with a greater average number of network members who engaged in more drug risk behaviors and who pressured them into precarious behaviors at least once were more likely to have participated in a greater number of HIV risk behaviors with strangers compared to homeless youth without such network characteristics. Additionally, 19–21 year olds, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered youth, and those who have run away from home more frequently, participated in more HIV risk behaviors with strangers than 14–18 year olds, heterosexual youth, and those who have run away less often. The final model explained 43 % of the variance in homeless youths’ HIV risk behaviors with strangers. It is important to identify network characteristics that are harmful to homeless youth because continued exposure to such networks and participation in dangerous behaviors may result in detrimental outcomes, including contraction of sexually transmitted infections and potentially HIV.

Journal Name: Archives of Sexual Behavior

Increasing Hepatitis C Knowledge Among Homeless Adults: Results of a Community-Based, Interdisciplinary Intervention

2013-05-09T02:39:07

Homeless adults have high rates of hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) and low levels of HCV knowledge. This study reports results of an interdisciplinary, community-based intervention using stakeholder cooperation, case management, risk factor identification, and modification of dysfunctional psychosocial factors to increase HCV knowledge among homeless adults (N = 747). Data are from a randomized quasi-experimental study, with the major goal of evaluating the effectiveness of a Nurse Case Managed Intervention compared to a Standard Intervention, encouraging completion of a three-series hepatitis A/hepatitis B vaccination program. Increased HCV knowledge was measured with an 18-item questionnaire discerning risk factors for HCV and common misconceptions about individuals with HCV. A significant increase in HCV knowledge resulted regardless of intervention format. Receiving the Nurse Case Managed Intervention predicted greatest gain in HCV knowledge (p < 0.000). Successfully engaging key stakeholders, outreach workers, community organizations, and homeless people themselves proved most efficacious in increasing HCV knowledge.

Journal Name: The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research

Shared risk: who engages in substance use with American homeless youth?

Green, Harold D. Jr. ; Haye, Kayla de la ; Tucker, Joan S. ; Golinelli, Daniela — 2013-05-09T02:30:57

Journal Name: Addiction

Increase in cost of core needs in Edmonton (2010-2013)

Kolkman, John — 2013-05-09T02:14:15

This document provides the most recently available information on changes in costs of essential core items over the past 3 years compared to the overall rate of inflation. Edmonton data is used when available. When data is unavailable for either metro Edmonton or the City of Edmonton, Alberta data is used.

Organization: Edmonton Social Planning Council

Homelessness Recurrence in Georgia: Descriptive Statistics, Risk Factors, and Contextualized Outcome Measurement

Rodriguez, Jason — 2013-05-09T11:41:23

Homelessness recurrence is antithetical to the primary purpose of the homeless service provider system: moving people out of shelters and into stable, permanent housing. Measuring recurrence is thus essential to measuring homelessness policy outcomes, and it can be done in a relatively objective and discreet way using Georgia’s Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). This capability was used to collect data on 9,013 individuals who transitioned out of homelessness between 11/20/2009 and 11/19/2010 in order to investigate risk factors of recurrence. 27% eventually returned to HMIS as homeless, and 21 variables were modeled against the likelihood of this event happening. Of these, it was found that the top risk factors of returning to homelessness were an absence of Rapid Re-Housing enrollment and having a history of homelessness in HMIS. Some findings were different than expected: persons without a teenage male in their household were twice as likely to return, persons with a head of household older than 45 were 1.7 times as likely to return, and persons with an ongoing housing subsidy were not less likely to return. Useful predictive models of recurrence were developed, which can be used to evaluate program outcomes in a way that takes into account the presence of risk factors among the clients the program is serving.

Organization: State Housing Trust Fund for the Homeless Georgia Department of Community Affairs

The State of Homelessness in America 2013

2013-05-09T11:20:41

The State of Homelessness in America 2013 examines trends in homelessness between 2011 and 2012 as well as the economic, housing, and demographic context in which homelessness changes over time. The report shows that, overall, the homeless population decreased by less than 1 percent, but this is not the full story. While the number of people experiencing homelessness as part of a family increased slightly, the number of individuals experiencing chronic homelessness and those identifying as veterans decreased significantly. The mixed findings may be related to policy changes as well as to the economic climate in which these changes are taking place. Increased federal investment in effective solutions, such as permanent supportive housing, has been aimed at veterans and chronically homeless individuals. Also, during this time period, flexible federal resources were available to communities through the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP) to help prevent and end homelessness for families and individuals. Despite these resources, increased competition for housing resources and growing housing cost burden combined with increases in the size of the population living in doubled-up situations and poor single-adult-headed families make attaining and maintaining housing more difficult for families and single adults who are not chronically homeless.

Organization: National Alliance to End Homelessness

Prevention and Diversion Toolkit

2013-05-09T11:11:06

Prevention and shelter diversion assistance can help communities reduce the size of their homeless population. Prevention assistance can aid households in preserving their current housing situation; shelter diversion assists households in finding housing outside of shelter while they receive services to stabilize their housing or help them move into permanent housing. Each of these strategies can reduce the number of people entering the homeless assistance system and the demand for shelter and other programmatic housing beds.

Organization: National Alliance to End Homelessness

Coordinated Assessment Toolkit

2013-05-09T11:08:24

Coordinated assessment, also known as coordinated entry or coordinated intake, paves the way for more efficient homeless assistance systems by: - Helping people move through the system faster (by reducing the amount of time people spend moving from program to program before finding the right match); - Reducing new entries into homelessness (by consistently offering prevention and diversion resources upfront, reducing the number of people entering the system unnecessarily); and - Improving data collection and quality and providing accurate information on what kind of assistance consumers need. Coordinated assessment is ideally a system-wide process and can serve any and all populations. Systems may accomplish coordinated assessment through the use of a centralized phone hotline (e.g. a 2-1-1), a single physical point of assessment (through an emergency shelter or a dedicated assessment center, for example) or a decentralized coordinated system (with multiple assessment points all employing the same assessment and referral process).

Organization: National Alliance to End Homelessness

Illicit Drug Use as a Challenge to the Delivery of End-of-Life Care to Homeless Persons: Perceptions of Health and Social Services Professionals - Homeless Hub Research Summary Series

The Homeless Hub — 2013-05-09T10:30:32

Many thousands of Canadians experience homelessness each year. Recent estimates suggest that between 44% and 60% of homeless people have used illicit drugs in their lifetime. Homeless people tend to die younger than the housed population and tend to have complex end-of-life needs. This is partly due to illicit drug use and associated physical health problems. Accessing health care is a difficult task for homeless individuals who use illicit drugs as they are often stigmatized, lack identification, are struggling to manage withdrawal symptoms, and do not feel welcome in healthcare settings.

A ponthienne reading of the regulation of street-involved people in Winnipeg

Bouclin, Suzanne; Pastora Sala, Joëlle — 2013-05-07T04:49:04

In this article, we will rely on the critical analysis of Dianne Pothier regarding discrimination and human dignity in order to establish propositions that we name the “Pothier perspective.” Our aim is to demonstrate the applicability of the Pothier perspective to the issues relating to street-involved people’s dignity. We apply her analysis to a particular context – the implementation and the effects of the Obstructive Solicitation Regulation in Winnipeg. We find that Pothier’s perspective helps us probe the complex ways in which formal decision-making bodies create and reinforce barriers to improving the life conditions of street-involved people. Among other things, the Pothier analysis deepens our understanding of power dynamics and shifting variations within the context of homelessness. However, Pothier also focuses on the manner in which people conceive of creative ways to develop strategies to maintain their dignity despite discriminatory experiences. Her perspective brings a different discussion about the homelessness in Winnipeg, which may facilitate innovative strategies for anti-poverty groups more broadly.

Une analyse de la réglementation des personnes itinérantes selon une perspective pothienne de la discrimination
Dans cet article, nous nous appuierons sur les analyses critiques de Dianne Pothier concernant la discrimination et la dignité humaine pour établir ce que nous nommons la « perspective pothienne ». Notre objectif est de démontrer l’applicabilité de la perspective pothienne aux enjeux relatifs à la dignité des personnes itinérantes. Une analyse pothienne de l’adoption et des effets d’un règlement municipal—le Règlement sur la sollicitation obstructive de Winnipeg—nous permet de sonder la complexité des structures dans lesquelles les instances formelles créent ou renforcent des obstacles à l’épanouissement des personnes itinérantes. Entre autres, l’analyse pothienne complexifie la compréhension des dynamiques et des différentiations marginalisant les personnes itinérantes. Néanmoins, Pothier mise aussi sur la manière dont les personnes conçoivent divers moyens créatifs de composer avec leur réalité quotidienne en développant des tactiques pour maintenir leur dignité humaine malgré des expériences de discrimination. Son analyse apporte aux discussions sur le phénomène de l’itinérance à Winnipeg un éclairage original qui peut favoriser l’émergence de stratégies novatrices pour les groupes qui luttent contre la pauvreté.

Journal Name: Canadian journal of women and the law

Increasing Access--A Qualitative Study of Homelessness and Palliative Care in a Major Urban Center

Krakowsky, Yonah; Gofine, Miriam; Brown, Pnina; Danziger, Jana ; Knowles, Holly — 2013-05-07T03:38:43

This qualitative study examines how a major urban city's palliative care resources can be improved to increase access and better serve the homeless (Authors).

Journal Name: American Journal of Hospice Palliative Care

Tags: access; qualitative data; palliative care

Aversion to Injection Limits Acceptability of Extended-Release Naltrexone Among Homeless, Alcohol-Dependent Patients

2013-05-07T03:20:52

Clinical trials suggest that depot extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) is efficacious in reducing alcohol consumption among alcohol-dependent subjects (Authors).

Journal Name: Substance Abuse

Tags: Alcohol dependence; substance abuse; Naltrexone; veterans

Joshua Tree Shelter's art exhibit changes perspective

Rasche, John — 2013-05-07T11:28:21

How do you perceive the world when you’re homeless? How does the world perceive you? During the month of May, a new art exhibit encourages you to look through the perspective of the homeless. “The Power of Homelessness: How it Touches Us All,” documents the lives of some of Elko’s homeless through photographs and written stories. The exhibit is hosted by the Joshua Tree Shelter, a nonprofit organization that has been seeking to house the area’s homeless. “I think the homeless are the most under-served (people) in the community,” Joshua Tree Founder Jennifer Kidwell said at the exhibit’s opening night Wednesday. “As you can see (in the exhibit), they’re people too. Their experiences, their journeys are not too far from our own.”

Journal Name: Elko Daily Free Press

PHOTOS: Youth on Fire creates second art installation in Cambridge

2013-05-07T11:22:54

This past Saturday, May 4, young adults from Youth on Fire joined supporters to install 60 3-by-4.5 foot photographs and one 15-by-17 foot photograph that cover the entire Palmer Street building in Harvard Square. The installation, called "I am.... More Than Just Homeless,” is a dramatic testament to the strength, resilience, and survival skills of these vulnerable youth. Anthony Pira partnered with Youth On Fire, a drop-in center for homeless youth ages 17-24 in Harvard Square, to present the images in this second public art installation in collaboration with the Outside In Project national campaign “Creating Art to End Homelessness.”

Journal Name: Cambridge Chronicle & Tab

Governing the Streets: The Legal, Social and Moral Regulation of Homeless Youth - Homeless Hub Research Summary Series

The Homeless Hub — 2013-05-02T12:34:52

Changes in political, social, and economic practices over the past few decades (referred to in this chapter as neoliberalism) have shaped the way government and society at large view and address youth homelessness. These practices include reduced social support, increased individual accountability, particularly in regards to maintaining employment and managing personal finances, and greater reliance on the private sector to provide shelter, food and health services to the homeless population. An overall increase in intolerance for crime and disorder has also resulted, leading to a legal response to urban homelessness sometimes referred to as the “criminalization of homelessness”.

Why Street Youth Become Involved in Crime - Homeless Hub Research Summary Series

The Homeless Hub — 2013-05-02T12:33:36

Research on street youth in Canada suggests these young people are heavily ‘at-risk’ of becoming involved in criminal activities. Street youth, however, become involved in criminal activities to different degrees, ranging from not at all to high rates of participation. The types of offenses they engage in also vary, and can include property crimes, distribution of drugs, and violent crimes such as robbery and physical altercations. Research has demonstrated that the road to the street often begins with adversity in the home including abuse, neglect, food insecurity, and parental substance use, which leaves one at greater risk for criminal behaviour. This may be the result of weakened emotional attachments to guardians or from viewing the world as a coercive, hostile environment. There is a strong link between some types of abuse and crime, such as physical abuse and violent offending. Those who experience particularly hostile abuse often see aggression as the way to solve problems and adopt values and attitudes that support the use of violence. Once leaving home many youth must also resort to crime as a means of survival, or to help cope with life on the streets.

The Agenda with Steve Paikin: Helping Hidden Lives

2013-05-01T11:43:13

We rarely talk about them, but we all know who they are. They cycle through the system, from police to mental health services to the street and back again. None of us would trade places with them, but new approaches are trying to bring them closer to a decent quality of life. The Agenda sits down with frontline experts to talk about the challenges faced by this population, options for addressing the problem and what we owe these marginalized people.

Organization: TVO - The Agenda

Best Practices, Best Outcomes

Prioleau, Brian — 2013-04-30T04:00:32

SAMHSA recently released TIP 55: Behavioral Health Services for People Who Are Homeless. It is intended as a comprehensive protocol for behavioral health professionals who want to effectively treat clients who experience homelessness. Dr. Hunter McQuistion, who led the team that developed the protocol, shares TIP 55’s intent and goals.

Organization: SAMHSA

Tags: behavioral health care; best practices; service providers; program administration

SAMHSA Grantee Spotlight: Palladia, Inc.—Steps to Safety Program

Campos, Connie — 2013-04-30T12:13:37

Palladia, Inc.’s Steps to Safety program has been selected for a SAMHSA Grantee Spotlight for May 2013. The program’s focus on reducing trauma symptoms and assisting in recovery from substance use disorders, while addressing issues of homelessness and housing stability, has led to an increased sense of self-efficacy among their clients.

Organization: SAMHSA

Tags: feature; grantee spotlight; substance use treatment; trauma