Disciplines
Social Work
Abstract (300 words maximum)
This research aims to analyze homeless shelters that only provide basic care, i.e., food and shelter, to individuals experiencing episodic or chronic homelessness. Evaluating the effectiveness of these shelters and their ability to help individuals overcome homelessness. Research in this area suggests that there are commonly seen factors that result in homelessness, and although there are noted gender differences, these factors include aspects such as mental illness, substance abuse, poverty, illness, disability, violence, and a lack of access to resources, i.e., education, income, affordable housing, social support. All of these are complex on their own to address and only grow in difficulty if an individual is dealing with more than one issue in addition to homelessness. Basic care homeless shelters are the more easily accessible service centers for the homeless that provides shelter and food. However, by providing just these two services, they ignore the plethora of prior complexities that homeless individuals experience. A review of the best practices for homeless men and women shows that a multifaceted approach that addresses additional issues such as mental health and substance abuse in conjunction with the lack of housing is more effective when it comes to helping individuals overcome homelessness.
Keywords: Homelessness, Homeless shelters, Chronic homelessness
Academic department under which the project should be listed
Human Services
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Dr. Denise Green
Included in
Are Basic Care Homeless Shelters Beneficial to The Homeless
This research aims to analyze homeless shelters that only provide basic care, i.e., food and shelter, to individuals experiencing episodic or chronic homelessness. Evaluating the effectiveness of these shelters and their ability to help individuals overcome homelessness. Research in this area suggests that there are commonly seen factors that result in homelessness, and although there are noted gender differences, these factors include aspects such as mental illness, substance abuse, poverty, illness, disability, violence, and a lack of access to resources, i.e., education, income, affordable housing, social support. All of these are complex on their own to address and only grow in difficulty if an individual is dealing with more than one issue in addition to homelessness. Basic care homeless shelters are the more easily accessible service centers for the homeless that provides shelter and food. However, by providing just these two services, they ignore the plethora of prior complexities that homeless individuals experience. A review of the best practices for homeless men and women shows that a multifaceted approach that addresses additional issues such as mental health and substance abuse in conjunction with the lack of housing is more effective when it comes to helping individuals overcome homelessness.
Keywords: Homelessness, Homeless shelters, Chronic homelessness