Personal Interview with a Person Living in Poverty in Cherokee County

Presenters

Kennedy DuffFollow

Disciplines

Social Welfare | Social Work

Abstract (300 words maximum)

Cherokee County, Georgia, has a multitude of issues that affect the quality of life of the people living there, including homelessness. Contributors to homelessness include lack of access to public transportation, expensive housing, underdeveloped infrastructure, and a lack of resources for the low-income population. The lived experiences of homeless individuals are not readily accessible to the general public, and should be amplified. As part of a mixed-methods needs assessment pertaining to homelessness and housing in Cherokee County, an individual experiencing homelessness in Cherokee County was interviewed. The interview covered topics related to the general experience of homelessness, the experience of receiving services in the county, and how services might be improved. The interviewee shared harrowing experiences of homelessness, including sleeping for nights on end in a car, being harassed by shop owners, threatened with legal action by police, and having difficulty meeting her nutritional needs. Since becoming homeless she also developed significant health issues, including obesity, prediabetes, swelling of the feet and legs, anxiety, and depression. Homelessness is a significant issue that negatively impacts those who experience it. Their stories are rarely told in privileged public spaces. Our purpose here was to amplify the voice of a vulnerable individual and shed light on the experience of homelessness.

Academic department under which the project should be listed

WCHHS - Social Work and Human Services

Primary Investigator (PI) Name

Matthew Lyons

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Personal Interview with a Person Living in Poverty in Cherokee County

Cherokee County, Georgia, has a multitude of issues that affect the quality of life of the people living there, including homelessness. Contributors to homelessness include lack of access to public transportation, expensive housing, underdeveloped infrastructure, and a lack of resources for the low-income population. The lived experiences of homeless individuals are not readily accessible to the general public, and should be amplified. As part of a mixed-methods needs assessment pertaining to homelessness and housing in Cherokee County, an individual experiencing homelessness in Cherokee County was interviewed. The interview covered topics related to the general experience of homelessness, the experience of receiving services in the county, and how services might be improved. The interviewee shared harrowing experiences of homelessness, including sleeping for nights on end in a car, being harassed by shop owners, threatened with legal action by police, and having difficulty meeting her nutritional needs. Since becoming homeless she also developed significant health issues, including obesity, prediabetes, swelling of the feet and legs, anxiety, and depression. Homelessness is a significant issue that negatively impacts those who experience it. Their stories are rarely told in privileged public spaces. Our purpose here was to amplify the voice of a vulnerable individual and shed light on the experience of homelessness.