Short-term Shelter Research Articles

From homeless to home: issues and challenges of housing continuity in Klang Valley, Malaysia

Purpose This paper aims to discuss the issues and challenges related to housing continuity for individuals transitioning from homelessness to securing a place to live in Klang Valley, Malaysia. The aim of the study is to explore the problems and solutions in the context of housing policy, particularly as they pertain to homeless households. The study involves conducting in-depth interviews with various stakeholders involved in helping homeless households find shelter and access to public housing. Design/methodology/approach The research methodology comprises a comprehensive literature review encompassing housing affordability, affordable housing and homelessness both within Malaysia and globally to identify research gaps. One of the key questions highlighted the effectiveness of existing programs aimed at providing short-term shelter and social integration for homeless individuals. Additionally, it highlights one of the primary challenges in this process, which is the tendency of homeless individuals to return to homelessness due to various factors. The data collection uses a qualitative approach and the data are obtained through in-depth interviews with key stakeholders responsible for assisting homeless households in Klang Valley, Malaysia, encompassing federal, state and local government representatives. Purposive sampling ensures diverse stakeholder representation. Interviews are structured semi-structured to maintain consistency while allowing for open-ended discussions on challenges and successes in facilitating homeless individuals' transition to stable housing. Thematic analysis of transcribed interview data focuses on recurring themes related to housing continuity, affordability and homeless households' behavioural patterns. Findings There are five (n = 5) stakeholders consist of local government (Code: R1), ministries (Code: R2; R5) and government agencies (Code: R3; R4). The study revealed that various programs have been implemented to provide short-term shelter and facilitate the integration of homeless individuals into society. Nevertheless, a significant challenge identified was the recurring tendency of homeless households to return to homelessness. This “behavioural direction” was found to be influenced by multiple factors which includes mental health and attitude problem. The findings emphasise the need for collaborative efforts among all stakeholders to address the issues and challenges related to housing continuity in Klang Valley. Originality/value The originality of this research lies in its focus on the specific and under-researched context of Klang Valley, Malaysia, regarding the critical issues of housing affordability and the challenges of housing continuity for homeless households. While housing affordability and affordable housing are widely recognised as global housing policy concerns, this study delves into a localised setting where limited attention has been given to understanding the transitions of homeless individuals to stable housing. The findings provide unique insights into the efforts and challenges faced in Klang Valley, shedding light on the behavioural patterns and factors contributing to recurring homelessness. This paper offers a context-specific perspective that contributes to the broader understanding of housing continuity issues.

Social Control and Homeless Encampments: Shifting the Role of Shelters Through Judicial Review

In Canadian cities, unaffordable housing and the lack of community supports have led to an increase in the number of encampments in public spaces. Municipal governments argue that short-term shelter spaces are a reasonable response to the ongoing, amplified housing crisis. However, shelters are an example of the many ‘every day’ regulatory approaches used by public officials in related to unhoused people referenced by Johnsen et al., do not provide legal tenure, and are often unsafe for people and their possessions.

Van Manen's Hermeneutic Phenomenological Analysis of the Escape Process from Home of Women Affected by Domestic Violence: Focused on Users of Protective Facilities and Short-term Shelters

Van Manen's Hermeneutic Phenomenological Analysis of the Escape Process from Home of Women Affected by Domestic Violence: Focused on Users of Protective Facilities and Short-term Shelters

Sustainable innovations for humanitarian operations in refugee camps

PurposeAlthough the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) emphasize the importance of leaving no one behind, the opposite is happening for the world's 89 million forcibly displaced people who are mostly left out of SDGs’ reporting and progress. A key reason for this poor outcome is that host country governments plan refugee camps as short-term shelters, but refugees stay in these camps for more than a decade on average due to ongoing conflicts in their home country. This disparity between intent and reality prevents sustainable living conditions for refugee populations. Operational innovations are needed to find sustainable solutions that ensure a higher quality of life and progress toward sustainability in refugee camps.Design/methodology/approachThrough an abductive case study, the authors develop a theoretical framework on sustainable operational innovations for refugee camps. The authors use this framework to analyze four sustainable operational innovations implemented in three refugee camps in Jordan.FindingsThe authors develop three research propositions that describe the conditions required for these operational innovations to succeed: they need to include specific needs and cultural preferences of refugees, they must accommodate host governments' restrictions that limit permanent settlement, and finally, technological innovations require careful data management policies to protect refugees. Doing this, the authors account for the broader political-economic and ecological environments that refugee camps are embedded in.Originality/valueThis paper opens a new area of research on sustainable innovation in humanitarian operations. It provides insights into key contingency factors moderating the link between operational innovations and sustainability outcomes. It represents one of the few studies that build their theorizing upon field data collected in refugee camps.

The Effects of Reality Therapy-based Adult Group Play Therapy on Self-Esteem and Depression in Victims of Domestic Violence

The purpose of this study is to verify the effect of reality therapy-based adult group play therapy on self-esteem and depression in women victims of domestic violence. To confirm the effectiveness of the program, 7 women living in a short-term shelter for victims of domestic violence in S-city were formed as an experimental group by convenience sampling method. A self-report scale was used to measure self-esteem and depression, and the collected data were analyzed through SPSS. The program reflects the basic elements of Glasser's RWDEP system. And the contents were structured so that all the process is done through play. The program consisted of a total of 10 sessions and was conducted once a week for 120 minutes. As a result of the study, reality therapy-based adult group play therapy had a significant effect on improving self-esteem and reducing depression in female victims of domestic violence. There were differences in the presence or absence of effects in the sub-factors of depression. Negative attitude and difficulty in performance decreased significantly after participating in the program. However, there was no significant change in physical factors. The above results were discussed, and directions for developing the program were suggested.

A Hybrid Approach of VIKOR and Bi-Objective Decision Model for Emergency Shelter Location–Allocation to Respond to Earthquakes

Earthquakes have catastrophic effects on the affected population, especially in undeveloped countries or regions. Minimizing the impact and consequences of earthquakes involves many decisions and disaster relief operations that should be optimized. A critical disaster management problem is to construct shelters with reasonable capacity in the right locations, allocate evacuees, and provide relief materials to them within a reasonable period. This study proposes a bi-objective hierarchical model with two stages, namely, the temporary shelter stage and the short-term shelter stage. The proposed objectives at different stages are to minimize the evacuation time, maximize the suitability based on qualitative factors, and minimize the number of sites while considering the demand, capacity, utilization, and budget constraints. The performance evaluation of the emergency shelter was carried out by fuzzy-VIKOR, and the most ideal location of the shelter was determined through multiple standards. Emergency management organizations can benefit from the collective expertise of multiple decision-makers because the proposed method uses their knowledge to automate the location and allocation process of shelters. In the case of Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, the results of using this hybrid approach provide the government with a range of options. This method can realize the trade-off between efficiency and cost in the emergency shelter location and material distribution, and realize reliable solutions in disaster emergencies.

Influence of alkali activators on thermo-physical properties of ecofriendly unfired clay bricks from anthill mounds

This experiment studied the effect of alkali activators on clay from anthill mounds which was blended with a small proportion of cement to develop eco-friendly unfired bricks. Physical, wet and dry compressive strength tests were investigated and the results were analysed using one-way ANOVA. Thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of the unfired bricks were also studied using Hot Disc Thermal Constant Analyzer. The microstructures of the unfired bricks were also analysed with scanning electron microscope equipment. The results of the physical tests were significantly higher at p < 0.05 for unfired bricks made up of 0.5% and 1% weights of calcium chloride and sodium hydroxide at a constant value of 1% weight of sodium silicate more than those made from other amounts of activators. The thermal performance values showed that the bricks are good insulators and could be used for the construction of structure requiring little thermal fluctuations. The study has shown that improved environment-friendly unfired clay bricks could be developed from the mixture of clay samples sourced from anthill mounds and alkali activators in addition to a little proportion of cement. These could be suitable for the construction of grain silos, low-cost structures and short-term shelters in low-income countries.

Characteristics and Welfare of Long-Term Shelter Dogs.

Simple SummaryIn no-kill shelters, overpopulation is an often-faced problem. Some individuals have better adoption chances than others, and over time, long-term dog populations develop. Our aim was to identify certain characteristics that long-term shelter dogs share and to investigate if long-term shelter dogs experience an impairment of welfare due to the restricted environment. In our study, long-term shelter dogs were more often of older age, male, of large size, neutered, and of a “dangerous breed”. They were also described more often as having behavioural problems regarding aggression and high arousal. The physical wellbeing of long-term shelter dogs was not impaired. However, they did show some stress-related behaviours, suggesting that they might be more affected by acute stressors and have more difficulties relaxing in the shelter environment. In sum, certain morphological and behavioural characteristics of dogs can be used to identify individuals at higher risk for a long-term stay. Thus, these dogs require special attention and effort to enhance their adoption chances. The results of this study serve as a scientific basis for developing such dog-specific strategies.To identify characteristics that distinguish long-term (LT: stay > 1 year) from short-term shelter dogs (ST: ≤5 months) and to investigate if a long-term stay impairs welfare, we compared ST and LT dogs in Austrian no-kill shelters. Analyses including characteristics such as breed, sex, or age (shelter records), problem behaviour, and personality (questionnaires completed by staff) showed that LT dogs were significantly more often a “dangerous breed”, male, and older when admitted to the shelter. They were rated higher on “aggression” and “high arousal” and lower on the personality dimension “amicability”. A welfare assessment protocol including reaction toward humans (Shelter Quality Protocol), and in-kennel observations were used to assess the effect of the long-term stay. LT dogs tended to show more signs of aggression toward an unfamiliar human, but welfare assessment revealed no difference. During resting periods, LT dogs spent more time resting head up and had more bouts resting head down. Prior to feeding, they stood, vocalised, and yawned more. LT dogs are characterised by specific features such as being aroused easily and having difficulties to relax. Whether this is a result of the long-term stay or personality-associated, consequently causing lower adoption rates, remains to be determined.

The commodification of temporary housing

Since the 1970s, temporary uses of vacant spaces have become a preferred urban development strategy to revitalise centrally-located neighbourhoods. In the housing sector, however, temporary uses are barely registered as they provide only short-term shelter in buildings shortly before demolition. Therefore, they do not secure a stable right to housing. In Switzerland, nevertheless, temporary uses are increasingly gaining momentum in the housing segment. Since the 2010s, besides institutionalised but non-profit temporary housing, a for-profit model has emerged. This commodified model is managed on the owners' behalf and is based on loaning law contracts that require payment for operating costs, but not rent. Consequently, the legal protection of the temporary users' rights, namely low-income families, single parents, people with social aid, and students remains weak. This article detects the mechanisms at play explaining the reasons for the shift towards profit-seeking in temporary housing by using an institutionalist and actor-centred analysis approach. Through a qualitative single case study analysis of Zurich, Switzerland, the phenomenon will be analysed in a city confronted with increasing affordable housing shortage and densification pressure.

A Three-Stage Hierarchical Model for An Earthquake Shelter Location-Allocation Problem: Case Study of Chaoyang District, Beijing, China

Earthquakes are one type of natural disaster that causes serious economic loss, deaths, and homelessness, and providing shelters is vital to evacuees who have been affected by an earthquake. Constructing shelters with reasonable capacity in the right locations and allocating evacuees to them in a reasonable time period is one disaster management method. This study proposes a multi-objective hierarchical model with three stages, i.e., an immediate shelter (IS) stage, a short-term shelter (STS) stage, and a long-term shelter (LTS) stage. According to the requirements of evacuees of IS, STS, and LTS, the objective of both the IS and STS stages is to minimize total evacuation time and the objectives of the LTS are to minimize total evacuation time and to minimize total shelter area. A modified particle swarm optimization (MPSO) algorithm is used to solve the IS and STS stages and an interleaved modified particle swarm optimization algorithm and genetic algorithm (MPSO-GA) is applied to solve the LTS stage. Taking Chaoyang District, Beijing, China as a case study, the results generated using the model present the government with a set of options. Thus, according to the preferences of the government, the determination can be made regarding where to construct ISs, STSs, and LTSs, and how to allocate the evacuees to them.

Toward evidence-based anti-human trafficking policy: a rapid review of CSE rehabilitation and evaluation of Indian legislation

ABSTRACTThis paper (a) examines the evidence base around rehabilitation of victims of trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation (CSE), (b) identifies the extent that India’s proposed 2016 Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection, and Rehabilitation) Bill reflects scientific and experiential evidence, and (c) discusses how gaps in the proposed bill can be informed by evidence. A rapid review of empirical studies on policies and interventions addressing rehabilitation of CSE victims was conducted. Although evidence is lacking, research suggests that cross-sectoral collaboration, training and monitoring law enforcement, psychotherapeutic interventions and care provided by short-term shelters, reintegration, and recognizing victims’ rights improve the success of rehabilitative efforts. The proposed legislation does not sufficiently reflect evidence around successful rehabilitation efforts and suggests that implementing the bill as it currently stands would change little of the existing structures to support victims in receiving adequate services or successfully reintegrating into society.

Living under their boats: a strategy for southern sealing in the nineteenth century – its history and archaeological potential

During the nineteenth century, sealers working in the Southern Ocean around Antarctica had several strategies for gathering seal skins and oil. Where seals were abundant and a long period ashore was required to exploit them, a stone shelter was often constructed or a cave was occupied. Where fewer seals were seen, and where accessible beaches were very small, sealers went ashore by whale boat and slept under the upturned boat for the short period needed to kill the seals. Living under upturned boats was also a practice used by crews of wrecked sealing ships; boats provided short-term shelter in emergencies, and also when sealers travelled to secure food or other resources to survive. The paper looks at the background of this strategy, the historical sources describing life under the boats and the experiences of the sealers involved. It then uses a series of models to hypothesise what the archaeological evidence of boat camps might look like. Finally, this paper describes two archaeological sites in the South Shetland Islands that display characteristics of boat camps, and suggests that further surveys for boat camp sites in the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic regions are needed in future.

Predictive models for post disaster shelter needs assessment

The assessment of shelter needs of displaced people in the aftermath of major earthquake events is one the main challenges that emergency responders currently have to face. Based on the scale of the disaster, the short-term shelter demand can turn into a temporary housing need for displaced population, which is a local government responsibility. The study presented in this paper is focused on a critical review of currently available methodologies and corresponding software packages that were developed specifically for estimating the number of displaced people and those who will most likely seek public sheltering and will need temporary housing. The main features and shortcomings of such tools are highlighted and interpreted with a view to future improvement and application in the disaster management field. Two software tools, ERGO-EQ and HAZUS-MH, have been identified as more exhaustive in considering all the different variables involved in the shelter needs estimation. For this reason, this study also includes a full application of those two software tools to a real case study. Specifically, the modelling of the February 22nd, 2011 Christchurch earthquake is presented, in which hazard, vulnerability and exposure (both physical and social) were characterized over a specific area of Christchurch urban area as input to the aforementioned software tools. The employed tools yielded different results in terms of dislocated people and shelter needs estimates, for which a brief discussion is presented on possible ways to improve and to better reflect the local conditions, in order to produce more realistic outputs.

Qualitative Behaviour Assessment of dogs in the shelter and home environment and relationship with quantitative behaviour assessment and physiological responses

Qualitative Behaviour Assessment (QBA) was utilised to examine the behavioural expression of dogs in different housing environments and the results were compared to measurements of quantitative behaviour and physiology. Firstly, quantitative behavioural and physiological differences were investigated between dogs in 3 housing environments (short-term shelter confinement, ≤4days, n=10; long-term shelter confinement, >30days, n=9; and domestic living situations, n=10). Each dog’s behaviour was recorded over a 4h period using an ethogram consisting of 21 behaviour categories. Dogs in both short (SD) and long (LD) term confinement displayed higher frequencies of paw-lifting (P<0.001), displacement behaviour (digging and/or drinking P<0.01), vocalisation (P<0.05) and locomotory activity (P<0.001) compared to dogs maintained as family pets (PD). Salivary cortisol concentrations did not differ amongst groups (H=0.55, P=0.76). Secondly, quantitative behaviour and QBA were combined to investigate differences among these same 29 dogs when filmed for 1min in both their Home Environment and a standardised Novel Environment. QBA of these video clips was made by 10 observers utilising Free-Choice-Profiling methodology. Generalised Procrustes Analysis was used to calculate a consensus profile and three main dimensions of dog expression in both Environments. The observers repeated dog scores on these dimensions with high accuracy (P<0.001). Observers perceived dogs as more ‘relaxed/content’ in the Home Environment (H=17.86, P<0.0001), and more ‘calm/relaxed’ in the Novel Environment (H=13.58, P<0.001), than SD and LD dogs. In the Novel Environment, LD dogs were perceived as more ‘inquisitive/curious’ (H=5.97, P<0.05), and SD dogs as more ‘curious/cautious’ (H=6.82, P<0.05), than the other groups. Quantitative assessment of the 1min Home and Novel Environment video clips were analysed using Principle Component Analysis (PCA), generating two main factors explaining 88% and 76% of the variation respectively. PCA factor 1 (‘rest’) and QBA Dimension 1 (‘relaxed/content’) correlated (P<0.0001) in the Home Environment’. In the Novel Environment PCA factor 1 (‘stand’, ‘sniff’) correlated with QBA Dimension 1 (‘clam/relaxed’) and PCA factor 2 (‘sniff’, ‘walk’) correlated with QBA Dimension 2 (‘curious/inquisitive’). There was no correlation between QBA dimensions and cortisol concentrations. In sum, these results indicate that a combined quantitative/qualitative assessment facilitates the interpretation of behavioural variances resulting from housing differences and supports utilising QBA for the assessment of dog behavioural expression.

Desert, detention, and deportation: Mexican women's descriptions of migration stressors and sources of strength

ABSTRACTI analyzed interviews (n = 10) of women recently deported from the United States of America to Mexico, exploring what women experienced immediately after deportation. The women who were residing in a short-term shelter in Nogales, Mexico, described their greatest stressors and sources of strength. Women identified the border crossing experience, apprehension, detention, and family separation due to deportation as stressors. Sources of strength included God and family. Irregular migration is not unique between the United States and Mexico. Women migrate in search of work, education, and safety. I offer these women's stories as exemplars and this study as one to be replicated with women in other contexts across the globe.

King’s College London Student Clinical Ethics Committee case discussion: Should a homeless, potentially suicidal man, be admitted to hospital overnight for the purpose of addressing a short-term shelter problem?

Members of the Student Clinical Ethics Committee discussed the ethical issues arising in a case referred for consideration – a homeless man presenting to the emergency department of a busy London hospital with recent self-reported suicide attempts. Should he be admitted overnight in order to address a short-term shelter problem? The case study summarises the reflections of the Committee and focusses on the doctor’s duty of care and patient responsibility, benefits of admission and resource considerations.

Not in warfare alone: Conical timber lodges in the Central Rocky Mountains and Northwestern Plains

Conical timber lodges are a well known but little investigated archaeological feature of the Central Rocky Mountains and Northwestern Plains. These perishable wood structures are commonly regarded as war lodges or short-term shelters built by Plains Indian groups during the Protohistoric and Historic periods. Archaeological, ethnohistorical, and ethnographic data show that this interpretation is too narrow. Conical timber lodges served a diversity of purposes as temporary shelters, special activity sites, and domiciles.

An Overview of the Design of Disaster Relief Shelters

Disaster relief (DR) shelters play a vital role in large-scale disasters and are an important part of disaster response and recovery. DR shelters are used to provide private and secure places for people to live who have left or lost their usual accommodations as a result of some form of disaster. DR shelters not only provide immediate and short-term shelter for the victims of a disaster, but they also help them to recover from the trauma of a disaster as well as provide a base to start the process of rehabilitation. A review of the literature, case studies, guidance, and reports relating to the design of DR shelters indicates that their provision and performance are not currently as effective as they could be. A lack of adequate consideration with regard to climatic conditions, locally available materials and skills, cultural and social issues, delays, cost constraints, and poor location selection for DR shelters have each been identified as sources of poor performance contributing to an unacceptable standard of living. Moreover, there seems to be a lack of sufficient consideration with regard to the design of DR shelters for future storage and re-use. The principal aim of this research is to examine the extent to which environmental, economic, technical, and sociocultural criteria affect the provision and performance of DR shelters, and how such factors might be taken into account in the decision-making and design processes of such shelters.

Survey Research in Domestic Violence Facilities: Challenges and Best Practices

In the United States, there are approximately 2,000 domestic violence facilities, ranging from short-term shelters to longer-term transitional housing facilities providing a safe haven for women and their children fleeing life-threatening violence. Survey researchers interested in working with populations resident in domestic violence facilities may find that a number of social and legal factors complicate their ability to do so, including legal restrictions, trauma-informed trust issues, social services fatigue, facility culture, and restricted access to records. This article offers a brief overview of these issues and offers research-based best practices for overcoming them in survey research.

Public Perceptions of Hospital Responsibilities to Those Presenting Without Medical Injury or Illness During a Disaster

BackgroundDuring natural and manmade disasters, the hospital is perceived as a central rallying and care site for the public, for both those with and without emergency medical needs. The expectations of the public may outstrip hospital plans and abilities to provide nonmedical assistance. ObjectiveOur objective was to determine the public expectations of the hospital during disasters regarding resource provision. MethodsA survey was distributed to adult patients or family members at three emergency departments (EDs). Respondents were asked to evaluate hospital responsibility to provide nine resources to those without emergency medical needs, including vaccination, medication refill or replacement, food and water, grief/stress counseling, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) access assistance, short/long-term shelter, family reunification, and hospital. Additionally, respondents answered questions regarding prior disaster experience and demographics. ResultsThere were 961 respondents (66.9% were female, 47.5% were white, and 44.6% were black). Respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the hospital should provide the following services: event-specific vaccination (84%), medication refill/replacement (76.5%), food and water (61%), grief or stress counseling (53%), FEMA access assistance (52%), short-term shelter (51%), family reunification (50%), long-term shelter (38%), and hospital transportation (29%). Those 36–45 years of age were less likely to expect services (p < 0.05) and non-whites and those with a family member with a medical condition requiring electricity were more likely to expect services (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively). There were no differences based on frequency of ED use, sex, income, or prior disaster experience. ConclusionThere is a high public expectation that hospitals will provide significant nonmedical disaster relief. Understanding these expectations is essential to appropriate community disaster planning.