Homeless Situation Research Articles

Health Situation Among Women Experiencing Homelessness Who Have Been Involved in Prostitution

ABSTRACTPeople in a homeless situation are one of the most obvious embodiments of the phenomenon of social exclusion, and women living homeless are a particularly vulnerable group. The article analyses the differences in health status between women experiencing homelessness who have been involved in prostitution and those who have not. The sample consisted of 135 women experiencing homelessness in Madrid, Spain. From the total sample interviewed, 81% had never been involved in prostitution, while 19% had been in this situation at some point in their lives. The results obtained show that women experiencing homelessness who have been involved in prostitution had poorer health outcomes, with a higher prevalence of diagnosed serious or chronic illnesses and more mental health problems, compared to women experiencing homelessness who had not been involved in prostitution. Considering that health problems most severely affect women experiencing homelessness who have also been involved in prostitution, it seems necessary to design and implement public policies and intervention programmes with a gender‐sensitive approach that are accessible to women in situations of extreme vulnerability.

Unaccompanied homelessness among high school students across ten states: prevalence and risk in multiple domains

ABSTRACT Unaccompanied homelessness during adolescence is a risk factor for varied poor outcomes, yet enumeration efforts struggle to provide feasible results and few analyses consider how risk might differ for this group. We consider data from the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey from 10 states that asked about unaccompanied homelessness and sleeping arrangement. Students who experienced any form of homelessness were at higher risk for poor outcomes and other risk experiences. Few students reported both unaccompanied homelessness and usually sleeping in a homeless situation. Youth experiencing unaccompanied homelessness had higher risk for alcohol problems and lower risk for severe drug use and poor grades compared to students who experienced other forms of homelessness; otherwise they had similar levels of risk for poor outcomes. Results are consistent with the view that students who experience unaccompanied homeless are a distinguishable subpopulation of students who experience homelessness and are at high levels of risk of poor outcomes.

Work with women in the crisis of homelessness. An example of actions based on assistance assumptions

The issue of women's homelessness is relatively rarely subjected to research and theoretical analysis. This is probably due to the fact that there are significantly fewer women without a roof over their heads than men. According to a study commissioned by the Ministry of Family and Social Policy from 2019, they constitute 17% of the entire homeless population. The available literature on the subject indicates that the experience of the homelessness crisis by women and men is not the same. The differences concern both the causes and the reported needs and forms of assistance provided. The aim of the paper is to present an example of activities dedicated to women in a situation of homelessness, focused on improving their health, taking care of their appearance and hygiene, and organizing their free time, implemented on a base on assistantship. The goals, assumptions and effects of these activities were indicated.

The Role of Childhood Violence in Adult Victimization Among Women Experiencing Homelessness in Spain.

Persons experiencing homelessness represent one of the principal manifestations of the phenomenon of social exclusion, with homeless women constituting a group in a particularly vulnerable situation. The article analyzed the experience of violence in childhood and adolescence, and its implications in terms of violence experienced as an adult, in a sample of women experiencing homelessness in Madrid (Spain) (n = 138). All participants were of legal age and had spent the night before the interview in a shelter or other facility for the homeless, on the street, in public spaces or in places not suitable for sleeping. Information was gathered through a structured interview. The results show that the interviewees had experienced a high percentage of physical, psychological, and/or sexual violence, both in their childhood and adolescence and throughout their lives, with a strong correlation between the experience of violence in childhood and the experience of violence in adulthood, particularly sexual assaults, intimate partner violence, and sex work. The experience of childhood sexual abuse among women experiencing homelessness appears to have had particularly negative consequences in adulthood. Public policies, prevention programs, and care mechanisms with a gendered perspective must be implemented, aimed at reducing the number and intensity of situations of violence experienced by women and girls at risk of social exclusion or in a homeless situation.

Simulating a situation of homelessness: nursing students' perceptions of learning through virtual embodiment

Individuals experiencing homelessness encounter unique challenges in accessing and receiving care in our health systems[1,2,3,4] Preparing emerging health professionals to respond to their complex health needs will require innovative educational approaches that promote person-centered care, and stimulate critical reflection and action towards the personal, interpersonal and structural factors that shape health care delivery.[5,6,7]
 This presentation reports on preliminary findings of phase 1 of a critical qualitative case study of nursing student’s perceptions of learning about the experience of homelessness, through a virtual reality educational experience. The study design was informed by critical transformative learning theories and theories of embodiment. Twenty nursing students were engaged in a virtual reality experience of 12 minutes, followed by a 1:1 debrief interview. The debrief interview used an adapted version of the Promoting Excellence and Reflective Learning in Simulation (PEARLS) framework to elicit students’ reflections on the experience. The interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim.
 Data analysis involved a process of reading all of the transcripts for a sense of the whole, mindmapping each of the transcripts, identifying themes that permeated the data set, and coding data in Quirkos software. Six preliminary themes include: a) seeing the person through story, b) destabilizing assumptions and questioning stereotypes, c) embodied emotional awareness, d) challenges to care, e) recognizing vulnerability of people experiencing homelessness, and f) quality of the immersive experience in learning.
 The findings contribute to our knowledge about virtual reality simulation as an innovative approach to fostering learning about homelessness in health professions education.

Community Stakeholders’ Perceptions of the Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic on Homelessness in Canada

Homelessness was already a well-known risk factor contributing to premature death, morbidity, mental illness, and substance use disorder. The coronavirus disease for 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has amplified disparities in Canada’s public health system, disproportionately impacting people experiencing homelessness. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the homelessness situation in Canada from community stakeholders’ perceptions. The study used qualitative research approaches underlain by focused ethnography tenets. The sample includes 200 service providers from 28 communities across Canada (at least one site in each province and territory) to participate in virtual focus groups. Data analysis followed a four-step ethnographic approach for thematic analysis in qualitative research. Six main themes emerged: (a) system changes precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic; (b) personal changes in life circumstances; (c) previous strategies no longer working; (e) opportunities; (d) some things getting better; (f) an overall increase in first time and recurrent homelessness in Canada. The study findings underscored mechanisms required to help ‘tip the scale’ in affording people experiencing homelessness the opportunity to avoid or exit homelessness.

‘People Don’t Live There, on the Streets—They Are Surviving’: Gender Specifics of Homelessness Coping Strategies in St. Petersburg, Russia

Homelessness is a significant and increasing problem in modern Russia, which is admitted mostly by NGOs. In addition, in academic, media and state discourses, homelessness is traditionally viewed as a male phenomenon, and there is a lack of research focused on the gender aspects of homelessness in Russia. Therefore, the underrepresentation of homeless women’s experiences and their comparison to homeless men’s experiences, in academic and policy research in Russia, influence the diversity and quality of services provided to homeless people. Based on an analysis of 60 in-depth qualitative interviews conducted with homeless men and women in Saint Petersburg, this article compares men’s and women’s coping strategies in the situation of homelessness. Research shows that the homeless experience is gender-specific. When lacking resources, women use a special gendered form of capital—‘feminine’ capital—while men utilise more masculine coping strategies. The patriarchal traditions and values of Russian society also play a significant role in the paths of people experiencing homelessness.

Determinants of depression and anxiety in homeless people: A population survey of homeless people in Hong Kong.

There are growing concerns about the homeless and mental health issues globally. This study aims to examine the mental health situation of homelessness and the determinants of anxiety and depression of them in Hong Kong. The data from the largest territory-wide study of the homeless population in 2021 was analyzed. Descriptive statistics and logistic regressions were used to investigate the association between mental health and socioeconomic variables, including demographic background, economic indicators, COVID-19 worries, government measures, and respect by others. The symptoms of depression and anxiety were assessed using Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) and General Anxiety Disorder (GAD). The results showed that being female, food insecurity, and chronic diseases were the risk factors for anxiety and depression. A high level of respect by others was the protective factor for depression (adjusted OR 0.37, 95% CI [0.23, 0.61]) and anxiety (adjusted OR 0.40, 95% CI [0.24, 0.68]), compared to a low level of respect in the multivariate model. Providing medical outreach services, additional resources for social services, implementation of homeless-friendly policies, and a progressive supply of public and transitional housing would help enhance the well-being of the homeless population.

“To put an end to this damned thing”: Rebutting denialism strategies performed by people in situation of homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemics (Brazil)

In this article we highlight some responses of collective resistance by members of the National Movement of People in Situational Homelessness (MNPR) in the state of Rio Grande do Norte (Brazil), during the COVID-19 pandemics. In this context, this collective had to face a deep state of crisis, aggravated during the pandemic and as a result of its effects. During the months of July 2020 to August 2022, through a project funded by the National Research Council (CNPQ), we conducted participatory research within vulnerable social groups in order to help them strengthen their social and community organization in the face of the pandemics by analyzing and producing knowledge. The chosen ethnographic approach took place through virtual meetings, telephone contacts and a chat flow during the period in WhatsApp groups. As a result, we contrasted the potent local struggles of this movement with the denialist, negligent and pseudo-scientific attitudes of the Federal Government, which strengthened a genocidal process based on dehumanizing policies of neoliberal nature. We note that, even when the population mentioned dealt with the effects of a pandemic potentiated by structural racism and social exclusion, they organized creative coping strategies, and exemplified, through pedagogies of struggle, growing paths for the practice of citizen science.

Love Your Neighbor Collaborative: A Multi-Sector Collaborative to Target Health Disparities for Vulnerable Populations

The Love Your Neighbor Collaborative (LYNC) is a multi-sector collaborative of nonprofit community-based organizations, faith communities, educational institutions, local government, and local supportive businesses to target health disparities for the vulnerable population of individuals in homelessness, and near homelessness, throughout the city of Riverside, California.. The goal of LYNC is to reduce and prevent homelessness by building a coalition of RAOs, academic institutions, and nonprofit organizations to work collaboratively with the city of Riverside to create a stronger, more integrated collective effort resourcing those who are in homeless situations or, at risk of losing their home.

Pregnancy and sexual related problems among women living on the street in dire Dawa City, Eastern Ethiopia, 2021: qualitative study

BackgroundThe problem of women and youths living on the street is a global phenomenon. It has created countless problems while they lived on the street; such as unwanted pregnancies, sexual exploitation and prostitution. It is a frequent observation to see women begging on the streets of major cities in Ethiopia having one or two babies by their sides. This study will give an in-depth understanding of the distressing and highly challenging problem among women on the street regarding pregnancy and related problems.ObjectiveTo explore pregnancy and sexual-related problems among women living on the street in Dire Dawa city, Eastern Ethiopia 2021.MethodsA community-based phenomenological qualitative study was conducted at Dire Dawa city. Data was collected from homeless women and Key informants through focus group discussion and in-depth interviews using a semi-structured tool aided by a voice recorder. Data were analyzed thematically using computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software Atlas.ti7. The thematic analysis with inductive approach goes through 6 steps; Familiarization, Coding, Generating themes, Reviewing themes, Defining and naming themes and Writing up.ResultWomen living on the street are more likely to experience physical abuse, sexual harassment, Sexual transmitted infection, unprotected sex and unwanted pregnancy. As a result, the fate of this pregnancy is abortion leads to high risk of getting health complications as most abortions are made in illegal and unsafe ways.ConclusionTeen pregnancy, STI, rape and unsafe abortion are the major concerns as it accompanied by their homelessness situation and abusive lifestyles. The regional health bureau needs to understand the extent of problem and plan to organize an awareness creation program on STI, risk of pregnancy and SRH services.

Análisis de la salud de la población sin hogar de un distrito desfavorecido de Barcelona. Estudio ESSELLA

ObjectiveTo assess the health status of the homeless population. DesignCross-sectional descriptive study. SettingRaval Sud Primary Care Health Center (Barcelona). ParticipantsHomeless legal age people who have slept rough at some point in their lives. Main measurementsSociodemographic data and time in a situation of homelessness. Chronic pathologies, transmissible infectious diseases, mental illnesses and substance use disorders. HAD questionnaire on anxiety and depression. CVRS EQ-5D-3L questionnaire. Descriptive statistics. ResultsThe information of 146 patients with a mean age of 51.6 years (SD=12.8), 87% male and a mean of 12 years (SD=11.9) in a situation of homelessness was analyzed. The burden of disease was compared between the CAS profile (Drug addiction center – Baluard) and the socio-sanitary profile (Arrels Foundation). CAS users presented higher percentages of substance use disorders, mental illnesses and transmissible infectious diseases. People with a socio-health profile presented a higher percentage of chronic diseases (respiratory, cardiovascular and oncological) and more than half presented an alcohol use disorder and a higher percentage of disease associated with its consumption. ConclusionsThe homeless population presents a high burden of disease, especially for mental illness, addictions and transmissible infectious diseases. We believe that studies are necessary to evaluate the disease excess compared to the general population with its derived costs and to design new strategies to address this burden of disease and its specificity.

Direito contra direitos? Uma polêmica do Largo de São Francisco na Folha de S. Paulo: reflexões crítico-discursivas

ABSTRACT In this paper I present results of a project that, in the context of critical discourse studies and the interdiscursive analysis of public policies, focused on representations in online journalism regarding public policies aimed at the homeless population. The research project (CAPES 88881.172032/2018-01) was developed at the Pompeu Fabra University, Spain. Considering the main newspaper of the city of São Paulo, in its digital platform, we have compiled a comprehensive corpus of news about homeless situation published in a period of three years. The choice to specifically address data from Folha de S Paulo is justified because it is the city with the largest homeless population in Brazil. Also, because our previous study has shown that this is the vehicle, among those studied, that publishes more news related to territorial issues, our focus of interest to investigate via the discursive categories of metaphor and representation of social actors.

Evolution of the accommodation situation among women living homeless in Madrid, Spain: A longitudinal study.

Women constitute a particularly vulnerable subgroup of people living homeless, with their own set of circumstances and life histories that are different from men in the same situation. In this paper, we present the results of a longitudinal study on the situation, needs, characteristics, and process of change among women in a homeless situation in Madrid (Spain). This study involved 136 homeless women who were spending the night at shelters, drop-in centers, on the street, or in public spaces. Data was collected through structured interviews conducted every 6 months for a total of 3 years. Throughout that period of time approximately half of the interviewed leaves the most extreme situation of homelessness. One in four interviewees gained access to independent accommodation, although in most cases this did not mean that they were no longer in a position of residential exclusion. The logistic regression analyses performed suggested that the variables with the closest correlation to improved accommodation were: receiving stable government economic benefits, obtaining income from work, not having Spanish nationality, not having a disability and having suffered fewer stressful life events at baseline, as well as a better perceived state of health. However, with regard to access to independent accommodation, the most closely-related variables were receiving stable government economic benefits and obtaining an income from work. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

The vulnerability of women living homeless in Nicaragua: A comparison between homeless women and men in a low-income country.

This article takes a gender perspective approach to a series of issues that may affect the vulnerability of people in a homeless situation in Nicaragua, focusing particularly on women. The study was completed using data obtained from two similarly-sized samples, one of homeless men (n = 32) and the other of homeless women (n = 30). The information was gathered using a structured interview. Results show that there are key similarities in the situation and characteristics of both men and women living homeless in Nicaragua. Results also support the thought that women living homeless - some with dependent children to care for - are in a situation of particular vulnerability, suffering violence, a greater need to find safe places to stay, greater "revolving door to homelessness," more barriers to finding work and more sex work. The analysis of the issues differentiating men from women may be of use in driving forward public policies and social care resources adapted to the specific characteristics and needs of these women and their children. As can be taken from this paper, people living homeless in low-income and high-income countries share a number of similar circumstances, which in turn could facilitate a global approach to the problem.

Helping Homeless Youth: Epistemological Implications of Power in a YPAR Project


 
 
 Text from Nasma: 'I’ve started moving my things out of the house. I’m putting it in your office for now.' Thus began the story of how one of the youth I had worked with for four years on various YPAR projects became homeless and turned to me for help. Entering this crisis with Nasma took time and an emotional toll, and it affected the power dynamics of our relationship when finishing our YPAR project. Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) works to rebalance power in inequitable relationships based on roles, age, race, gender, etc. Providing care to Nasma as she confronted the traumatic situation of homelessness affected our collaborative relationship as she became dependent on me for basic economic resources. Through this process, the inequities in age and material resources between Nasma and me were centred, displacing the more equitable interactions that we had constructed through YPAR projects. This article employs critical autoethnography to examine the epistemological ‘risks of care’ and argues that the calls for ‘care-full’ scholarship still need to contend with the pitfalls of differential power dynamics in YPAR.
 
 

Residence registration to cope with homelessness: evidence from a qualitative research study in Milan

Homeless people are one of the most vulnerable and marginalized groups in developed countries, and their homelessness situation often persists over the long term. However, so far, no studies have explained the specific role played by residence registration as it relates to deprivation amongst the homeless population and its contribution to improving the lives of homeless people. This paper investigates the paths homeless people in Milan use to access residence registration, via a case study in the city of Milan. Home to Italy’s largest homeless population, the city of Milan has implemented the innovative ResidenzaMi project to improve access to residence registration for homeless people. The study considers official statistics and individual interviews with service providers involved in the registration process. It further investigates the main factors impeding the registration process and outlines the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results from our study indicate that a residence certificate plays a critical role in helping homeless people exercise their rights and access the services they need to escape homelessness. Our findings suggest the importance of a holistic, multidimensional approach to ensure access to residence registration for homeless persons.

Competing perspectives on rural homelessness: Findings from a qualitative study in Ontario, Canada.

Rural homelessness in Canada has only recently been acknowledged, and several gaps remain in our understanding of the phenomenon and how it is influenced by the rural context. This qualitative exploratory study aimed to help understand the experience of housing insecurity, factors that lead to rural homelessness, and potential solutions to the housing crisis in a rural Ontario community. Interviews were conducted with 27 participants: 16 individuals who were housing insecure and 11 key informants who had knowledge of the local homelessness situation. Data collection took place between August 2020 and May 2021 and inductive analysis was concurrent. Findings revealed competing perspectives on the magnitude of the crisis, its root causes, and potential solutions to rural homelessness. The invisible nature of rural homelessness and values of individualism that assign responsibility for homelessness to poor choices rather than structural factors may account for these different perspectives. Stigma also played an important role in how homelessness was understood, particularly for individuals who were homeless and perceived to be using substances. The lack of privacy, limited services, and low housing stock in the rural environment contributed to challenges with overcoming homelessness. Strategies to help improve supports for individuals facing homelessness include anti-stigma education, capacity building, and inclusion of people with lived experience of homelessness in decision and policymaking. Prevention should also be incorporated into the response to rural homelessness through intersectoral collaboration and upstream policies that target the structural drivers of homelessness.

Social care services for the homeless people based on the attitudes of residents towards homelessness

There is no Strategic Plan for tackling and preventing homelessness in Slovakia, which exacerbates the unsystematic process of social services for homeless people. For this reason, we point out the positives and negatives of the whole system. The research focuses on mapping the current situation of homelessness and describes the aid system under the auspices of the non-profit sector. The participants in the research were social and street workers who provide care and counseling for the homeless on an outpatient basis, on a residential basis or directly in the street where they live.

Involvement in the Criminal Justice System and Incarceration among Women and Men Living Homeless in Spain

This article studies in a sample of women and men living homeless in Spain the issues that are most closely linked to involvement in the criminal justice system and incarceration. The study was carried out in Madrid (Spain) with a representative sample of men living homeless (n = 158) and a sample of women living homeless of a similar size (n = 138). A structured interview was used to gather the information. Results show that people living homeless in Madrid have had a greater degree of involvement with the criminal justice system and show higher levels of imprisonment, both before and after finding themselves in homeless situations. People living homeless who were imprisoned presented factors of particular vulnerability: Periods of childhood and adolescence in dysfunctional family settings, more frequently situations of homelessness, worse physical and mental health conditions, and higher levels of alcohol and drug abuse.