Homelessness and Housing Insecurity

Homeless Statistics

NOT a homogeneous group

Single men = highest # of homeless individuals

Adults with children most likely to be female

Families with children under the age of 18 accounted for 37% of the
homeless population in a 2014 point-in-time estimate, and 23% of
homeless children and youth were unaccompanied

Adults with Mental Illness

30% to 60% of individuals who are chronically homeless present with psychiatric disabilities, and 50% to 80% have co-occurring substance abuse
• Veterans of the armed forces around 10% of the homeless population

Survivors of DV

12% of homeless population

More than 44% of DV survivors living in shelter report mental condition resulting in difficulties function in work, school, and social environments

Families with Children

Homeless mothers have a lifetime history of interpersonal trauma.
• Homeless children have witnessed violence.
• Nature of transitional housing and homelessness causes families to
renegotiate routines, living environments, and family role.
• Children who are homeless frequently have difficulty routinely
attending school, causing delays in basic skills learned in elementary
education and impacting the development of skills necessary for
adult roles

Youth

Variety of reasons, including abuse and neglect in their biological or foster care families, issues related to sexual orientation or gender identification, and aging out of social service systems
• May become homeless when they are separated from their mothers at a shelter if children of their age are not permitted
• Although minors may become state wards, making them eligible for services, many youth do not enter the social system, fending for themselves on the streets
• They may acquire hazardous survival skills, such as prostitution, theft, drug use, and gang membership, while living on the street

Understanding Homeless Individuals

Important to remember there are a variety of factors that contribute

Reflect on one’s own bias

Represent many different backgrounds

Functional Impairments impact

• Personal health

• Productivity in personal and vocational areas

• Ability to maintain social relationships

• Limited opportunities to engage in meaningful occupations, compromising their health, well-being, and social integration

• Problems related to finances, housing, personal care, difficulties satisfying basic needs, health concerns, coping

External Factors

Policies and societal events

changing distribution of employment wages, affordable housing, and federal entitlement program

Homeless Shelters

Provide temporary, safe housing–typically for one night to 30 days

Transitional housing programs

• Promote housing stability, temporary housing for up to two years.

• Participants in transitional housing programs are often required to participate in job training or educational programs, be employed, or participate in treatment services for substance use, mental illness, or recovery

Permanent Supportive Housing

Long-term independent living accommodations in the community that provide housing and supportive services to assist homeless persons in the transition from the streets and shelters to permanent housing and self-sufficiency

Team Members of Shelters

Number, credentials, titles, and roles of staff vary greatly according to funding and availability

Depend on volunteers and administrative or office staff

Funding sources can directly impact staffing

Staff turnover tends to be high in this setting

Funding Sources

Seek funding from multiple sources, government, foundations, and private fundraising

Most shelters and transitional living programs are not-for-profit agencies

Role of Occupational Therapy

Training in independent living skills

Collaboration with case management

Interventions with families and children

Consultant

Evaluation

Assessments that focus on skills or underlying performance strengths/barriers can be helpful

MOHOST

COPM

Hallmark of OT assessment in shelters is holism

Intervention Models and Techniques

MOHO

Allen Cognitive Disabilities Model

Trauma Informed Care

Situated learning theory

Harm reduction

Life skills