Homelessness and Affiliation

Abstract

Sociological theory portrays affiliation as an important source of personal power. Accordingly, some students of homelessness suggest that the extreme poverty and powerlessness of homeless individuals can be traced to a lack of social ties. Using data from a quota sample of 150 homeless persons in Birmingham, Alabama, this study examines (1) whether the homeless are disaffiliated and (2) the relationship between affiliation and power-related life experiences (personal efficacy). A 26-item scale measures affiliation; subscales assess expressive ties, instrumental supports, and acquaintances. Personal efficacy outcomes studied are depressive symptoms, anomie, mastery, physical and mental health, service knowledge, environmental satisfaction, and monthly income. Evidence suggests that many homeless persons have a network of confidants, friends, relatives, and acquaintances. However, these networks differ from those described in past research on general populations. Additionally, multiple regression results assign networks, at best, only modest effects on personal efficacy among the homeless.Affiliative ties are the basic building block for social structure and represent the link between the individual and the group. Thus, social ties, as important modifiers and conduits of experience, shape at least part of life experience. "Whom we know and whom we can depend on influences our success in life, our security and sense of well-being, and even our health" (Fischer 1982).A derivative of this view is that the presence, extent, and structure of social bonds also significantly affect power, the ability of a person to achieve his or her will over the wishes of others. There are many versions of this in the theoretical arsenal of sociology, ranging from Durkheim's anomie theory (118971 1951), to Marx's theory of class consciousness (1852), Emerson's power dependence theory (1972), Collins's theory of ritual chains (1988), and Burt's structural theory of action (1982). While each conceptualizes social ties slightly differently, all portray them as important to personal efficacy. Affiliation provides access to scarce resources, which can translate into power over others (Lin 1982); its absence cuts one off from valued resources and, by implication, reduces power. Bahr (1973) uses the homeless men of skid row to illustrate the affiliation/power *Direct all correspondence to: Mark

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