“Homelessness Is Not a Choice!” The Plight of Homeless Women With Preschool Children Living in Temporary Shelters

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe the lived experiences of homeless women with preschool children living in temporary shelters. Two shelters were selected as sites for data collection: a large metropolitan shelter housing up to 110 women and children and a small shelter providing housing for up to six families. Six focus groups were conducted that included a total of 29 participants. An interpretive phenomenological approach to data analysis was used. Themes and exemplars were identified. The interpretation of the data was brought back for group validation to assure the analysis presented an accurate reflection of the women's voices. The findings from this study may be used to understand the experiences of homeless women with preschool children living in temporary shelters. Shelter sites offer nurses a unique practice setting in which innovative interventions could be designed to promote the health and welfare of homeless women and their children.Mary awoke in the darkened room to the sound of snoring and heavy breathing. It was 5:30 a.m., and the room was cold and drafty. She pulled Trina, her 18-month-old daughter, closer to her. Her two other children, James, 3, and John, 4, were sleeping in the lower bunk; she and Trina were directly above them. The room was large, holding approximately 24 bunks, which were 3

Homeless Women's Voices on Incorporating Companion Animals into Shelter Services

“…Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http:// www.tandfonline.com/page /terms-and-conditions 1989;Neubaure 1993;Baker 1994;Dooley 1994;Grimm and Maldonado 1995;Burt, Laudan and Edgar 2001;Averitt 2003;Haber and Toro 2004;Tessler, Rosenheck and Gamache 2004). Women in particular, an already marginalized population, face heightened obstacles (safety concerns, family care giving, and companionship) as homeless women.…”

“…However, contributing to the gender-homelessness link is a number of other social problems that intertwine with poverty and complicate women's lives (Roll, Taro and Ortola 1999;Tessler, Rosenheck and Gamache 2004). For example, women face unique challenges due to their gender such as being disproportionately responsible for child rearing (Thasher and Mowbray 1995;Averitt 2003;Zugazaga 2004), as survivors of domestic abuse (Gibson-Davis et al 2005), and other forms of victimization such as sexual abuse and assault, and are more likely to be poor due to the wage gap between men and women's paid work (O'Neill 2003) and gender discrimination in the labor market (Hersh 2006). As a result of these unique, gender specific challenges, women are at a far greater risk of poverty and homelessness (Hagen 1987;Roll, Taro and Ortola 1999;Zugazaga 2004).…”

Characteristics of Mothers Caring for Children During Episodes of Homelessness

“…These women deal with additional responsibilities associated with protecting, caring for, and maintaining custody of dependent children (Averitt 2003; Cowal et al 2002). Homeless mothers also experience depressive symptoms and loss of privacy (Meadows-Oliver 2006).…”

“It’s sweeter where the bruise is”: making sense of the experience of family homelessness in a community–campus partnership

“…Her story seems to support findings on food security strategies while homeless (Richards & Smith, 2007), the stress experienced during transient living (Lewinson, 2010;Lindsey, 1996), and the need for social support from family, friends, and others (Letiecq et al, 1996;Lindsey, 1996;McChesney, 1995). Her story further refutes the notion that homelessness was her fault or her choice (Averitt, 2003).…”

“…There are a few studies involving homeless families to provide detailed, in-depth descriptions of particular aspects of this life experience. For example, Averitt (2003) and Hodnicki and Horner (1993) described the parenting skills used by mothers to adjust to life in emergency housing. Another study included homeless families 586 M. Sandy living in extended stay hotels and described the coping strategies they used to deal with the environmental stressors of living there (Lewinson, 2010).…”