How to open and sustain a drop-in center for homeless youth

Slesnick, Natasha; Glassman, Michael; Garren, Rikki A.; Toviessi, Paula; Bantchevska, Denitza; Dashora, Pushpanjali

doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2007.12.004

Cited by 32 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Rigorous reporting by the New York Times [31] portrays homeless young people as vulnerable, resilient, self-reliant, suspicious of adults and institutions, and, once ensconced in homeless culture, very difficult to reach and help, even by dedicated experts. This journalistic picture is largely consistent with research which characterizes homeless young people by a present-focus on basic needs rather than longer-term goals, by a desire for self-reliance but vulnerable to older people who seek economic advantage (e.g., pimps or drug dealers), and by a general suspicion of adults and institutions but in need of help and services for personal development [4,20,27,33].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 57%

Homeless young people's experiences with information systems

Woelfer

Hendry

2010

Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

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This paper explores how homeless young people, aged 13-25, make use of information systems in daily life. Observed in a community technology center, four different examples of uses are described: i) Using digital tools to find employment, ii) Telling stories with representations of the built world, iii) Portraying life on the street with video, and iv) Constructing online identities. From these examples and a discussion of this community, a framework of ecological considerations is proposed. This framework distinguishes between elements of "life" on the street (Self-Reliance, Vulnerability, and Basic Needs) and "work" in the community technology center (Conformity, Youth-Adult Relationships, and Goals). Any information system for homeless young people must engage the tensions and opportunities that arise from these two different perspectives of homelessness.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 57%

Homeless young people's experiences with information systems

Woelfer

Hendry

2010

Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

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“…The development of this relationship is hypothesized to be the key mechanism for guiding young people out of homelessness (Slesnick et al, 2008). As has been discussed, a place for engaging this progression is constructed, in part, out of the information resources that are presented.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Yet young people must develop knowledge for navigating this system if they are to meet their basic needs and take steps that lead out of homelessness (Ammerman et al, 2004). On the other hand, research has also shown that homeless people are overwhelmed by this system and experience great difficulty obtaining needed information and services (Hersberger, 2002;Slesnick et al, 2008). A key goal of service providers, therefore, is helping to guide young people through this system.…”

Section: What Is Homelessness?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Taken together, these experiences with caregivers, institutions, and the street environment inhibit young people's abilities to form trusting and stable relationships with adults who can provide guidance and help with basic needs (Slesnick et al, 2008). Homeless young people, to further complicate the situation, are in the stage of life where they want their autonomy to be respected in circumstances that make it difficult for them to remain safe (Ammerman et al, 2004;Wingert et al, 2005).…”

Section: What Is Homelessness?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Grassroots service agencies, formed, staffed, and funded largely by members of a local community, play a very important role in helping homeless people survive and transition out of homelessness (Slesnick et al, 2008). In emergencies, such as when a teenager leaves home to escape physical, emotional, or sexual abuse and has not eaten in several days, service organizations can provide him or her with food, shelter, and clothes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Stabilizing homeless young people with information and place

Woelfer¹,

Hendry²

2009

J. Am. Soc. Inf. Sci.

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In this paper we examine how information-particularly, its organization and presentation-and "space" (i.e., a physical location) can be combined to create a particular "place" (i.e., a location adapted to a particular purpose) for engaging and stabilizing homeless young people, aged 13-25. Over 10 months, we used a participatorydesign research approach to investigate how an alliance of nine service agencies used information resources to support homeless young people. We collected 250 information resources and analyzed how these materials were organized and presented at four service agencies. In general, the agencies used ad hoc organizational schemes and presentations that were not in keeping with the key values of the alliance, which include human welfare, respect, trust, autonomy, and sustainability. To improve information delivery and the projection of common values, we followed a two-step design process. First, based on a card-sorting activity, we developed a new organizational scheme. Second, we developed four interrelated prototypes for presenting information resources: Rolling Case, InfoBike, Slat Wall, and Infold. To convey the use of these prototypes, three short video scenarios were created to demonstrate how the prototypes would be used by stakeholders, including homeless young people, staff, and volunteers. Feedback from stakeholders suggested that these prototypes, when sufficiently refined, could be useful and operationally viable. By investigating the concept of "place," reconstituted through organizational schemes and novel presentations of information resources, this work creates possibilities that may allow grassroots service agencies to give more efficient access to information while expressing their values. IntroductionGrassroots service agencies, formed, staffed, and funded largely by members of a local community, play a very important role in helping homeless people survive and transition out of homelessness (Slesnick et al., 2008). In emergencies, such as when a teenager leaves home to escape physical, emotional, or sexual abuse and has not eaten in several days, service organizations can provide him or her with food, shelter, and clothes. In addition to providing for such basic needs, community organizations can also provide opportunities for respite from the street, through drop-in places for watching television, using a computer, socializing, and engaging in visual art, music, or writing projects. Drop-ins such as these provide places in which homeless young people, aged 13-25, can develop trusting relationships with caring adults. In turn, these relationships can help young people leave homelessness. It is, for example, not unusual for a homeless young person to not have government-issued identification, which is needed for accessing many government services, and to have no idea how to apply for it; thus, making contact with a case worker is a critical step. These places for eating, sleeping, and respite are constituted by a combination of elements, including the physical space, the vo...

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Perceived safety in community and service settings among young adults experiencing homelessness: Differences by sexual and gender identity

DiGuiseppi

Semborski

Rhoades

et al. 2022

American J of Comm Psychol

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Homelessness poses risks to the health and safety of young adults; particularly among sexual and gender minority (SGM) young adults. The current study sought to better understand service use and perceived safety in community and service settings among SGM and cisgender heterosexual (cis‐hetero) young adults experiencing homelessness. Data come from a mixed‐method, ecological momentary assessment study (n = 80; 43% sexual minority; 10% gender minority) in Los Angeles, California. Participants reported their current location (service vs. nonservice setting) and perceived safety. Multilevel modeling examined associations between identity, location, and perceived safety; qualitative interviews with 20 SGM participants added context to quantitative findings. Overall, service location was associated with greater perceived safety (β = .27, p < .001). Compared to cis‐hetero participants, cisgender sexual minorities (β = −.23, p = .03) and sexual and gender minorities (β = −.50, p = .002) reported lower perceived safety in service settings (vs. nonservice settings). Qualitative interviews revealed themes and subthemes detailing safe/unsafe spaces and interpersonal conflict in the community, and relationships with staff, peers, transphobia, and positive experiences in service settings.

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How to open and sustain a drop-in center for homeless youth

Cited by 32 publications

References 17 publications

Homeless young people's experiences with information systems

Homeless young people's experiences with information systems

Stabilizing homeless young people with information and place

Perceived safety in community and service settings among young adults experiencing homelessness: Differences by sexual and gender identity

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