Social Work’s Role in Ending the Criminalization of Homelessness: Opportunities for Action

Aykanian, Amanda; Lee, Wonhyung

doi:10.1093/sw/sww011

Cited by 17 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…The economic marginalization and lack of self-sufficiency that many participants experienced both prior to and in the wake of incarceration was not only stigmatizing, but also criminalized. The last few decades have witnessed an increase in the criminalization of poverty through, for example, the rise of debtors’ prisons and anti-vagrancy laws (Aykanian & Lee, 2016; Foscarinis, 1996). The salience of participants’ housing quests and their desires to present themselves as economically self-sufficient through housing acquisition may reflect a desire to distance themselves from poverty that is increasingly criminalized as well as stigmatized (Tyler, 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stigma, housing and identity after prison

Keene

Smoyer

Blankenship

2018

The Sociological Review

129

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Existing research suggests that individuals who are released from prison face considerable challenges in obtaining access to safe, stable, and affordable places to live and call home. This article draws on repeated qualitative interviews (conducted every 6 months over a period of 3 years) with 44 formerly incarcerated individuals, to understand how these individuals experience the search for a home after their prison release. The interviews show that the quest for a home is central to participants’ reintegration projects as they seek to establish themselves as ‘decent’ and economically self-sufficient citizens, and shed stigmatized identities associated with incarceration, poverty, homelessness, and place. Interviews also suggest that their quest for a home is an arduous one as they encounter numerous barriers to housing arising from both structural and interpersonal forms of incarceration stigma. Somewhat paradoxically, the challenges that they face in accessing housing seem to hinder their ability to shed the stigmatized identities associated with their incarceration. Ultimately, the narratives presented here show how stigma can restrict access to a valuable material and symbolic resource (housing), resulting in ongoing stigmatization, and contributing to the enduring and discrediting mark of incarceration. In this way, the study illustrates how stigma that is enacted by both individuals and the state, that is embodied in place, and that is internalized and managed by stigmatized individuals themselves, can work to reproduce power and serve as justification for inequality.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stigma, housing and identity after prison

Keene

Smoyer

Blankenship

2018

The Sociological Review

129

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“…These criminal activities may simply be associated with the substance use and addiction issues experienced among homeless populations. Nonetheless, the results must be interpreted carefully, keeping in mind that homeless populations are more likely to be charged with order maintenance and property crimes but less likely with felonies and violent crimes than domiciled arrestees (Fitzpatrick and Myrstol, 2011) and also that homeless populations are particularly vulnerable to the order maintenance offences owing to the effects of anti-homeless laws (Aykanian and Lee, 2016).…”

Section: Overall Experience With Homelessnessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Downtown management and homelessness: the versatile roles of business improvement districts

Lee

2018

JPMD

Self Cite

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Purpose Homelessness in the public place presents a complex issue to downtown redevelopment and management efforts. Although business communities are commonly perceived to take hostile, often punitive, approaches to deal with homelessness, such perception does not reflect recent alternative approaches. This paper aims to examine versatile approaches that district management organizations take to address homelessness, focusing on the role of business improvement districts (BIDs) in the USA. Design/methodology/approach This paper used a mixed method of data collection and analysis that combines a nationwide survey of BIDs and in-depth interviews with people who work at or in collaboration with BIDs in Washington, DC. Findings The findings suggest that BIDs, as one of the major organizations that serve the interests of property and business owners in commercial areas, have the potential to balance their traditional roles as a district manager with their alternative roles as advocates, mediators and service providers to address homelessness. Research limitations/implications Owing to the small number of BIDs reflected in the survey and interviews, the research results may lack generalizability. Further research on the outcomes of the BID-homeless intervention efforts will benefit the future practice. Practical implications The paper suggests that BIDs can implement a more cooperative approach to addressing homelessness in partnership with the public and human service sectors. Originality/value This paper discusses the versatile roles of BIDs in dealing with homelessness.

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“…Given the connection between discrimination and mental health conditions, there is also a need to consider prevention at the community and individual level. Public stigma toward those experiencing homelessness is well-documented (Markowitz & Syverson, 2021; Weng & Clark, 2018) and contributes to policies and practices that impede rather than protect YAEH and others experiencing homelessness (Aykanian & Lee, 2016; National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, 2014). As noted previously, criminalization of activities in public spaces—such as laws against panhandling, loitering, sleeping, and camping—as well as youth curfews in many U.S. cities and states, likely contribute to the experiences of discrimination that adversely impact mental health.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experiences of discrimination among young adults experiencing homelessness: Relationship to mental health outcomes.

Narendorf¹,

Palmer²,

Minott³

et al. 2022

American Journal of Orthopsychiatry

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Young adults experiencing homelessness (YAEH) are at high risk for discrimination. Limited research has documented the extent of discrimination experiences and their relationship to mental health outcomes among this group. This study used data from YAEH who completed self-administered surveys across seven U.S. cities (N = 1,426) to examine the rates and correlates of discrimination experiences and their association with psychological distress and suicidal ideation. Chi-square and multivariate logistic regressions were used to examine the relations between perceived discrimination and race, gender identity, sexual orientation, foster care history, criminal justice history, reasons for homelessness, and length of time homeless. Then, logistic regression was used to examine whether discrimination increased the odds of psychological distress and suicidal ideation, controlling for other factors. Three-fourths (75.8%) of the sample (n = 1,055) reported experiencing at least one of the five forms of everyday discrimination experiences at least a few times a year, with the most common reason attributed to their housing situation (46%). Sexual orientation, juvenile justice involvement, and having been homeless for 2 years or more were associated with increased odds of experiencing discrimination. Discrimination was a strong predictor of psychological distress but was significant only at the bivariate level for suicidal ideation. Study results suggest that experiences of discrimination are common among YAEH and that these experiences increase risk for psychological distress. Providers working with YAEH need to validate and acknowledge the impact of these experiences on mental health. And, communities need to work to reduce discrimination experiences by targeting stigma against YAEH. Public Policy Relevance StatementThis study found that over three quarters of young adults experiencing homelessness reported discrimination experiences and that these were related to higher rates of psychological distress. Interventions that acknowledge these experiences and build resilience are needed to support YAEH paired with community interventions to reduce the public stigma of homelessness that contributes to these experiences and eliminate policies that criminalize homelesness. aaa This document is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association or one of its allied publishers.This article is intended solely for the personal use of the individual user and is not to be disseminated broadly.

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Social Work’s Role in Ending the Criminalization of Homelessness: Opportunities for Action

Cited by 17 publications

References 10 publications

Stigma, housing and identity after prison

Stigma, housing and identity after prison

Downtown management and homelessness: the versatile roles of business improvement districts

Experiences of discrimination among young adults experiencing homelessness: Relationship to mental health outcomes.

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