Women's Perspectives on Homelessness

Abstract

An increase in the number of individuals who are homeless since the 1980s has made homelessness a major social, economic, and political problem in the United States. The number of homeless in this country is estimated as high as 3 million, with women and children constituting the fastest growing subgroup of this population. A study of eight homeless women using a shelter in a southeastern city was conducted to explore the experience of homelessness from the women's perspectives. A modified ethnographic approach using a semistructured interview provided qualitative data. The constant comparative method of analysis identified themes of heightened awareness, guarding, identification of needs, and strategies for resolution. This study provides a new understanding of how some women experience homelessness, as well as the responses they take to solve this problem.

Mothering in Public: A Meta‐Synthesis of Homeless Women With Children Living in Shelters

“…The staff provided individualized counseling services, parenting classes, and support group meetings for mothers (Fogel, 1997). They also supplied information about financial and community resources to assist the homeless mothers in their plans to find permanent housing (Hodnicki et al, 1992).…”

“…Guarding behaviors comprised recognizing and avoiding dangerous situations. Guarding was a constant and necessary activity (Hodnicki, Horner, & Boyle, 1992). A (1995) ble, and depressed.…”

“…Parents noted that their children began to exhibit signs of emotional trauma such as acting out, withdrawal, and regression (Choi & Snyder, 1999a). To protect their children from the ill effects of shelter life, some mothers opted to send one or more of their children to stay with relatives until permanent housing had been obtained (Hodnicki et al, 1992).…”

“…The mothers described their period of homelessness as one of growth and development. They were able to find resources within themselves that made them better able to deal with their problems (Hodnicki et al, 1992). The women searched for solutions to their problems and for opportunities that would improve their current situation and prevent homelessness from recurring (Hodnicki & Horner, 1993).…”

The Community Health Nursing Implications of the Self‐Reported Health Status of a Local Homeless Population

“…The demographic characteristics of this population (see Table 1) are similar to those of homeless populations elsewhere: marked over-representation of male subjects, mean age in the mid-thirties (Bowdler, 1989;Breakey et al, 1989;Hodnicki et al, 1992;Lindsey & Gottesman, 1992;Reilley, Grier, & Blomquist, 1992;Robertson & Cousineau, 1986;Vredevoe, Brecht, Shuler, & Woo, 1992;Winkleby, 1990), education levels comparable to similar socio-economic groups (Bassuk, Rubin, & Lauriat, 1986;Bowdler, 1989;Institute of Medicine, 1988;Shinn, Knickman, & Weitzman, 1991;Vladeck, 1990;Winkleby, 1990), high ** = unemployment rates (Breakey et al, 1989;Fischer, Shapiro, Breaker, Anthony, & Kramer, 1986;Winkleby, 1990), low health insurance rates (Jackson & McSwane, 1992;Robertson & Cousineau, 1986;Winkleby, 1990), and longer term community residency (Bachrach, 1992;Bassuk et al, 1986;Breakey et al, 1989;Fischer et al, 1986;Vladeck, 1990;Winkleby, 1990). An interesting finding from this study was that shelter residents and nonshelter-using homeless differed significantly with respect to length of community residency (chisquare = 15.44, p c 0.0001).…”