Homelessness and Housing Insecurity

Homelessness is one of the most severe forms of housing instability.  In the United States, homelessness is ever-present, riding strongly on the state of economics and housing stability. Today, maintaining permanent housing, in and of itself, can be difficult to obtain for all individuals in the United States, let alone those who are experiencing homelessness and have previously been homeless. Additionally, homeless individuals face barriers causing the maintaining of permanent housing to be especially burdensome. The problems pertaining to this research are risk factors and barriers hindering homeless individuals. Homeless individuals exhibit obstacles such as substance use, mental illness, and adverse childhood experiences. This research strives to describe how barriers faced by the homeless hinder the ability to maintain permanent housing.

This project is a research project to figure out the main causes and consequences of instability also known as homelessness. The outcome of this research is to get an idea of what the homeless community needs to become stable.

The purpose of this research is to provide a needs assessment through an evaluative study of the homeless population in Butler County who utilize PATH Outreach services. This needs assessment consists of a survey titled "Homeless Voices Survey" of homeless individuals in Butler County. The needs assessment explores the housing needs and desires of the Butler County homeless community and the select experiences of homeless individuals with discrimination in the area. The sample was a convenience sample of individuals who are utilizing PATH Outreach services and are clients of Transitional Living (TLC) in Butler County to understand their perceptions of needs in their community. The needs assessment will be used to help guide local officials and outreach services in how to utilize funding for future provided services.

The purpose of this research is to bring awareness to the homeless population with the daily challenges they face while being in shelters and how their barriers effect them from getting housing and employment. I will be conducting a qualitative study to better understand personal experience during homelessness.

The National Coalition for the Homeless estimates that 10% of the total population of people experiencing homelessness have a pet that they care for. Other groups, especially social service providers, estimate that as many as 25% of all people experiencing homelessness care for a pet. (Pallet, 2020). It is not uncommon to see an individual experiencing homelessness to be accompanied by a pet. In regard to the literature here are some emergency shelters that can provide care for families and their pets jointly but they are not in abundance in the homeless shelter community. Many shelters prohibit pets, making it incredibly challenging for people experiencing homelessness with a pet to find a warm and safe place to stay. This qualitative study concentrates on analyzing the effects of temporary shelter for pets through interviews to better understand the families going through crisis/homelessness. Here there will be connections looking at human and animal bonds, mental health of both pet and pet parent and the crisis that made them seek shelter for their pet. Many individuals needing services from social workers will not take shelter, seek medical attention or get help they need because they have a pet to care for. This is important for social workers to notice and possibly start looking at a new sheltering model where animal sheltering and family sheltering can be done on the same premises.

Individuals experiencing homelessness lack the proper resources to obtain employment, a higher education, and stability. With today's current expansion within the digital age, the likelihood of resources being kept away from the individuals affected, especially the homeless population, could possibly play a role in their likelihood of self expansion and gaining employment. The following paper is a quantitative descriptive research that will look into the homeless population residing in Shelter House Cincinnati. We will utilize a quantitative survey that will allow the individual to share their experience with obtaining employment alongside their digital literacy capacity, and how the internet has affected their day to day life. We hope to look further into how the digital age has affected the bridge between employers and the individuals who are in search of employment, as well as finding ways in which we can mend the gaps that have been created through digital exclusion.