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Homeless Families

Homeless Families. By Jen Chang, Tracie Dunton, Grace Kim, John Pehanich , Matthew Steadman, & Jermaine Varian. Definition of Homelessness. An individual or family who lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence, and

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Homeless Families

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  1. Homeless Families By Jen Chang, Tracie Dunton, Grace Kim, John Pehanich, Matthew Steadman, & Jermaine Varian

  2. Definition of Homelessness • An individual or family who lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence, and • An individual or family who has a primary nighttime residence that is: • Welfare hotels, Congregate shelters, or transitional housing , or • An institution that provides a temporary residence , • A regular sleeping accommodation not intended for human beings. Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition & Applied Research, 2011

  3. Homelessness in AmericaHistorical Perspective • Homelessness has been a socioeconomic and socioeconomic problem since colonial times • Civil War • 1872 – First know rescue mission established in New York city • Great Depression – 25% unemployment rates • Hobohemia counter culture • Contemporary Period – 1980 to present National Policy and Advocacy Council on Homelessness, 2011; Carlson, N.D.

  4. Contemporary Homelessness • Wages not keeping up with living costs • Federal Poverty Level for a family of 3 is $18,530/year. • Nevada Minimum wage is $8.25/hr. • $17,160/year • $1,430/month • Self-sufficiency Standard in Clark County is $1,528/month for 1 person. • To afford to pay the National Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom apartment… • Individual must earn $18.32/hour • Equivalent Annual Salary of $38,106 • 10 million working poor in the US • 1/5 of all jobs do not keep families out of poverty Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition & Applied Research, 2011; The National Center on Family Homelessness, 2011.

  5. Contemporary Homelessness • Lack of affordable Housing • Cuts in Federal Aid between 1980 – 1983 • 140 billion was cut from budget • Budget for low-income housing cut by 49% • 5.8 million low-income housing units needed to fill the gap • Average wait for public housing is 20 months • Average wait for a Section 8 Voucher is 35 months The National Center on Family Homelessness, 2011.

  6. Contemporary Homelessness • McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act – 1987 • Provided federal aid to shelter programs • Wide range of services to the homeless through 15 different programs • Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act (HEARTH) – 2009 • Focus on homeless prevention • Reauthorized McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. The National Center on Family Homelessness, 2011.

  7. New York City • Early 1980’s • Welfare Hotels Depicts through interviews with parents and children what life was like for them. The living conditions, the occupational deprivation they experienced and the psycho-social consequences of being homeless.

  8. Homelessness in Clark County • Homeless population in Clark County as of January 2011: • 9, 432 people • 43, 294 people estimated total for the year • TOTAL NUMBER OF FAMILIES WITH KIDS UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE: • 306 families • Gender: • Males-63 % • females 37% • Race: • 47% Caucasian • 29% African American, • 12% Latino • 5%Asian/Pacific islander • Age: • 62 % between 31-60 years of age Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition & Applied Research, 2011

  9. Socioeconomic Factors • Top three reasons for homelessness as of 2011: • 50% -Job loss • 26% -Alcohol/drug use • 12% -Family/domestic violence • TANF-temporary assistance for needy families-money for housing, clothes, food • A life time limit of 60 months • Total assets must be less than $2,000 • Example: For a father and his 12 year old son $316 for a month • Snap-(Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)-food stamps- • Similar eligibility • Example: a family of three $526 (Nevada Legal Services, 2013) • Section 8-The family pays 30-40% of the monthly rent and Southern Nevada Regional Housing (SNRH) Authority pays the remaining rent • This is an agreement with a private owner and (SNRH) • (Nevada Legal Services, 2013) Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition & Applied Research, 2011

  10. Socioeconomic Factors • Las Vegas is fueled by tourism, gaming, and entertainment. • According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics the “Great Recession” began in December of 2007 and ended June 2009 (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012). • In Las Vegas in December of 2007 the unemployment rate was 6.8% and as of July 2012 it was 12% (Anderson, 2012).

  11. Sociocultural Factors • Las Vegas is a mixing pot of cultures as is the homeless population. • Clark County is a fast growing county. • From 2009-2010 approximately 30,000 people moved to Clark County (Kulin, 2010). • Based on tourism, gaming, and entertainment • A fast paced culture • Clark County is a melting pot of cultures. • In 2011 21.9% of Clark County’s population was born in a different country. (US Census Bureau, 2013)

  12. Sociocultural • Feelings of oppression • Extra vigilant • Depressed • Frustration • Low self-esteem • A desire to belong • Stress

  13. Beliefs

  14. Values

  15. Customary Practice

  16. Social Justice Patterns of instability • Financial • Housing • Employment • Food Diminished family integrity • Broken homes • Isolation • Limited social support Decreased opportunities • Cycle of poverty • Social capital • Limited access to healthcare ( Schultz-Krohn, 2004)

  17. Oppressed & Marginalized Extrinsic Factors • Negative societal views • Supports are inadequate • Breakdown of family unit • Shelter Environments • Exposure to violence • Loss of privacy • Loss of freedom • Loss of agency Intrinsic Factors • Poor physical health • Lack of skills • Lack of education • Depression • Anxiety • Hopelessness • Alcohol Abuse • Drug Abuse

  18. Homeless Families:Creating a cycle of oppression • High rates of family separation • Shelters may not allow fathers • Stress pulls families apart • Children sent to stay with relatives • Correlation between foster care placement and homelessness • 12% of children of homeless families are placed in foster care (compared to 1% of other children). • Most homeless families consist of a mother with two children. The National Center on Family Homelessness, 2011.

  19. Occupational Deprivation • Role performance is impacted • Difficult to • Nurture • Providing • Protect • Meaningful occupations are impacted or eliminated • Work • Meal preparation • Keeping a home • Engaging in play-time/family time • School occupations • Leisure

  20. Physical Health • Difficult to access health care • Most must got to an emergency room to receive healthcare • Increased rates of chronic health problems among mothers • Four times rate of ulcers than other women • Ten times the rate of anemia than other women • Children have increased rate of illness & poor health • Infections (ear & respiratory) • Twice as likely to have Asthma • Poor nutrition leading to obesity • Twice as likely to go hungry. The National Center on Family Homelessness, 2011.

  21. Mental Health • Mothers • 92% have been victims of violence. • Three times the rate of posttraumatic stress disorder • Twice the rate of drug and alcohol abuse • Nearly half of suffer from major depression • Children • 63% are exposed to violence • Twice the rate of emotional disturbances • Severe aggression and hostility seen in 16% of preschoolers and 36% of school-age children. • Nearly 50% suffer from anxiety, depression and withdrawal The National Center on Family Homelessness, 2011.

  22. Education • Low education among homeless parents • 53% of mothers didn’t finish High School • Children who are homeless experience educational disruption • Low math & reading proficiency rates • Twice the rate of learning disabilities • Increased risk for delayed development • Increased risk for suspension, being expelled, or dropping out of school. The National Center on Family Homelessness, 2011.

  23. Role of Occupational Therapy Empower and advocate: Help reduce barriers and instill needed skills Interventions: • Employment • Education prospects • Money management • Coping skills • Leisure activities (Thomas, Gray, McGinty, 2011)

  24. References Anderson, B. (2012, July). Economic summary. Retrieved f rom http://www.nevadaworkforce.com/admin/uploadedPublications/2807_Current_EIB.pdf Carlson, S. (n.d.). A history of homelessness in America [PowerPoint Slides]. Retrieved from www.pitt.edu/~super7/47011-48001/47461.ppt HCH Clinician's Network. (2000, February). Protecting the mental health of homeless children & youth. Healing Hands, 4(1), 1-4. Retrieved from http://www.nhchc.org/wp- content/uploads/2012/02/hh.02_00.pdf Holgersson-Shorter, H. (2010). Helping the homeless in school and out. Teaching Tolerance,38, 47-50. Kozol, J. (1988). Rachel and her children: Homeless families in America. New York, NY: Fawcett Columbine. Kulin, D. (2011). Clark county population grows slightly. Retrieved from http://www.clarkcountynv.gov/news/pages/ClarkCountyPopulationGrowsSlightly.aspx National Policy and Advocacy Council on Homelessness (2011). America History of Homelessness. Retrieved from http://www.npach.org/american-history-of-homelessness.html Nevada Legal Services. (2013). Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Retrieved from http://www.nlslaw.net/tanf.html Park, J. M., Fertig, A. R., & Metraux, S. (2011).Changes in maternal health and health behaviors as a function of homelessness. Social Service Review, 85(4), 565-585.

  25. References Powers-Costell, E. & Swick, K. J. (2008). Exploring the dynamics of teacher perceptions of homeless children and families during the early years. Early Childhood Education Journal, 36, 241-245. doi: 10.1007/s10643-008-0249-0 Schultz-Krohn, W. (2004). The meaning of family routines in a homeless shelter. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 58(5), 531-541. Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition & Applied Research (2011). 2011 Southern Nevada homeless census & survey comprehensive report. Retrieved from http://www.helphopehome.org/2011_Southern_Nevada_Homeless_Report_FINALv2.pdf The National Center on Family Homelessness (2011). The characteristics and needs of families experiencing homelessness. Retrieved from http://www.familyhomelessness.org/families.php?p=ts Thomas, Y., Gray, M., & McGinty, S. (2011). A systematic review of occupational therapy interventions with homeless people. Occupational Therapy in Health Care, 25(1), 38-53. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2012, February). The recession of 2007-2009. Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/spotlight/2012/recession/pdf/recession_bls_spotlight.pdf US Census Bureau. (2013). Quick facts. Retrieved from http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/32/32003.html

  26. References • Anderson, B. (2012, July). Economic summary. Retrieved f rom http://www.nevadaworkforce.com/admin/uploadedPublications/2807_Current_EIB.pdf • Applied Survey Research. (2011). Southern nevada homeless census and survey comprehensive report. Retrieved from http://www.appliedsurveyresearch.org/projects_database/homelessness/southern-nevada-homeless-census-survey.html • Kulin, D. (2011). Clark county population grows slightly. Retrieved from http://www.clarkcountynv.gov/news/pages/ClarkCountyPopulationGrowsSlightly.aspx • Nevada Legal Services. (2013). Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Retrieved from http://www.nlslaw.net/tanf.html • US Burearu of Labor Statistics. (2012, February). The recession of 2007-2009. Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/spotlight/2012/recession/pdf/recession_bls_spotlight.pdf • US Census Bureau. (2013). Quick facts. Retrieved from http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/32/32003.html

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