Meeting Them Where They Are: An Exploratory Study of Staff and Shelter Resident Perceptions of Homeless Women's Needs

Abstract

Only a small number of studies have surveyed homeless people about their needs, and none has compared these perceptions with those of homeless service providers. In this small, preliminary, exploratory investigation, both shelter residents and staff at one homeless shelter dedicated to serving dually-diagnosed adult women were queried about shelter resident need. Residents and staff agreed on the need for immediate, non-change-oriented services (such as assistance with overdue bills and housing) and some shorter-term services (such as education and job skills training). The two groups disagreed on the need for longer-term, change-oriented services, such as substance abuse treatment, education about activities of daily living, and health/counseling services (with more staff than residents perceiving such need). Two potential recommendations are discussed. Staff could consider altering the timing of treatment plan creation to increase engagement with homeless clients. Shelter directors and funders could consider modifying the measurement of client outcomes to include client progression toward longer-term change.