Has the McKinney Act Helped to Create a Universal Definition of Homelessness?

Abstract

Using the knowledge of how shared definitions affect interagency collaboration and client access to services, the present study aims to examine how the McKinney-Vento Act (Pub. L.100-77, July 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 482, 42 U.S.C. § 11301 et seq.) has impacted agency definitions of homelessness. A random sample of 104 social service agencies from one country in the northwest were queried about the Act's influence on their definition of homelessness and its impact upon services provided. Significant findings include the broad range of definitions used among agencies and the high percentage of responses that support the need for a universal definition. Adoption of a universal definition is recommended to best serve the wide diversity of the needs of people who are homeless.