History, Discussion and Review of a Best Practices Model for Service Delivery for the Homeles

Abstract

The well-being, developmental capacity, and contributions of individuals within our society are largely based upon the adequate provision of the most basic of human needsfood, clothing and shelter. While homelessness remains a social malady that has stubbornly persisted, society's attitude toward this condition has vastly changed. The belief that the homeless are just lacking permanent shelter is a horrible simplification of the issues surrounding homelessness. The research demonstrates that the lack of momentum to sustain stable housing is a final visible result of the culmination of catastrophic insults rendering the individual incapable of any sufficient level of self-determination. Social and political consciousness has firmly placed the issues of homelessness as a priority within local communities, state agencies, and federal government. Combined efforts of faith-based, public non-profit and secular groups, community and private organizations, and state and federal governments, have proven to craft a flexible, multi-agency collaborative solution that shows evidence of providing a permanent, positive impact on the problem of homelessness. The ‘Best Practices’ Model of service delivery presented in this article has established itself as an efficacious and humanitarian mode of providing care to the homeless while assisting in the re-establishment and stability of this disenfranchised population back into the community.

Key Words:

• Homeless
• social services
• evidence based practice
• collaboration history of the homeless