The Hidden Work of Exiting Homelessness: Challenges of Housing Service Use and Strategies of Service Recipients

Abstract

This study explored the experiences of parents attempting to re-attain housing after a shelter stay. Eighty parents participated in semistructured face-to-face interviews approximately six months after being recruited from shelters in four states across the U.S. Qualitative analyses identified common challenges of service use, strategies of service recipients, and characteristics of positive and negative service experiences. Challenges of service use included “catch-22s” resulting from incongruity between service policies/procedures and participants’ contexts and/or requirements of other services, confusion and uncertainty resulting from absent or insufficient communication about services, and long waitlists. Participants demonstrated persistence and determination, networked with service providers, and activated formal resources. Positive service experiences were tailored to families’ needs and marked by clear and consistent communication between providers and with service recipients. Findings suggest effective health communication tactics should be applied to housing services. Providers should collaborate to ensure service attainment does not impede other pathways to stability.

Understanding service navigation pathways and service experiences among homeless populations

“…This study addresses the knowledge gap in pathways in the homeless service system and further suggests that more research is needed. Our study is aligned with previous literature suggesting that the service navigation journey can be torturous for those who experience homelessness, especially when people face institutional barriers, limited transportation options, and insufficient communication from providers (Burt et al, 2010; Mayberry, 2016). Mayberry (2016) specifically discussed “catch-22” situations as a unique challenge for homeless people, in which their needs cannot be immediately addressed unless a prerequisite is met.…”

“…A shortage of research in service pathways limits our understanding of the challenges and needs of people experiencing homelessness and how they use services, which is critical to improving service planning (Mayberry, 2016). These insights can benefit social workers to map out the service pathways to be more efficient and effective for homeless populations.…”

Navigating the system for families experiencing homelessness: a community-driven exploration of barriers encountered

“…Families in this study endured multiple transitions from a variety of locations, including cars, living with friends/family, motels, and shelters. Similar findings have been reported for families experiencing homelessness nationally, including challenges of navigating services and negative service experiences (Mayberry 2016). With these many transitions, there is concern that children in families experiencing homelessness face instability that can adversely impact their growth, development, academic performance, and health status (Cutuli et al 2017;Deck 2017;Medlow, Klineberg, and Steinbeck 2014;Grant et al 2013).…”

Methods for Influencing Social Policy: The Role of Social Experiments

“…Similarly Family Options researchers used qualitative interviews with 80 families in four sites to understand families’ experiences in the different programs (Mayberry, Shinn, Benton & Wise, ), how they manage the challenges of navigating service systems (Mayberry, ), and how material hardship and program rules lead to the separations of children from parents and partners from each other (Shinn, Gibbons‐Benton & Brown, in press). Analysis of the enrollment phase of the study (Gubits, Spellman, Dunton, Brown & Wood, ) provided quantitative data on the restrictiveness of many programs in the homeless service system, and the extent to which families turned down offers of transitional housing and rapid rehousing that policy makers think should be attractive; qualitative data helped to explain why (Fisher, Mayberry, Shinn & Khadduri, ).…”