The Perceptions and Experiences of Practitioners Assisting Homeless Women with Affordable Housing

Date of Conferral

10-26-2023

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Human Services

Advisor

Dr. Nicole Hamilton

Abstract

Homeless women have significant issues accessing and maintaining affordable housing. They are often underrepresented in research data about homelessness. Moreover, the experiences of Human Service Professional Practitioners (HSPP) were needed to address service delivery and accessibility to affordable housing as there was very little research conducted on the experiences of HSPPs and what strategies they utilize to assist homeless women with obtaining affordable housing. This research sought to understand the experiences of the strategies, challenges, and barriers of HSPPs when attempting to provide homeless women with access to affordable housing. The theory, person-in-environment theory provided a lens into the unique challenges that HSPPs face when assisting homeless women. Data used in this study were collected from semi-structured interviews with five HSPPs. Inductive coding was used to analyze the data and move from coded units of data to larger categories and themes. The key challenges and barriers HSPPs experienced when attempting to provide homeless women with access to affordable housing are the lack of affordable housing, poverty and economic insecurity, domestic violence and abuse, mental health, and substance abuse, and resource scarcity from governmental and non-governmental organizations. The study results led to the development of the housing stability framework, a new theoretical conception that can help HSPPs and other relevant stakeholders understand the barriers and challenges to homelessness in women better. As a result of this study, an understanding of the work of HSPPs and the needs of the female homeless population regarding policy and practice could have implications on positive social change.

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