Date of Conferral

2019

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Counselor Education and Supervision

Advisor

Laura Haddock

Abstract

Homelessness is a growing concern in the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) especially since 2 major hurricanes in 2017 devastated the islands. The impact trauma has on reoccurring homelessness in the USVI is unknown. Failure to understand the impact trauma may pose on persons who are homeless could hinder stable housing and perpetuate reoccurring homelessness. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine the predictive relationship between trauma and reoccurring homelessness in persons who are homeless living in the USVI. The theoretical framework for this study was Psychological Trauma Theory. Participants were homeless adult persons (N=73) who were surveyed using the Trauma History Questionnaire and the Residential Timeline Follow-Back. A multiple regression analysis was used to examine the prediction of trauma on reoccurring homelessness, while controlling for demographic variables. The results indicated trauma was not statistically predictive on duration of homelessness and housing stability though when gender and education were controlled, there was significance in predicting service utilization with an adjusted R of (.19) of the variance and a value of (p > .000). Homeless males were more likely to utilize services than females though both homeless males and females with a high school education or higher were less likely to use services. The outcomes of this study have social change implications including counselor educators, counselors, and community stakeholders collaborating to facilitate trauma-informed care and design gender specific programs to increase service utilization among the homeless.

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