Grant Proposal for homeless vets
winter2019
HarrisN_NeedsPaper.docxRunning Head: NEEDS ASSESSMENT PROPOSAL 1
NEEDS ASSESSMENT PROPOSAL 2
Needs Assessment Proposal
Natania Harris
Lincoln University
Abstract
This research paper will give insight into the detriment of homelessness. Through this research it is learned that veterans and those with mental illness can experience homelessness with little to no assistance to get out of the situation. Not only is homelessness accompanied by mental illness, but also substance use/abuse. Research as recent as 2017 shows that homelessness in a problem across the country, when there were 553,742 individuals experiencing homelessness, and more than 40,000 of them were veterans. This research project will investigate these statistics, as well as identify causes of homelessness. This project will also explore solutions to end homelessness. The terms mental illness and mental disorder may be used interchangeably, however co-occurring disorder refers to having a mental illness and a substance use disorder. Lastly, the different options for housing and who is eligible will be discussed.
Statement of the Problem to be Explored by the Research Project
Homelessness is an issue that is on the rise. Although not as apparent in all states, here in Philadelphia, it is a very visible issue. However, across the country, there are veterans and individuals with mental illness that are burdened with homelessness due to many reasons, including lack of resources. Sources mention alcohol and substances as a contributor to many individuals homelessness. Fortunately, there are housing programs to assist individuals, but there are still obstacles that prevent individuals from being homeless or to recover. Veterans were focused on because research shows that there are more at risk of being homeless than others.
The purpose of this research is to learn more about homelessness in other states, how the country is helping and solving the issue, and to reveal what people really believe about individuals experiencing homelessness. There is already a stigma about veterans and individuals with mental illness, but to add homelessness to that equation can be viewed negatively by people who do not know the reality of these individual’s situations. Additionally, far too often there are in positions to help but are too ignorant to properly assist these individuals experiencing homelessness.
Problem Statement & Research Questions
There is a high rate of homelessness among veterans and individuals with mental illnesses in various parts of the country.
1. How widespread is the problem of homelessness among veterans and individuals with mental illnesses in Pennsylvania?
2. What are the main causes of the problem of homelessness among veterans and individuals with mental illnesses in various parts of the country?
3. What solutions have been used to solve the problem of homelessness among veterans and individuals with mental illnesses in various parts of the country?
Research Methodology
The first method used for this research project was a survey. The survey was conducted by asking key informants, as opposed to the target population, about their views on homelessness, veterans, and individuals with mental illness. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, in 2017, there were 553,742 people experiencing homelessness. That same year, there were 14,138 in Pennsylvania, and of those, 5,693 people were in Philadelphia County. Also, in 2017, there were 963 veterans in the state of Pennsylvania that were experiencing homelessness, 40,056 veterans across the country.
The data collection instrument is a survey/questionnaire. These are a set of questions about key informants how much they agree on topics related to homelessness. There are 20 questions, 2 of which are open ended. I gave a survey to each employee at four work sites that engage with individuals experiencing homeless. Each survey was completed alone and then given back to the researcher. The only limitation of this methodology was that most questions were closed and therefore, may not have captured everything a key informant wanted to share or believes.
Research method two is a qualitative interview. The interviewee(s) will be of the target population. The interviews will be conducted separately if interviewing more than one person and all answers will be confidential. The data collection instrument will be a series of questions broken into three parts. The first part will ask information to help understand the perspective of the interviewee. For example, the responses to the questions will differ from a person that is currently homeless, from that of a person who is now in their own home. The second part is a series of questions about their experience being homeless. The last, and third, part is a closeout to give them the opportunity to add any information. The limitations of each methodology could be that there is not a big enough sample size.
Expected Outcomes
This research will primarily benefit those who are homeless and are veterans or have a mental illness. Secondarily, this project will benefit people who can and should help those experiencing homelessness. All parties will benefit from this research by being informed and gaining understanding of the harsh reality. This study will contribute to the existing body of knowledge by giving a different perspective on the topic but also, drawing connections between previously written documents.
References
Cusack, M., & Montgomery, A. E. (2017). The role of eviction in veterans’ homelessness recidivism. Journal of Social Distress & the Homeless, 26(1), 58–64. https://doi.org/10.1080/10530789.2017.1314093
Creech, S. K., Johnson, E., Borgia, M., Bourgault, C., Redihan, S., & O’Toole, T. P. (2015). Identifying Mental and Physical Health Correlates of Homelessness among First-Time and Chronically Homeless Veterans. Journal of Community Psychology, 43(5), 619–627. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.21707
N., & H. (n.d.). State of Homelessness. Retrieved from https://endhomelessness.org/homelessness-in-america/homelessness-statistics/state-of-homelessness-report/
Ramaswamy, S., Driscoll, D., Tsai, J., Rose, J., Smith, L. M., & Rosenheck, R. A. (2017). Characteristics of urban male homeless veterans and non-veterans in Omaha, Nebraska. Journal of Social Distress & the Homeless, 26(1), 51–57. https://doi.org/10.1080/10530789.2017.1304185
Sellers, B. (2017). Chapter 535: Women Veterans Continue to Fight Battles on the Home Front. University of the Pacific Law Review, 48(3), 725–742. Retrieved from http://proxy-lincoln.klnpa.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lgh&AN=122644196&site=ehost-live
Smelson, D. A., Chinman, M., Hannah, G., Byrne, T., & McCarthy, S. (2018). An evidence-based co-occurring disorder intervention in VA homeless programs: outcomes from a hybrid III trial. BMC Health Services Research, 18(1), 332. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-018-3123-9
Smelson, D. A., Zaykowski, H., Guevermont, N., Siegfriedt, J., Sawh, L., Modzelewski, D., … Kane, V. (2016). Integrating Permanent Supportive Housing and Co-Occurring Disorders Treatment for Individuals Who Are Homeless. Journal of Dual Diagnosis, 12(2), 193–201. https://doi.org/10.1080/15504263.2016.1174010
Tsai, J., Link, B., Rosenheck, R., Pietrzak, R., Rosenheck, R. A., & Pietrzak, R. H. (2016). Homelessness among a nationally representative sample of US veterans: prevalence, service utilization, and correlates. Social Psychiatry & Psychiatric Epidemiology, 51(6), 907–916. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-016-1210-y
Watson, D., & Rollins, A. (2015). The Meaning of Recovery from Co-Occurring Disorder: Views from Consumers and Staff Members Living and Working in Housing First Programming. International Journal of Mental Health & Addiction, 13(5), 635–649. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-015-9549-y
Appendices
This is a survey for my Action Research Class. Below, you will be asked questions about homelessness, veterans, and mental illness. All your answers are confidential. Please complete to the best of your ability. Thank you for your time. Instructions: Please read survey questions and circle one response. If you need more room for the open-ended questions, feel free to use the back of the page.
1. Gender
0. Male
0. Female
1. Age
1. 15-20
1. 21-30
1. 31-45
1. 46-60
1. 60+
1. Race
2. Hispanic/Latinx
2. Caucasian
2. Black
2. Asian
2. Other:
1. Education Level
3. High School
3. Some College
3. College Graduate
3. Graduate
3. Other:
1. How much do you agree that the lack of resources for veterans causes homelessness?
4. Strongly disagree
4. Somewhat disagree
4. Agree
4. Somewhat agree
4. Strongly agree
1. How much do you agree that men are more likely to become homeless than women?
5. Strongly disagree
5. Somewhat disagree
5. Agree
5. Somewhat agree
5. Strongly agree
1. How much do you agree that homelessness among individuals with a serious mental illness is common?
6. Strongly disagree
6. Somewhat disagree
6. Agree
6. Somewhat agree
6. Strongly agree
1. How much do you agree that social programs will help end homelessness for veterans?
7. Strongly disagree
7. Somewhat disagree
7. Agree
7. Somewhat agree
7. Strongly agree
1. How much do you agree that mental illness contributes to homelessness?
8. Strongly disagree
8. Somewhat disagree
8. Agree
8. Somewhat agree
8. Strongly agree
1. How much do you agree that decreasing veterans services contributes to more homeless individuals?
9. Strongly disagree
9. Somewhat disagree
9. Agree
9. Somewhat agree
9. Strongly agree
1. How much do you agree that parents who are homeless create a cycle of homelessness for children?
10. Strongly disagree
10. Somewhat disagree
10. Agree
10. Somewhat agree
10. Strongly agree
1. How much do you agree that the government should provide more funding for veterans?
11. Strongly disagree
11. Somewhat disagree
11. Agree
11. Somewhat agree
11. Strongly agree
1. How much do you agree that they government should provide more funding for individuals with a serious mental illness?
12. Strongly disagree
12. Somewhat disagree
12. Agree
12. Somewhat agree
12. Strongly agree
1. How much do you agree that there are enough shelters in Philadelphia?
13. Strongly disagree
13. Somewhat disagree
13. Agree
13. Somewhat agree
13. Strongly agree
1. How much do you agree that individuals who are newly discharged from the military have adequate support from the government?
14. Strongly disagree
14. Somewhat disagree
14. Agree
14. Somewhat agree
14. Strongly agree
1. How much do you agree that there is a stigma associated with individuals experiencing homeless, but are also veterans with a serious mental illness?
15. Strongly disagree
15. Somewhat disagree
15. Agree
15. Somewhat agree
15. Strongly agree
1. If you saw a person experiencing homelessness asking for help on the street, would you be willing to help them?
16. Strongly disagree
16. Somewhat disagree
16. Agree
16. Somewhat agree
16. Strongly agree
1. How long do you think the average veteran stays homeless?
17. Less than a year
17. 1 to 2 years
17. More than 2 years
17. 3 to 5 years
17. 6 years or more
1. How do you think that programs could assist veterans experiencing homelessness?
1. What do you think are the causes of homelessness?
Interview
I am going to ask you a series of questions about your experience being homeless. The answers you provide will be used in my research project, but anything that we talk about will be confidential. If at any time you feel uncomfortable or need to take a break, please let me know. Do you have any questions before we begin?
Pre-Interview
My first set of questions is about your background to understand who’s perspective we are getting.
1. Are you a veteran?
2. Do you have any history of mental illness?
3. Are you currently experiencing homelessness?
Interview
The next set of questions are the actual interview questions.
1. What led to you being homeless?
2. Have you sought any help while you have been homeless? If so, where and what happened?
3. What obstacles have you faced in trying to end homelessness for yourself?
4. What has been most helpful during this time of your life?
5. Can you tell me about your safety while being homeless?
6. Were you ever turned away from services? If so, why?
7. Do you have any children? If so, where were they while you were homeless?
8. How did people on the street treat you when you walked by or asked for help?
9. Besides housing, what did/do you need most while being homeless?
10. What kept you motivated during your time of homelessness?
Post Interview
We are now at the end of the interview. Is there anything you would like to add to shed light on your experience?
I want to thank you for your time and effort in sharing your life with me. Do you have any questions or concerns?
Again, thank you for your time.
