Response questions

After reading Chapter 3 of Eubanks, “High Tech Homelessness in Los Angeles”, complete the following reading reflection and discussion questions. You do not need to do so in essay form; responding bullet point by bullet point is acceptable.

Homelessness in Los Angeles

• What is the difference between crisis homelessness and chronic homelessness? Why do social workers recognize this difference?
• What are the two main philosophies that coordinated entry is run under? Explain them in your own words.

The VI-SPDAT

• What is the purpose of the VI-SPDAT survey?
• What kind of data is gathered by the VI-SPDAT survey?
• What is the role of the VI-SPDAT in determining what types of assistance is needed by each person experiencing homelessness?
• What deterrents might exist that keep people experiencing homelessness from being honest on the VI-SPDAT?
• How many organizations have access to the data gathered by the VI-SPDAT?

The VI-SPDAT in Context

• Think about the questions on the VI-SPDAT. When you applied to where you have been living,  did you have to give the same or less information about yourself for your application?  How would you respond to a landlord in Bloomington asking you these questions?
  • Eubanks describes some of the questions on the VI-SPDAT on page 93 in the reading. You can also refer back to the attached copy of the survey.