Introduction
Social work is a field that aims to help people in need and work toward building a just society. There are many important issues facing social workers and the clients they serve today. One issue of particular relevance is homelessness, as rates of homelessness continue to rise in many areas. The purpose of this research study is to explore the root causes of recurrent homelessness among adults in California and identify effective strategies for preventing future episodes of homelessness. By gaining a deeper understanding of this issue through qualitative research, the hope is to inform the development of more impactful social programs and policies.
Literature Review
There is an abundance of prior research exploring various factors related to homelessness. Risk factors that have been linked to an increased likelihood of experiencing homelessness include poverty, lack of affordable housing, unemployment, mental illness, substance abuse disorders, and a history of incarceration (National Alliance to End Homelessness, 2016; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2017). Much of the existing research has focused on individual attributes rather than examining systemic or structural barriers that may contribute to recurrent homelessness.
A few key studies provide insight into recurrent homelessness specifically. A nine-city study by Culhane et al. (2013) found that approximately 20% of the homeless population accounted for over 50% of all homeless shelter use. These findings indicate that a subset of the homeless population experiences long-term or chronic homelessness. Culhane and colleagues determined that lack of access to permanent supportive housing was a primary driver of recurrent shelter use. Similarly, a study by Tsemberis et al. (2004) demonstrated that a Housing First approach, which provides permanent housing without prerequisites, was markedly more effective at ending homelessness than traditional treatment-focused programs for those with complex needs.
While individual attributes certainly play a role, these studies suggest systemic barriers like lack of affordable permanent housing may be key drivers of chronic homelessness. Additional qualitative research is still needed to fully understand the experiences of those who face recurrent episodes of homelessness. By directly speaking with this population, we can gain deeper insights into the challenges they face obtaining and maintaining housing over the long-term. This proposed study aims to add such a qualitative perspective to complement existing quantitative research on recurrent homelessness.
Research Question
The overarching research question guiding this study is: What factors contribute to recurrent experiences of homelessness among previously homeless adults in California?
The specific sub-questions include:
What personal, social, economic, or structural barriers interfere with obtaining and retaining permanent housing?
What programs or services have individuals found helpful for ending homelessness in the past, and what additional supports are still needed?
How does the experience of recurrent homelessness impact one’s physical health, mental health, and overall well-being over time?
What systemic or policy changes do participants believe could help prevent future episodes of homelessness for themselves and others?
Methodology
This study will employ a qualitative research design utilizing in-depth semi-structured interviews. Qualitative methods are well-suited for this research question as they allow exploration of people’s lived experiences, perceptions, and attitudes in their own words. The interview format will provide flexibility to ask follow-up questions and gain rich descriptive data.
Sample and Recruitment
The target population is previously homeless adults over 18 who have experienced recurrent episodes of homelessness (three or more episodes) within the past five years in California. A non-probability purposive and snowball sampling approach will be used. Initial participants will be recruited through flyers and outreach at homeless shelters, drop-in centers, and other social service agencies serving those experiencing homelessness in Sacramento and San Francisco. Recipients of services through permanent supportive housing programs may also be approached.
After interview completion, participants will be asked to refer others who meet criteria. This snowball sampling technique is suitable for hard-to-reach populations and relies on social networks to identify additional participants (Noy, 2008). The goal is to conduct 20-30 interviews until thematic saturation is reached. Participation is voluntary and no identifying information will be included in the research report. The study protocol will be reviewed and approved by California State University Sacramento’s Institutional Review Board to ensure ethical standards are upheld.
Data Collection and Analysis
Individual interviews will last approximately 60 minutes and take place at a private location within participating agencies whenever possible. With participant consent, interviews will be audio recorded for transcription accuracy. A semi-structured interview guide with open-ended questions will explore overall experiences with homelessness, challenges obtaining housing, impact on well-being, and recommendations. Demographic data such as age, gender, race/ethnicity will also be collected.
A grounded theory approach will be used for qualitative data analysis (Charmaz, 2006). Recorded interviews will be professionally transcribed verbatim. Transcripts will then be analyzed in an iterative process using open, axial, and selective coding to identify emerging patterns and themes related to the research questions. Codes will be constantly compared within and across transcripts to build theoretical categories from the data. Memos tracking analytic thought processes will supplement coding. Results will be reported using anonymized participant quotes to describe findings.
Anticipated Outcomes and Implications
This study aims to provide a rich qualitative understanding of the factors that contribute to recurrent homelessness from the perspectives of those with lived experience. Findings have the potential to reveal new insights into root causes beyond individual attributes alone. By illuminating specific barriers individuals faced, programs and services they found most beneficial, as well as additional needed supports, the results can help identify gaps and guide the development of more effective interventions.
For example, results may point to a need for increased long-term housing subsidies and case management supports to prevent returns to homelessness. Policy recommendations could involve expanding permanent supportive housing programs and implementing Housing First principles on a wider scale. Overall, a deeper qualitative exploration of this issue has the potential to ultimately help reduce rates of recurrent and chronic homelessness through informing future social service practice and advocacy efforts.
Limitations and Ethics
As with all research, there are limitations. Generalizability may be limited given the non-probability sampling. Self-selection bias is also possible if those agreeing to participate differ in motivation or experiences from non-participants. Recall bias could impact accuracy of retrospective accounts. Qualitative research aims for descriptive understanding rather than statistical generalization.
To address potential ethical concerns, voluntary informed consent will be obtained from all participants. Risks of participation will be minimized, no sensitive personal identifiers will be included in any reports or presentations, and participants may choose to skip any questions or withdraw at any time. All study procedures and protocols will be reviewed and approved by the university IRB prior to data collection to ensure protection of human subjects.
Conclusion
This proposed qualitative study seeks to explore experiences of recurrent homelessness in California through in-depth interviews. Gaining insights directly from those with lived expertise has potential to complement existing research by revealing new understood of root challenges, effective interventions, and needed supports. The hope is findings can ultimately help reduce rates of homelessness recurrence by informing social service practice, advocacy, and policy efforts. With approval, the proposed research has potential to make a meaningful contribution addressing this serious social issue.
Andrew Stroud