Insights from the shelter: Homeless shelter workers’ perceptions of homelessness and working with the homeless

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Yok-Fong Paat ◽  
Jessica Morales ◽  
Aaron I. Escajeda ◽  
Ray Tullius
Keyword(s):  
Homeless Shelter ◽  
Shelter Workers

scholarly journals Occupational exposures and mitigation strategies among homeless shelter workers at risk of COVID-19

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. e0253108
Author(s):  
Carol Y. Rao ◽  
Tashina Robinson ◽  
Karin Huster ◽  
Rebecca L. Laws ◽  
Ryan Keating ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Work Environment ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Occupational Exposures ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Homeless Shelter ◽  
Occupational Risk Factors ◽  
Shelter Workers

Objective To describe the work environment and COVID-19 mitigation measures for homeless shelter workers and assess occupational risk factors for COVID-19. Methods Between June 9-August 10, 2020, we conducted a self-administered survey among homeless shelter workers in Washington, Massachusetts, Utah, Maryland, and Georgia. We calculated frequencies for work environment, personal protective equipment use, and SARS-CoV-2 testing history. We used generalized linear models to produce unadjusted prevalence ratios (PR) to assess risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results Of the 106 respondents, 43.4% reported frequent close contact with clients; 75% were worried about work-related SARS-CoV-2 infections; 15% reported testing positive. Close contact with clients was associated with testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 (PR 3.97, 95%CI 1.06, 14.93). Conclusions Homeless shelter workers may be at risk of being exposed to individuals with COVID-19 during the course of their work. Frequent close contact with clients was associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Protecting these critical essential workers by implementing mitigation measures and prioritizing for COVID-19 vaccination is imperative during the pandemic.

scholarly journals Occupational exposures and mitigation strategies among homeless shelter workers at risk of COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol Y. Rao ◽  
Tashina Robinson ◽  
Karin Huster ◽  
Rebecca Laws ◽  
Ryan Keating ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Work Environment ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Occupational Exposures ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Homeless Shelter ◽  
Occupational Risk Factors ◽  
Shelter Workers ◽  
Staff Person

AbstractObjectiveTo describe the work environment and COVID-19 mitigation measures for homeless shelter workers and to assess occupational risk factors for COVID-19 infectionMethodsBetween June 9 and August 10, 2020, we conducted a self-administered, web-based survey among homeless shelter workers in Washington, Massachusetts, Utah, Maryland, and Georgia, in shelters where at least 1 staff person had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. We calculated frequencies for demographics, work environment, personal protective equipment use, and SARS-CoV-2 testing history. We used generalized linear models with a binary outcome (COVID-19 positivity) and a log link, clustered by shelter network, to produce unadjusted prevalence ratios (PR) for demographics, work environment, and mitigation measures.ResultsOf the 106 respondents, 43.4% reported frequent close contact with clients and 85.8% reported wearing a mask most or all of the time; 75% reported being worried about being infected with SARS-CoV-2 at work; 15% reported testing positive for SARS-CoV-2. Of those who reported testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, 80% (12/15) believed they were infected at work. Frequent close contact with clients was significantly associated with testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 (PR 3.97, 95% CI 1.06, 14.93).ConclusionsHomeless shelter workers may be at higher risk of being infected with SARS-CoV-2 during the course of their work.

scholarly journals Follow-Up Rates at a Free Ophthalmology Clinic at a Homeless Shelter

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (01) ◽  
pp. e51-e56
Author(s):  
Lauren Hennein ◽  
Kimberly A. Spaulding ◽  
Veronika Karlegan ◽  
Ogonna N. Nnamani Silva ◽  
Alejandra G. de Alba Campomanes
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Care Provider ◽  
Primary Care Provider ◽  
Nonprofit Organization ◽  
County Hospital ◽  
Categorical Variables ◽  
Homeless Shelter ◽  
High School Diploma

Abstract Objective Eye health among the homeless community is important, as poor vision makes this population vulnerable and adds significantly to the social and health burden. There is limited knowledge on patient follow-up rates for their eye conditions and barriers to accessing care in this population. The purpose of this retrospective chart review study is to examine follow-up rates and barriers to care for patients referred from a free, medical-student run ophthalmology clinic at a homeless shelter. Methods All patients evaluated at a free ophthalmology clinic from September 2017 to September 2018 were included; no patients were excluded. If indicated, patients were referred for advanced ophthalmologic care at a local county hospital and free eyeglasses at a nonprofit organization. Primary outcomes were follow-up rates at the county hospital and nonprofit organization. Secondary outcomes included prespecified baseline variables hypothesized to be associated with follow-up rates. These categorical variables were compared with Chi-square testing to determine their association with follow-up rates. The hypothesis being tested was formulated before data collection. Results Of the 68 patients, 84% were males with a mean age of 50 years. Overall, 40 patients were referred for free eyeglasses and 17 to the county hospital. Of those referred, 14 patients presented for free eyeglasses and 7 presented to the county hospital. About 79% of patients with a pre-established primary care provider presented to their appointment compared with 20% of those without one (p = 0.03). The 44% of patients with a high school diploma presented while all patients without a high school diploma failed to present (p = 0.04). Vision-threatening conditions identified at the shelter clinic did not affect follow-up rates (p = 0.79). Conclusion Less than half of referred patients in our study presented to their appointments. Barriers to presentation included no primary care provider and lower educational status, with no improvement in follow-up rates among those referred for vision-threatening conditions. Interventions such as health coaching with particular attention to educating patients on the effects of vision-threatening conditions may be warranted, particularly for those not looped into the health care system and those of lower educational attainment.

scholarly journals Service Providers' Perception of Factors that Help or Hinder Homeless Families

1998 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 160-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth W. Lindsey
Keyword(s):  
Welfare Reform ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Social Supports ◽  
Homeless Shelter ◽  
Homeless Families ◽  
Southern States ◽  
Reform Legislation ◽  
Significant Barrier

Homeless shelter directors in two southern states were surveyed to ascertain their perceptions of factors that help or hinder homeless, mother-headed families in emerging from homelessness. Respondents believed that mothers' attitudes and motivation were the most important factors in getting and keeping housing and that lack of social supports and relationship difficulties were the most significant problems families faced in their attempts to emerge from homelessness. Scarce housing was seen as the most significant barrier within the community. The findings are compared with findings from other studies, and explanations for differing results are presented. The author discusses the implications of the findings for service providers and communities in light of recent welfare-reform legislation.

scholarly journals Osoba bezdomna jako element społecznego otoczenia administracji publicznej

2018 ◽  
Vol 111 ◽  
pp. 13-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominika Cendrowicz
Keyword(s):  
Social Environment ◽  
Social Assistance ◽  
Homeless People ◽  
Homeless Person ◽  
Homeless Shelter ◽  
Large Problem ◽  
Government Administration ◽  
Legal Consequence

HOMELESS PERSON AS PART OF SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATIONHomelessness is a large problem nowadays. People who are homeless are faced with many social disadvantages which are very difficult for them. They don’t have any place of permanent resi­dence, they lose relationships with their families and they don’t have jobs. For these reasons the aim of this article is to describe impact of homeless people on changes in the structure of local self-government administration responsible for providing them shelter in the light of provisions of the act of September 5, 2016 amending the Act of March 12, 2004 on Social Assistance. Any amendment in law which regulates the structure of entities responsible for providing homeless shelter or standards of their services, should take into consideration any legal and non-legal consequence which it can cause. However, it is hard to predict all consequences, especially these negative, which amendments in law can cause.

Loving Them to Death: Blame-Displacing Strategies of Animal Shelter Workers and Surrenderers

1999 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie S. Frommer ◽  
Arnold Arluke
Keyword(s):  
Coping Strategy ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Animal Shelter ◽  
Ethnographic Approach ◽  
Shelter Workers

AbstractThis article examines how shelter workers and individuals who surrender their companion animals to shelters manage guilt about killing previously valued animals. Researchers used an ethnographic approach that entailed open-ended interviews and directobservations of workers and surrenderers in a major, metropolitan shelter. Both workers and surrenderers used blame displacement as a mechanism for dealing with their guilt over euthanasia or its possibility. Understanding this coping strategy provides insights into how society continues to relinquish animal companions-despite the animals' chances of death-as well as how shelter workers cope with killing the animals they aim to protect.

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