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Barriers and facilitators to shelter utilization among homeless young adults

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  • Ha, Yoonsook
  • Narendorf, Sarah C.
  • Santa Maria, Diane
  • Bezette-Flores, Noel

Abstract

Rates of shelter use among homeless youth are low compared to use of other supportive services, yet research on barriers to shelter use has been conducted in limited regions, specifically in West Coast or Midwest cities. Additionally, while studies have generally focused on barriers to shelter use, studies on what might facilitate shelter use are lacking. This study explores barriers and facilitators to shelter use among homeless young adults from a large city in the Southwest region. Focus groups were conducted with a diverse sample of 49 homeless young adults ages 18–24. Drawing on models of health service use, findings were categorized into two domains – attitudinal and access. Themes related to attitudinal barriers include stigma/shame and self-reliance/pride. Attitudinal facilitators include the desire to extricate themselves from street life and turn their lives in a new direction. Access-related themes include barriers such as a lack of shelters and services available to meet the needs of youth, adverse shelter conditions, staff attitudes that are not acceptable to youth, restrictive shelter rules, restrictive definitions of homelessness, and a desire to differentiate themselves from older homeless individuals. Certain characteristics or circumstances (e.g., being pregnant), having supportive others, and shelters’ ability to connect them to other services emerged as access facilitators to shelter use. Implications for policymakers, service providers, and future research are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Ha, Yoonsook & Narendorf, Sarah C. & Santa Maria, Diane & Bezette-Flores, Noel, 2015. "Barriers and facilitators to shelter utilization among homeless young adults," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 25-33.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:epplan:v:53:y:2015:i:c:p:25-33
    DOI: 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2015.07.001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Salina Mostajabian & Diane Santa Maria & Constance Wiemann & Elizabeth Newlin & Claire Bocchini, 2019. "Identifying Sexual and Labor Exploitation among Sheltered Youth Experiencing Homelessness: A Comparison of Screening Methods," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-16, January.
    4. Wusinich, Christina & Bond, Lynden & Nathanson, Anna & Padgett, Deborah K., 2019. "“If you’re gonna help me, help me”: Barriers to housing among unsheltered homeless adults," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 1-1.
    5. Eric R. Wright & Ana LaBoy & Kara Tsukerman & Nicholas Forge & Erin Ruel & Renee Shelby & Madison Higbee & Zoe Webb & Melanie Turner-Harper & Asantewaa Darkwa & Cody Wallace, 2021. "The Prevalence and Correlates of Labor and Sex Trafficking in a Community Sample of Youth Experiencing Homelessness in Metro-Atlanta," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-16, January.
    6. Tyler, Kimberly A. & Schmitz, Rachel M., 2018. "Child abuse, mental health and sleeping arrangements among homeless youth: Links to physical and sexual street victimization," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 327-333.
    7. Mary-Catherine Anderson & Ashley Hazel & Jessica M. Perkins & Zack W. Almquist, 2021. "The Ecology of Unsheltered Homelessness: Environmental and Social-Network Predictors of Well-Being among an Unsheltered Homeless Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-22, July.
    8. Bowen, Elizabeth A. & Miller, Berg & Barman-Adhikari, Anamika & Fallin, Kyla & Zuchlewski, Dale, 2017. "Emerging adult homelessness in geographic perspective: A view from the Rust Belt," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 213-219.
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    10. Yoonsook, Ha & Thomas, Margaret M.C. & Narendorf, Sarah Carter & Maria, Diane Santa, 2018. "Correlates of shelter use among young adults experiencing homelessness," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 477-484.

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