Homelessness

Question 1

Homelessness

Answer 1

• the state of not having a permanent or safe place to live
• includes individuals who are living on the street, living in a shelter, temporary accommodations with family or friends, and individuals who leave their home country due to conflict

Question 2

Common factors

Answer 2

• substance abuse
• poor mental health
• poverty

Question 3

Comorbidities

Answer 3

• substance use disorder = includes alcohol, drug, and tobacco
• depression and anxiety = the stress of homelessness
• hypertension = 2-4 times more likely to

Question 4

Occupational alienation

Answer 4

• individuals exclude from meaningful participation in occupations due to feelings of social exclusion or disconnectedness
• treated “less than” in public spaces alienates them from society
• limited access to places where they can engage in meaningful interactions/activities

Question 5

Occupational deprivation

Answer 5

• external factors preventing individuals from engaging in meaningful/necessary occupations
• access to meal preparation and a well-balanced diet
• inadequate shelters
• inability to maintain employment due to lack of transportation or appropriate clothing
• restricted healthcare access

Question 6

Impact on IADLs

Answer 6

Household management:
- no permanent address to manage bills, schedule appointments or receive mail
Managing finances:
- average apartment price is $1,739
- can incur debt from unpaid bills, court fees, and fines/child support
- poor credit can lead to difficulties with managing banking services or unemployment
Managing medications:
- 73% of people have at least one unment health need
- lack of health insurance
Meal preparation:
- unbalanced diet

Question 7

Impact on ADLs

Answer 7

Bathing/showering:
- shelters lack privacy to use the toilet or bathe
- lack of bathing essentials
Dressing:
- lack of appropriate clothing for weather or storage for clothing
Eating/feeding:
- dependence on food pantries, soup kitchens
- unpredictable food availability
Toileting:
- lack of access to clean and safe restrooms
- increased health risks (UTIs and kidney issues)
Functional mobility:
- finding accessible shelters for mobility impairments

Question 8

Impact on work

Answer 8

• unemployment rates range from 57 to 90%
• insufficient background for job requirements

Question 9

Impact on education

Answer 9

• no high school diploma or GED = faces greater risk of experiencing homelessness
• children struggles with reading, math, or writing if they miss school
• children may not have access to literacy and numeracy programs

Question 10

Impact on leisure

Answer 10

• lack of resources or opportunities to engage in leisure activities
• safety plays an important role

Question 11

Impact on social participation

Answer 11

• often socially isolated
• low levels of social support, social functioning, and lack of social resources
• stigma = criminality, laziness, and incompetence

Question 12

Impact on occupational performance

Answer 12

Engagement in meaningful activities:
- desired coping straggly for those affected
- lack of resources or opportunities to engage in specific occupations
Shelter activities:
- lack meaning and structure
- participants often reliving trauma
Boredom is central to homeless experience:
- experienced as social withdrawal, fatigue, and hopelessness
- negative influence on mental health = may lead to emotional distress, hopelessness, anxiety, depression, and fatigue
Rest and sleep:
- lack of sleep is the most common symptom of homelessness
- struggles to sleep in shelters due to environments that are noisy, overcrowded, uncomfortable, and perceived as unsafe

Question 13

Physical limitation

Answer 13

• weather-related struggles
• body weakness/aches
• exhaustion
• substance abuse

Question 14

Cognitive limitation

Answer 14

• acquired brain injury
• mental illness
• dementia
• many co-occurring cognitive disorders

Question 15

Social limitation

Answer 15

• isolation/seclusion from others, withdrawn, stigmatized

Question 16

Emotional limitation

Answer 16

• family breakdown/issues
• depression
• lack of sense of worth/belonging

Question 17

Ronald’s lived experience

Answer 17

• trying to get a job while homeless is a near impossible task that outsiders do not seem to recognize; instead, they assume laziness
• people’s perception of the homeless population has a HUGE impact on the support they receive including if they can eat a meal, find a place to sleep and more
• embarrassment and shame are common and tough to work through

Question 18

Key takeaways

Answer 18

• self-worth and sense of belonging are greatly impacted
• stigmatized by society
• external factors elude them from engaging in meaningful activities
• children often experience developmental delays