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A literature review describing psychological and sociological factors of homelessness. Methods of estimating the frequency of homelessness are described, along with recent point-in-time and period-of-time estimates. Models of service delivery are reviewed. A biopsychosocial model of intervention is proposed that describes stages of intervention and the treatment provider's role. Interventions with the homeless family are discussed. References to professional organizations and implications for future research are provided.
Keywords: homelessness, interventions, counseling
Homelessness represents the ultimate event of downward mobility for many people , yet the explanations of factors contributing to homelessness remain many and varied. Given the multiplicity of interacting factors contributing to homelessness, and the heterogeneity of the homeless population; many intervention strategies are available, which places many demands upon the treatment providers to provide competent and evidence-based intervention to address the needs of this client population.
Background
Incidence and prevalence. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) (2010) defines the homeless person as one who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence and who has a primary nighttime residence that is either (a) a supervised shelter providing temporary living accommodations or (b) an institution providing residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized or (c) a public or private place not designed for regular sleeping accommodations for human beings . Chronic homelessness is looked upon as a condition in which an individual has a disabling condition and who has either been continuously homeless for more than one year or has experienced at least four episodes of homelessness during the past three years (HUD , 20 1 0) . The National Coalition for the Homeless (2009) expands upon this definition by also including those individuals with no permanent residence , yet residing temporarily with friends or relatives in what is often an overcrowded living arrangement. Given these definitions, the human face of homelessness embraces many facets of the human condition , including individuals who have experienced unemployment, natural disaster, medical or mental illness, and financial hardship. Children represent in increasing percentage of the homeless population, which includes runaways and throwaway s as well as children living in homeless families.
The number of people living in streets, shelters, cars and campgrounds will vary by definition and method of counting (National Coalition...