Homeless shelter
Homeless shelters are a type of homeless service agency which provide temporary residence for homeless individuals and families. Shelters exist to provide residents with safety and protection from exposure to the weather while simultaneously reducing the environmental impact on the community. They are similar to, but distinguishable from, various types of emergency shelters, which are typically operated for specific circumstances and populations—fleeing natural disasters or abusive social circumstances. Extreme weather conditions create problems similar to disaster management scenarios, and are handled with warming centers, which typically operate for short durations during adverse weather.
Alternative models and management philosophies[edit]
Housing first practice[edit]
The homeless shelters across the country act merely as emergency shelter systems that can only hold a fraction of the rapidly increasing homeless population. The Housing First practice provides an alternative to the current network of homeless shelters. The program targets the large problem within the United States which is a lack of affordable housing. This methodology attempts to place homeless families back into independent living situations as quickly as possible. The Housing First practice has achieved success because homeless families are more responsive to social services support once when they are in their own housing. It provides crisis intervention, affordable rental housing, and gives each family a grace period of six months to a year of social service to allow the family to get back on their feet. The effectiveness of this concept is that it assists homeless families in identifying their needs and recognizing the choices they must make. From this point families can create better options for themselves and plan strategies for living on their own.[22]
Religious shelters[edit]
The Rescue Mission in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is an example of helping homeless people through religion. In order to receive a free meal at the Rescue Mission, residents must first attend a Christian prayer service.[23] The Salvation Army is a social support service organization that also functions as a religious group.[24]
Vehicles as shelter[edit]
Around the late 2000s, in Santa Barbara and other areas in California, groups of recently homeless began to camp out in their cars in parking lots with the coordinated support of a local non-profit group.[25] These individuals and families were often unable to afford rent or mortgage, but still had jobs, cars, insurance and other types of support structures.[25] In Santa Barbara, an estimated 55 individuals camped out every night in various private and public lots, some reserved for women only.[25] As more people began to camp in their vehicles, California cities began to pass laws against sleeping in vehicles, like the 2013 ordinance passed in Palo Alto.[26] However, many of these laws in different municipalities were later struck down in higher courts as unconstitutional,[26] like the Los Angeles ban which was judged by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in 2014.[27] Some cities chose to repeal their own bans on sleeping in vehicles.[26] In Los Angeles in 2015, approximately 9,500 homeless have turned their cars into homes.[27] In Hawaii, a Honolulu-based company is retrofitting five retired city buses into mobile shelters which provide a place to sleep and get a shower.[28]
Countries[edit]
Australia[edit]
In Australia, due to government funding requirements, most homelessness services fill the role of both daytime and night time shelters. Shelters develop empowerment based "wrap around" services in which residents are case managed and supported in their efforts to become self-reliant. An example of such a service provider in this area in Australia is Najidah.
Youth refuges in Australia provide both a residential setting for crisis accommodation as well as case management to assist young people to live independently. Youth refuges are a relatively new form of homeless shelters. In New South Wales the early refuges include Caretakers Cottage, Young People's Refuge, Taldamunde Youth Services, all founded in the mid-1970s.[51]
Canada[edit]
Canada has an estimated homeless population somewhere between 150,000 and 300,000 people as reported in 2014.[52] Canada has responded to an increase in homelessness by increasing the amount of shelter space available to individuals.[30] A study done in Canada also found that individuals entering shelters and drop-in centers experienced a loss of their own sense of personhood.[53] Therapeutic Conversation therapy has been tested and found successful in Calgary with a small group of homeless shelter residents in improving their mental health outcomes.[53] Calgary has seen an increase in the amount of homelessness, partly due to the "lack of affordable rental units".[54]
A nationwide volunteer group in Canada, the Angels in the Night, sponsored by Invis-Mortgage Intelligence, donates cold-weather clothes and other supplies to homeless people, visiting shelters and individuals on the streets.[55]
In 2015, Clean the World began a Canadian Operations Center in Montreal order to supply soap for homeless shelters.[56] Clean the World distributes and recycles hygiene supplies such as soap and shampoo.[56]
China[edit]
In China, homeless estimates vary, since the Social Welfare Department does not consider those living in temporary shelters to be "homeless".[57] There may be approximately 1 to 1.5 million homeless children who have left their families because of extreme poverty, family issues or abuse.[58]
Homelessness in China is mainly attributed to natural disasters, migration, and discrimination. It is not uncommon for natural disasters in China to displace many people from their homes.[59] Unlike other countries, China has an extremely high amount of homeless children. Children make up nearly one million of those experiencing homelessness in China. It is estimated that about half of these children are runaways, who are hoping to escape abusive or impoverished homes.[60] During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of homeless people has been increasing, and this is a cost of China's zero-covid policy. Because of the strict lockdown policy in China, people are restricted from leaving or going back to their residences. A lot of essential workers like delivery men are forced to become "homeless" because they cannot go back to their apartments or houses as they have a greater risk of spreading the virus. In Shanghai during the pandemic, nearly 20,000 delivery riders are facing a lack of shelter and safety.[61]
In 2014, a government-sponsored shelter in Henan province which houses 20 homeless individuals was under scrutiny for tying children to trees and providing inadequate sleeping areas.[62]
India[edit]
India defines homelessness as not being in residence of a "census house" which must be a structure with a roof.[63]
In India, youth can become homeless because of child abandonment.[64] Youth in Jammu and Kashmir who live in shelters reported high prevalence of emotional and physical abuse, and emotional and physical neglect while living in homeless shelters.[64]
Homeless individuals and families in India face challenges accessing water and hygiene services. A 2011 Census of India found that safe drinking water coverage in urban areas is at 91.9% while regular sanitation access is at 81.4%.[63] There is a significant lack of housing in major urban areas in India. People come from the rural part of India to look for work and when there are no accommodations for housing build their own shelters, often known as "hutments".[65]