Perceived Needs Assessment of the Homeless Community in West Volusia County, FL

Student: Amanda Price

Instructor: Dr. John Schorr

Contacts: Lindsay Roberts/Carl Ruble

Purpose

• The purpose of this research project is to develop a better understanding of the specific needs of the homeless population in West Volusia County.

• There is currently a climate for change concerning this issue. Research on the needs of the homeless would facilitate this change by allowing current service organizations to assess their effectiveness in providing services to the homeless community and design more efficient solutions to this growing concern.

West Volusia Demographic (n=109)

• 65.7% (n=67) male• 83% (n=88) Caucasian, 15% (n=16) African

American• Mean age is 38.147 years• 58% (n=61) have a high school diploma or GED• 86% (n=91) are single• 48% (n=45) have been homeless for over one

year• 36% (n=39) were currently employed• Source: Volusia/Flagler Coalition for the

Homeless 2007 survey (WV subsection)

Special Needs Groups

• 15% (n=14) are veterans• 17% (n=18) have children under 18 years of age,

and 15% (n=16) have the children with them• 39% (n=42) suffer from alcohol abuse• 19% (n=21) suffer from drug abuse• 11% (n=12) have physical/mobility limits• 18% (n=20) suffer from mental illness• 20% (n=22) are day laborers• Source: Volusia/Flagler County Coalition for the

Homeless 2007 survey (WV subsection)

General Needs• List of services identified in PIT 2007 survey as needed

right now: – 30% (n=33) needs emergency shelter– 34% (n=37) needs transitional housing– 28% (n=30) needs permanent housing– 15% (n=16) needs education/job training– 15% (n=16) needs health care– 19% (n=21) needs alcohol/drug/mental health treatment– 34% (n=37) needs a homeless assistance center– 21% (n=23) needs financial assistance– 50% (n=54) needs food or meals

• Source: Volusia/Flagler County Coalition for the Homeless 2007 Point in Time survey (WV subsection)

Limitations of Reviewed Studies

• Although the 2007 survey provides extensive demographic information about the homeless population, it fails to expand on the assessed needs.

• The aim of this project is to provide details for the general needs identified by the broader and larger-scale 2007 survey.

Method• Participants:

– The unit of analysis: individual using shelter or meal program services.

– Used convenience sampling method– A sample of 50 individuals was collected at four locations: Agape

Clubhouse (n=24), West Volusia Neighborhood Center (n=6), St. Barnabas Interfaith Kitchen (n=17), and West Volusia Family Renew Community (n=3).

– Characteristics:• 58% (n=29) male• 80% (n=40) Caucasian, 14% (n=7) African American, and

6% (n=3) Hispanic• 48% (n=24) appeared to be between the ages of 40 and 55.

Data Collection

• Personal semi-structured interviews were conducted orally

• The questions focused on the needs related to shelters and food programs.

• The conversations were recorded with the permission of the interviewee.

• The data was analyzed using percentages and frequencies through SPSS.

Why Personal Interviews?

• Individuals that choose what service to adhere to keep in contact with that help longer. This is as long as the problem is not really pervasive, such as cocaine addiction or mental health problems (Calsyn, et al., 2000).

• One-on-one conversational interviews might help them feel more comfortable and open.

• An open-ended format avoids preconceived notions inherent in questionnaires.

Shelter

– Generally, how satisfied are you with your most recent shelter experience?

– What are some changes you would make?– What kinds of services do you think should

be offered at shelters?– How far would you be willing to travel to use

a shelter’s services?– What do you think are good rules for shelter

use?

Nutrition

– How satisfied are you with your most recent experience with meal programs?

– What do you find very good about meal programs?

– How many hot meals do you eat a day? Where do you get them from?

– How would you evaluate the healthiness of what you eat?

– What would you change about the food services being provided?

General

– Where do you usually sleep at night?– How do you feel about your current housing

situation?– What are the biggest problems you face?– Why did you come to West Volusia?– When did you come to West Volusia?

Results: Shelter

• Most interviewees were at least somewhat satisfied with their shelter experiences in West Volusia. This segment totaled 63% (n=31).

• 22% (n=11) are very limited by distance. Conversely, the same amount is willing to travel any distance. This result shows that the homeless are willing to travel, but are often limited by transporation.

• The most prevalent change desired was the addition of more shelter beds. 69% (n=24) of the 35 who mentioned changes mentioned accommodations. Rule changes (34%, n=12), funding (20%, n=7) and safety (23%, n=8) were also prevalent recommendations.

Mentioned Changes in Shelters

Shelter Changes

Services at Shelters• Again the most

requested service involved housing and shelters (77% of the 45 that mentioned services mentioned shelter, n=34), followed by personal services (56%, n=25). Food (44, n=20), clothing (36%, n=16), security (32%, n=14), and counseling (44%, n=19) were also mentioned frequently.

Mentioned Shelter Services

Fair Rules

• Of the 43 interviewees that listed rules, substance abuse regulations (67%, n=29) and civil atmosphere (49%, n=21) were mentioned the most.

Mentioned Rules

Rules Mentioned

Meal Program Results

• The majority (46%, n=23) get their one and only hot meal a day from the meal programs in West Volusia. It is interesting that this is true regardless of where the interviewee sleeps at night, although those that live in a home are more likely to have other sources of hot meals.

Meal Program Satisfaction

• A great majority (90%, n=45) are very satisfied with the meal programs in West Volusia.

• This high response could be attributed to the bias in sampling

Level of Perceived Health• Most (70%,

n=35) evaluated the healthiness of the food provided in the meal programs as very good.

What Is Liked

• Of the 32 who listed what they liked most about the meal programs in West Volusia, 41% (n=13) listed the cost and 63% (n=20) listed the excellent quality.

Mentioned Likes of the Meal Programs

Changes• Fewer people

suggested changes to the meal programs (n=22), but out of that section, the highest percent requested changes in availability (50%, n=11). The second most prevalent change was minor menu adjustments (32%, n=7).

General Results• The sample in

this study mostly spent the nights in the woods (26%, n=13), on others’ property (22%, n=11), and in shelters (24%, n=12).

• The increased likelihood of females staying in shelters explains the more even male: female ratio in the sample than the actual population because of the sampling locations utilized.

By Choice? • The great majority (74%, n=36) do not like being homeless, meaning that the majority of the homeless in West Volusia are homeless because of outside forces. This also implies that the causes can be remedied.

Why and When they came to WV• 50% (n=25)

came to WV because of family, which corresponds to the 44% identified in the PIT 2007 survey.

• Most of the interviewees (30%, n=15) have been in the area for 10 or more years.

Biggest Problem Stated• Of the 44 that

listed their biggest problems, 30% (n=13) listed finding accommodations, 25% (n=11) reported struggling with financial concerns, and 18% (n=8) listed battling addictions

Implications

• Most are satisfied with the shelters in the area. Most expressed feelings of gratitude over having anything available in the area at all.

• The most prevalent change/requested service/biggest problem was the addition of more overnight accommodations for the homeless. The biggest need therefore is a local structure to house the homeless in the area.

• Most had lived in West Volusia for over a decade, had family in the area, and were not homeless by choice; this means that most of the homeless are not chronic vagabonds but formerly fully functioning members of society who are experiencing temporary hardship. Temporary shelter might be all that is necessary to facilitate recovery and reintegrate into society.

• The homeless are willing to travel to utilize provided services, but often lack

the means. It is therefore recommended that new shelters be built close to town, unless the shelter is on a subsidized bus route that leaves in time for the 5:00 AM starting time for the 20% that are day laborers.

Implications• The most frequently mentioned services were the most basic (food,

beds, security, showers, etc.), as well as financial and counseling services. This implies that the homeless mostly want basic amenities as well as counseling to help cope with the criteria that lead to their homelessness, like addiction or mental illness.

• The biggest problems listed were finding a safe place to stay, handling finances, holding a job, and overcoming addictions. 14% (n=6) listed run-ins with law enforcement. By providing a safe place that satisfies these needs, the homeless will be better able to reintegrate successfully.

• The most frequently mentioned rules for shelters involved drug regulations, which was often supported by anecdotal experiences with shelters in Daytona. The interviewees also requested enforcement of the Golden Rule and employment. It is recommended that these rules be implemented if they are not already.

Implications: Meal Programs• The great majority are very satisfied with the meal programs in West

Volusia. They were considered very healthy and of high quality.

• However, this finding should be qualified by a possible bias in the sample because only people who used meal programs were interviewed.

• It is suggested that other meal programs be started outside of Deland that follow the model of these successful programs.

• Many people, including non-homeless individuals, depend daily on these programs. If any changes were to be made, it is recommended that meal programs extend their availability to weekends and accommodate the taxing schedule of day laborers.

Conclusions

• A multi-purpose shelter should be opened in West Volusia. This shelter should offer clothing, personal services, counseling/treatment options, food programs, employment services and financial assistance.

• The successful meal program model in Deland should be instated elsewhere in the county.

Limitations

• A non-representative sample could skew the results.

• Participant criteria might not have been specific enough (included some non-homeless individuals)

• Instrument was not properly pilot tested prior to data collection.

• In future replications, it is suggested that a larger, more representative sample is used and that stricter interview protocol is enforced (current style used was very informal).

References• Primary Sources:• Calsyn, Robert J., et al. “Do Consumers Who Have a Choice of

Treatment Have Better Outcomes?” Community Mental Health Journal Vol 2. Issue 36 (2000): 149-160

• Crook, Wendy P. and Mullis, Ronald. “Development of Outcome Measurement Systems for Florida’s Homeless Programs.” Florida State University. 2003: 12, 86-88.

• Florida Coalition for the Homeless. “Directory of Service Providers Assisting Homeless People in Florida.” 7 (2004): 41-42.

• Glisson, George M. and Thyer, Bruce A. “Serving the Homeless: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Homeless Shelter Services.” Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare Vol 28. Issue 4 (2001): 89-97.

• Roberts, Lindsay. “Flagler County Coalition for the Homeless 2007 Point in Time Survey,” Data conducted, shared with researcher April, 2007.

ReferencesSecondary Sources-• Circelli, Deborah. “Homeless by the Numbers.” Daytona Beach

News-Journal 23 Jan 2007: C1-C3.

• Homes & Communities. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. 4 Feb 2007. <http://www.hud.gov/homeless/index.cfm>

• Ma, Ken. “Daytona chief: Bus homeless out of city: Michael Chitwood’s latest idea is to give them a free ride to family or friends.” The Orlando Sentinel 28 Dec 2006: 3.

• Mahoney, Rebecca. “Resort-style homeless village or leper colony?” The Orlando Sentinel 20 Jan 2007: 3.