Managing Multiple Disadvantages: The Regulation of Complex Needs in Emergency Shelters for the Homeless. Issue 3 (2nd July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Quirouette, Marianne
• Is Part Of: Journal of poverty. Volume 20:Issue 3(2016)
• Page Start: 316
• Page End: 339
• Publication Date: 2016-07-02
• Subjects: Case management -- complex needs -- emergency homelessness shelters -- risk; Poverty -- United States -- Periodicals; Poor -- United States -- Periodicals; Public welfare -- United States -- Periodicals; 362.05
• DOI: 10.1080/10875549.2015.1094774
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1087-5549

Abstract

ABSTRACT: People who face multiple disadvantages (re: poverty, criminalization, discrimination, addiction, health/mental health, disabilities) make up the majority of the homeless shelter population on a daily basis. This group challenges practitioners and existing service structures, and the author shows how these challenges shape (1) collaboration with "complex-need" clients, (2) triage and case prioritization, and (3) assessments of housing readiness. Pulling from policy and organizational document analysis as well as 20 in-depth interviews with emergency shelter practitioners, the author argues that institutional recognition of people's "complicated" needs translates into tighter regulation and/or decreased support.