Minor Client Information Form - Samaritan Counseling Center: Fill & Download for Free

Triggers and Predictors of HomelessnessThe path to homelessness is not a single event that occurs right before the emergence into homelessness. Most information you will find on the subject of homelessness focuses on the experience faced immediately before their entry into homelessness, however, homelessness is a complex series of events over a lifetime that blindly leads a person somewhere they never intended to be, because the road to homelessness is really an accumulation of triggers over time. Another major factor is not just the events, but the affect the events have on the individual.Some triggers can occur to one individual who may never become homeless, while another can be seriously affected. Triggers most often start in childhood. It is the combination of problems that compound the situation where homelessness can occur. When looking back at the events that led someone down the path of homelessness, a overwhelmingly dominate event is frequent or disruptive childhood moves. Many homeless individuals have a history of constantly moving during their childhood. Moving is a major stressor for anyone. The movement from one place to another often involves separation from the people and places one knows.With each new move entirely new relationships must be formed. This can be done, but when the process of moving is repeated frequently it can become increasingly stressful. This process is difficult for children, especially if changing schools is necessary for the move. The lack of reliable relationships creates isolation and insecurity. Constantly moving does not necessarily indicate that a child will be at risk for homelessness in the future. Nevertheless, it is cited because it is often associated with instability on the part of the parents.Even in those individuals who never became homeless but frequently moved, it was seen that they had difficultly forming strong bonds, preferring superficial relationships which were easier to end.When combined with alcoholism or violence within the home the damaging effects of this insecurity can be overwhelmingHealth as a indicator that someone may be homelessPoor and untreated health can contribute to someone being homeless and can lead to extremely severe health problems, if only because their small health problems are never taken care of. Limited access to health care can make it worse.Denver actually has a facility at 2130 Stout Street in Denver, the Stout Street Clinic. “We are excited that the new Health Center and Lofts will immediately create a health care home for more than 18,000 individuals experiencing homelessness in Metro Denver, as well as a real home for families and individuals currently living on the streets or in emergency shelters. We are grateful that the community has come together to support this vital resource in the struggle to end homelessness in Colorado.” John Parvensky, president of the Colorado Coalition for the HomelessThat's why the health of homeless people in the United States is worse than that of the general population. Common health problems includeMental health problemsSubstance abuse problemsBronchitis and pneumoniaProblems caused by being outdoorsWound and skin infectionsMany homeless women are victims of domestic or sexual abuse. Homeless children have high rates of emotional and behavioral problems, often from having witnessed abuse.The National Center on Family Homelessness: How might a person appear to be homeless when looking through their eyes?Family homelessness is caused by the combined effects of lack of affordable housing, extreme poverty, decreasing government supports, the challenge of raising children alone, the changing demographics of the family, domestic violence, and fractured social supports. As the gap between housing costs and income continues to widen, more and more families are at risk of homelessness. For families with vulnerabilities or little safety net, even a seemingly minor event can trigger a catastrophic outcome and catapult a family onto the streets.Families experiencing homelessness are under considerable stress. They may stay in multiple settings throughout the time they are without a home. Many double-up in overcrowded apartments with relatives or friends. Others sleep in cars and campgrounds or send their children to stay with relatives to avoid shelter life. Once in shelter, families must quickly adjust to overcrowded, difficult, and uncomfortable circumstances. Despite the efforts of dedicated staff, many shelters are noisy and chaotic, overcrowded and lacking privacy. Homelessness also increases the likelihood that families will separate or dissolve, which may compound the stress the family feels.Domestic ViolenceThose fleeing domestic violence are more likely to become homeless or have a problem finding housing because of their unique and often urgent circumstancesThose experiencing domestic violence often time have difficulty finding apartments due to poor credit, rental, and employment histories as a result of their abuse.Those experiencing domestic violence often time have a limited ability to collect and/or enforce child support and alimony payments.Women in violent relationships are rules that govern public housing. Through a “one strike” policy, women may be evicted for a violent activity regardless of the cause or the circumstances. Although the eviction of women in domestic violence situations might violate federal and state housing acts, few states provide mandatory protection for these women and children.The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)HUD defines someone as chronically homeless if he or she is homeless now, has one or more disabling conditions and has been homeless continuously for a year or more or has had four or more homeless episodes in the previous three years.This definition applied only to single adults through 2009, when the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Truansition to Housing Act extended it to include families with a parent who meets the same criteria.The definition includes individuals who are exiting an institution (including a jail, substance abuse or mental health treatment facility, hospital, or other similar facility) where they resided for fewer than 90 days and who resided in an emergency shelter or place not meant for human habitation immediately before entering that institution. [1]Many people experiencing chronic homelessness have been on the streets or in shelters for years. They often have complex physical, mental, and substance use conditions that can only be ameliorated if they have a safe, stable, and secure living environment. Their homelessness may exacerbate health difficulties, making it increasingly unlikely that they can get back into housing on their own. Many people who experience chronic homelessness are not effectively engaged in treatment or ongoing care for their chronic health conditions, mental health or substance use disorders. They may be distrustful of treatment systems or mainstream health care providers, and they may find it difficult to access care or participate in treatment programs because they are focused on meeting other priorities such as finding food or shelter.Further, many people who experience chronic homelessness make frequent and avoidable use of emergency rooms and inpatient hospital treatment.4 This use of expensive crisis public services has been a major motivator for developing PSH, which has been shown to help tenants reduce inappropriate use of services. The supportive services offered in PSH can help tenants access more appropriate primary care and treatment, learn or restore coping and independent living skills that have been impaired by disability, and avoid actions or resolve problems that could cause them to lose their housing again and return to homelessness and previous expensive patterns of crisis health service use.Essential to improving the services nonprofits provide is performance managementThe United States is unique among other high-income countries in its reliance on the “third sector”—nongovernmental organizations—to deliver the mix of services and supports its citizens need. From the beginning, the United States has been a society that has emphasized themes of limited government, reserving a large role for independent organizations. But with this important role, comes responsibility. Nonprofits deliver essential services in every city and community in the United States, from housing those who lack shelter to feeding those who lack food to training those who lack work or education. Brett Theodos, Lindsey Buss, Mary Winkler, Sara McTarnaghan November 2016[2]Ultimately, what can make a person appear to be homeless?Lack of Affordable HousingIn a detailed analysis of the US rental market, the National Low-Income Housing Coalition concluded that our country is experiencing a significant and prolonged shortage of affordable housing. Pelletiere, D. (2006). The Rental Housing Affordability Gap: Comparison of 2001 and 2003 American Housing Surveys. The National Low-Income Housing CoalitionPoverty & Affordable HousingAmong the nation’s working families, 10 million are poor or nearly poor. Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University.1.7 million housing units are needed to fill the gap in affordable housing for extremely low-income households.One in seven US households – 37.3 million – has severe housing cost burdens. Most of these households (78%) are in the bottom quarter of the income distribution (earning $23,000 or less annually).Among the nation’s working families, 10 million are poor or nearly poor. 15% of all American families and 32% of single parent families lived below the Federal Poverty Line in 2006 and many families do not earn adequate wages.More than appearing to be homeless: The 2015 data collected by the Boulder Bridge House (Ready to Work) program[3]In their own words:VeteransOver 13% of residents are veterans who have served our country, but who are struggling to stay on their feet. Many are not getting the benefits they are entitled to under law. We help veterans to process the paperwork so that they can receive the medical and financial assistance they deserve.WomenApproximately 30% of the people that walk through our doors are women. The issues homeless women face around safety and security are different from those facing men.There are estimates that nearly 40% of the homeless population suffers from some kind of mental illness. The Ready to Work program leaders see this statistic reflected in their clients, most of whom either don’t know they are ill or are unaware of services that can help them.This program has a mental health outreach worker who meets with people one-­on-­one. They also have group counseling through their weekly HOPE Group. We provide funds for psychiatric prescriptions and work with their partners at Clinica and Mental Health Partners to get people the services they need. Though anyone can come from out-­of-­state, local Boulder, Colorado residents make up a large part of the residents at Bridge House. While many people think the homeless population flocks to places like Boulder for services, a large majority are locals.A full 60% of their residents are originally from Boulder County. The staff and program managers work hard to instill a sense of community at Bridge House for all their clients. They have regular holiday gatherings, art classes, and regular meetings with clients to gather feedback and suggestions. The number of people seeking our services continues to grow every year.In addition to the chronically homeless, this program seeing a significant number of newly homeless that have lost businesses, homes, and families in the economic chaos. In addition, we have more families coming to Bridge House and our evening dinners than ever before; at least one family with children per week. This program was also recognized for their work getting the homeless and working poor, arguably, the hardest thing for them to obtain….affordable housing[4].———————————————————————————————Being involved with homelessness directly or indirectly as a peer & resident. As I am a Marine Corps Veteran, sometimes the VA was involved, sometimes it wasn’t, to tell you the truth I wouldn’t have known the difference either way — sad, but true.Denver Health TRT, Cherokee House. (Downtown Denver on 16th & Cherokee)Catholic Charities, Samaritan House. (Denver five-points)Denver Rescue Mission (Denver five-points)Salvation Army (Denver five-points)Step 13 (Almost in the Denver five-points)Footnotes[1] http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=pih2013-15.pdf. [2] http://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/85571/a-new-model-for-growing-impact_1.pdf[3] Ready to work is Colorado's best work program 2016[4] Ready to Work Boulder, employment for the homeless and working poor 2016