Crazy, Dirty, and Lazy?: Stigmatization of Homeless Mentally Ill People by Providers of Homeless Services Pubblico
Frye, Lara Elizabeth Aycock (2011)
Abstract
Crazy, Dirty, and Lazy?: Stigmatization of Homeless Mentally Ill
People by Providers of Homeless Services
By Elizabeth A. Frye
Background
Stigmatized populations, such as the homeless and mentally ill,
maintain
significantly poorer health outcomes, dying over 25 years younger
than the general
population. Workers who provide homeless services control which
individuals receive
temporary shelter, transitional and permanent housing, food,
resources to assist in
employment, and access to free medical care. Stigma towards
homeless people with
mental illness among workers may negatively affect health outcomes
in this vulnerable
population.
Objective
In this study, I examine stigma towards people experiencing
homelessness and
mental illness by volunteers and workers who provide homeless
services, both from the
perspective of the service providers and the homeless clients.
Methods
I utilized data collected during a Community Needs Assessment of
Homeless
Health Initiative to quantify positive and negative observations of
service providers and
experiences of homeless individuals. Surveys of service providers
and homeless clients
provide quantitative data on provider behavior towards their
homeless clients. Individual
interviews with homeless individuals with mental and addictive
disorders provide
qualitative data to better understand the experience of stigma
among this population.
Results
According to service providers and homeless clients, stigma towards
homeless
people with mental and addictive disorders is prevalent among
workers providing
homeless services. Half of service providers reported stigma among
service providers and
ranked the level of stigma as moderate to severe. Though homeless
clients were reticent
to criticize workers who provide for their physical needs, half of
homeless participants
reported rudeness and 40% felt disrespected in interactions with
service providers.
Discussion
This study demonstrates stigma and maltreatment of homeless
individual with
mental illness by workers paid to provide services for this
population. Organizations
providing homeless services should implement stigma reduction
campaigns and
education on mental and addictive disorders among workers to reduce
stigma and
improve health outcomes. Further research is necessary to examine
specific health
consequences resulting from shame and emotional damage as well as
poor access to
services.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Chapter 1:
Introduction…………………………………………………................…………………1
Chapter 2:
Literature
Review………………………………………................……………....…3
Chapter 3:
Methods…………………………...…………………………........….............……..15
Results……………………………………..…..……………........…………..............22
Chapter 4:
Discussion, Conclusion, and Recommendations
…...............…………42
References……………………………………..……………………………….....…………50
Appendix A: Service Provider Survey
Instrument……………………………55
Appendix B: Homeless Client Survey
Instrument……………………….……64
Appendix C: Homeless Client Interview
Guide…………………………………68
About this Master's Thesis
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