Date of Award

5-2024

Document Type

Project

Degree Name

Master of Social Work

Department

School of Social Work

First Reader/Committee Chair

Armando Barragan / Yawen Li

Abstract

Problem Formation: As homeless populations have continued to grow, it is important to analyze services and replace ones lacking efficacy. This research sought to locate gaps in service delivery and to let the data fuel newer, innovative services. Significance: This study brought greater awareness of needs and services available to homeless people and to clinical staff at the agencies who work with them. It also provided new ideas for interventions that might better meet client needs. Design: This study was designed as a mixed-methods project. It was believed that master’s level social work students would be an ideal group to gather data on the needs, service efficacy, service barriers, and ideas for better services. Sampling was done utilizing purposeful sampling. Analysis: Data was analyzed using a bottom-up approach with no expectation of the data provided by participants. Data was categorized by interview question, and common themes were identified as connections were made. Findings: The most notable finding was that the bureaucracy of service providers was a significant limiting factor in serving this population. It was also found that while interventions succeeded at temporarily meeting physiological and safety needs, longer term and higher client needs were not being met. Implications: Interview respondents were new social workers, working or interning in the field, and the study findings provided valuable data to seasoned and new social workers about the service gaps found as well as the new services and interventions envisioned by the study participants.

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