CHILDREN OF POVERTY
STUDIES ON THE EFFECTS OF SINGLE PARENTHOOD, THE FEMINIZATION OF POVERTY, AND HOMELESSNESS
edited by
STUART BRUCHEY
ALLAN NEVINS PROFESSOR EMERITUS COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
CHILDREN LIVING IN TEMPORARY SHELTERS
HOW HOMELESSNESS EFFECTS THEIR PERCEPTION OF HOME
ALICE M. EPPS
First published by Garland Publishing, Inc.
This edition published 2011 by Routledge:
Routledge
Taylor & Francis Group
711 Third Avenue
Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN | Routledge
Taylor & Francis Group
2 Park Square, Milton Park
New York, NY 10017 |
Copyright 1998 Alice M. Epps
All rights reserved
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Epps, Alice M., 1932
Children living in temporary shelters : how homelessness effects their perception of home / Alice M. Epps.
p. cm. (Children of poverty)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-8153-3058-8 (alk. paper)
1. Homeless childrenUnited States. 2. Shelters for the homelessUnited States. I. Title. II. Series.
HV4504 In Process
362.7086942dc21
97-11160
This book is dedicated to the memory of my mother, Mrs. Ophelia Epps, for instilling in me a faith in God, nurturing self-confidence, and the essence of completing a task
The problem of homelessness is increasing nationally in volume, variety, and visibility, with the subpopulation of homeless families with children growing the fastest. An unstable living environment places these families, especially the children at risk, of accomplishing positive, adaptive socialization. In addition, the provision of supportive services to these children, impose an excessive economic burden on the public. The paucity of information and research concerning what homelessness means for children who are members of these families, are reasons for undertaking this work.
The book provides a survey research model to collect and analyze information, about what the circumstances of homelessness means from the perspective of children sheltered with homeless families.
Data are obtained from social service agencies, and the sample childrens' responses to a questionnaire\interview guide comprised of critical factors relative to the developmental stage of the study group. The guide is administered by a team of professionals, to a random sample of 60 children ages 611 years, selected from a convenient population of 194 families housed in four facilities, provided by a NY suburban welfare department from 9\1\8810\30\91 for a period of 136 months. The collected data are used to construct three perception of home scales, the (Ideal, Positive, and Negative), to test the study hypotheses, and identify factors that influence the childrens' perspective of home. Analyses reveal that children in the age group (911 years), irrespective of gender, health, or time of homelessness (1930) months are the most negative in their view of home.
Only tentative conclusions can be drawn. Further research with larger samples is indicated. The book presents a useable model to identify factors that impact the issue of impermanence from the perspective of latency age children. The descriptive data add to the general knowledge base about children. Heightened awareness of this social problem contributes to the creative development of services, that in still hope, and build on the strengths troubled children exhibit in a way that benefit both the individual and society.
To my Chairperson and mentor Dr. Eugene B. Shinn, a very unique person, my gratitude and profound appreciation, for your enduring support and encouragement which enabled me to respect and appreciate the learning process and adopt your insistence and guidance that my best effort was indicated to complete this study were invaluable.
A special thanks to Dr. Ursula M. Gerty a warm caring committee person, with high standards, who generously gave her support and time editing this study.
Sincere appreciation to Dr. Pereta Rodriguez, a supportive, valued friend and my third committee person, who provided essential professional consultation, and her relentless focus on tenacity a personal quality needed to complete this study.
This work could not have been completed without the vision, interest, support and time provided by the administration and staff of the following agencies: Westchester County Department of Social Services Office of Housing, Westhab, Inc., Urban League of Westchester, Inc.
Special recognition is given in memory of my friend and colleague Sherman Lee who assisted and persisted in the completion of the interviewing process.
Thank you Yvonne L. DuBose who enabled me to stay some what rational during this ordeal.
Sincere appreciation to colleagues, and graduates of this program for their personal concern, professional talents, and wisdom: Dr. Bernice Liddie Hamilton, Dr. Arnette Robinson, Dr. Charles Auerbach
I am especially grateful to family members (especially my brother Willie and my niece Alicia), who surrounded me with love, and encouragement throughout these many years of study and adversity.
My special thanks to the children and families who participated in the study.
Children Living in Temporary Shelters
This book, a descriptive, explanatory study, provides information on selected characteristics of children staying with homeless single-parent families in emergency shelters and describes how the children view the concept of home.
A permanent, secure home is one of the key elements needed for the positive development of self-confidence in children. Increasing numbers of children are growing up without a positive permanent home environment.
This unmet need is a negative impact on the mental and physical health, education, and future of children. Children who live in very transitory situations are viewed as being at risk (Children's Defense Fund, 1978).
More than two million children fell into poverty in the 1980's while the number of billionaires in the nation quintupled between 1982 and 1989 (A Children's Defense Fund, 1990). This trend continues today. Homelessness is dehumanizing and debilitating, and the social, psychological and economic problems of the homeless multiply. Homelessness by definition is a crisis where even the healthiest of us would be confused and disoriented (Kaufman, 1985).
The composition of the homeless population is changing from the traditional group of alcoholics, drug addicts, and transients, to more people who are mentally ill, young, minorities, and women with children.
The homeless are families victimized by increased housing costs and unemployment; they are youngsters who are not wanted at home; they are middle-aged women and men from rooming houses which are demolished in the name of urban renewal and gentrification; they are deserted mothers with schoolage children, battered wives, the elderly, mentally ill people, and substance abusers. Bassuk (1984) is one of the contemporary researchers who addresses the issue of homelessness.
The alarming increase in the number of single women and their children indicates that we are witnessing the feminization of homelessness (Bassuk, 1984).
Homelessness, the crisis of people who lack permanent adequate shelter and personal resources such as money, family and friends to acquire shelter, gained increased public attention within the last few years (Arce et al., 1983; Levine, 1984; Levinson, 1963; Lipton et al., 1983). This issue was addressed by numerous media accounts (i.e., Cordes, 1984; McCarthy, 1982; Soloway, 1986; The New York Times, International, 1991) gubernatorial investigations (Cuomo, 1983), and congressional hearings on the homeless (U.S. House of Representatives, 1982; Milbura et al., 1984).
