KEEPING HOMELESS FAMILIES TOGETHER - EXAMINING THEIR NEEDS

Although professional literature documents many of the problems of homeless families, few investigations consider the needs and services that are requested by homeless parents in their pursuit to keep their families intact. This study of 178 homeless subjects (94 parents) evaluated the effect of parental status on needs and services of the homeless. Among the findings it was discovered that parents tended to be females, had longer periods of homelessness, had a greater need for child care and other services that would allow them to work than non-parents. In addition, low levels of requests for social service benefits raises suspicions that homeless parents avoid these services because of fears of losing their children to foster care.