University/Community Outreach

Homelessness Research:

Addressing Myths-Informing Policy

July 14, 2011

Dr. David Patterson

Director - KnoxHMIS

College of Social Work

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

“What is the role of institutions of higher education in restoring social justice for disenfranchised populations …?”

Ndura (2007)

University Outreach and Research Model

A Partnership of Neighbors

KnoxHMIS is a community partnership between…

UT College of Social Work

The Knoxville/Knox County Coalition to End Homeless

The Mayor’s Office of the Ten Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness

The City of Knoxville

Knox County

14 Local Homeless Service Providers

and Comcast

University Community Outreach

Research (UCOR) – KnoxHMIS

Creates a reciprocal relationship

Extends the university’s intellectual resources in

service of the community

Produces experiences and data from the

outreach research

In turn shapes and informs the academic

mission.

Community Collaboration

KnoxHMIS provides the platform for inter-agency collaboration through:

Capturing services provided to shared clients

Coordinating case management across the community

Allowing case managers to share case notes

Tracking the history of clients’ experience with homelessness

KnoxHMIS 2010 Annual Report

KnoxHMIS 2010 Annual Report

Local Myths about Individuals

Experiencing Homelessness1. They are not like us.

2. Homeless individuals of east Tennessee are different from homeless individuals elsewhere, so outside research does not apply.

3. They come to Knoxville from elsewhere.

4. Most are mentally ill and substance abusers.

5. Prevention programs do not work.

6. Permanent supportive housing does not reduce costs.

Images used by permission of David Habercom

http://www.adriftamerica.com/Home.html

The average chronically

homeless person is:

A single, white male

Age 46

Has a high school education

Has never been to prison

Is from Knox County

Reports his primary reason for

homelessness as loss of job

Is not a vet

Reports to be in good health in

comparison to other people his

age

Myth – They are not like us

Images used by permission of David Habercom

http://www.adriftamerica.com/Home.html

The average homeless adult

female:

A single, white female

Age 39

From Knox County

Has a high school education

Has never been to prison

Reports her primary reason for

homelessness as domestic

violence

Reports to be in good health in

comparison to other people her

age

Myth – They are not like us

Average homeless adult male:

A single, white male age 42

from Knox County,

who is homeless for the first time

has a high school education

has never been to prison

reports his primary reason for

homelessness as loss of job

is not a veteran

reports to be in good health in

comparison to other people his age

Myth – They are not like us

Average homeless child:

8 years old

Accompanied by a single mother

In a family with 1.65 children

The mother’s self-reported primary reason

for homelessness is domestic violence

Myth – They are not like us

Images used by permission of David

Habercom

http://www.adriftamerica.com/Home.html

44% of people experiencing

homelessness in Knoxville have

a disability.

Myth – Homeless individuals of east

Tennessee are different from the

homeless elsewhere.

Myth – They come to Knoxville

from elsewhere.

83% of all clients had a “last permanent address zip code from

Knox Co. or one of the surrounding counties. N = 3,859

Myth – They come to Knoxville

from elsewhere.

Myth – Most are mentally ill/substance abusers.

Myth - Homeless prevention programs

do not work.

Myth - Permanent supportive housing

does not reduce community costs.

Myth - Permanent supportive

housing does not reduce

community costs.Increased Costs Post-

Housing

Decreased/No Change Costs Post

Housing

N % N %

Hospital 14 31.82% 30 68.18%

Cherokee 11 25.00% 33 75.00%

Health

Department 10 22.73% 34 77.27%

Jail 5 11.36% 39 88.64%

Mental Health 11 25.00% 33 75.00%

Ambulance 12 27.27% 32 72.73%

Emergency

Shelter 1 2.27% 43 97.73%

N =

44

Summary

The overarching research and social justice

intention of the KnoxHMIS university/community

partnership is

To improve client outcomes for homeless

individuals

Provide data and attendant analysis to

enhance homeless services delivery and

understanding of the population.

Produce community-based research to inform

policy decisions for governmental and

organizational partners.

Illumination of the social injustice of

homelessness.