Goals and Principles of Providers Working with People Experiencing Homelessness: A Comparison Between Housing First and Traditional Staircase Services in Eight European Countries

Marta Gaboardi, Michela Lenzi, Francesca Disperati, Massimo Santinello, Alessio Vieno, Aurélie Tinland, Maria J. Vargas-Moniz, Freek Spinnewijn, Branagh R. O’Shaughnessy, Judith R. Wolf, Anna Bokszczanin, Roberto Bernad, Ulla Beijer, José Ornelas, Marybeth Shinn and Consortium Study Group Home-Eu
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Marta Gaboardi: Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padua, Italy
Michela Lenzi: Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padua, Italy
Francesca Disperati: Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padua, Italy
Massimo Santinello: Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padua, Italy
Alessio Vieno: Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padua, Italy
Aurélie Tinland: Department of Research and Innovation, Support Unit for clinical research and economic evaluation, Assistance Publique–Hôpitaux de Marseille, 13385 Marseille, France
Maria J. Vargas-Moniz: APPsyCI—Applied Psychology Research Center Capabilities and Inclusion, ISPA-Instituto Universitário, Lisboa 1149-041, Portugal
Freek Spinnewijn: FEANTSA, European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless, Bruxelles 1210, Belgique
Branagh R. O’Shaughnessy: Department of Psychology, University of Limerick, Limerick V94 T9PX, Ireland
Judith R. Wolf: Impuls-Netherlands Center for Social Care Research, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen 6525 EZ, The Netherlands
Anna Bokszczanin: Institute of Psychology, Opole University, Opole 45-052, Poland
Roberto Bernad: Rais Fundación, 28028 Madrid, Spain
Ulla Beijer: STAD, Stockholm Center for Psychiatry Research and Education, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 113 64, Sweden
José Ornelas: APPsyCI—Applied Psychology Research Center Capabilities and Inclusion, ISPA-Instituto Universitário, Lisboa 1149-041, Portugal
Marybeth Shinn: Department of Human and Organizational Development, Peabody College, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37203, USA
Consortium Study Group Home-Eu: Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padua, Italy

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 9, 1-17

Abstract: The implementation and adaptation of the Housing First (HF) model represented profound changes the structure and delivery, goals, and principles of homeless services. These features of homeless services directly influence providers, their work performance and the clients’ outcomes. The present research, conducted in eight European countries, investigated how social providers working in HF or TS (Traditional Staircase) describe and conceptualize the goals and the principles of their services. Data were collected through 29 focus group discussions involving 121 providers. The results showed that HF and TS had similar and different goals for their clients in the following areas: support, social integration, satisfaction of needs, housing, and well-being. HF providers emphasized clients’ autonomy and ability to determine their personal goals, with housing being considered a start on the path of recovery, while TS were more focused on individual clients’ basic needs with respect to food, health and finding temporary accommodations. HF providers privileged the person-centered approach and housing as a right, while TS providers were more focused on helping everyone. Implications of the results are discussed as suggestions both for practice and for research.

Keywords: goals; principles; service delivery; housing first; providers; homelessness; cross-national study (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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