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Women's Perspectives on Homelessness
Author(s) -
Hodnicki Donna R.,
Horner Sharon D.,
Boyle Joyceen S.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
public health nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.471
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1525-1446
pISSN - 0737-1209
DOI - 10.1111/j.1525-1446.1992.tb00110.x
Subject(s) - ethnography , qualitative research , sociology , population , identification (biology) , politics , gerontology , gender studies , psychology , medicine , political science , demography , social science , anthropology , botany , law , biology
An increase in the number of individuals who are homeless since the 1980s has made homelessness a major social, economic, and political problem in the United States. The number of homeless in this country is estimated as high as 3 million, with women and children constituting the fastest growing subgroup of this population. A study of eight homeless women using a shelter in a southeastern city was conducted to explore the experience of homelessness from the women's perspectives. A modified ethnographic approach using a semistructured interview provided qualitative data. The constant comparative method of analysis identified themes of heightened awareness, guarding, identification of needs, and strategies for resolution. This study provides a new understanding of how some women experience homelessness. as well as the responses they take to solve this problem.