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Report on Services to Homeless Men: Working Paper
Publisher: Bruce Hicks, Social Planning and Development Division, Halifax, CanadaYear Published: 1980 Pages: 126pp Resource Type: Article Cx Number: CX2235 It is estimated that there are between 50 and 300 "homeless" men in the city of Halifax. Abstract: It is estimated that there are between 50 and 300 "homeless" men in the city of Halifax. The North End Neibourhood Project sees the homeless person as one for whom "the condition of having no financial or personal resources has reached the chronic state." This report gives a comprehensive overview of agencies in Halifax and makes recommendations for future action. The author gathered much of the information in the report from interviews with people in related agencies. Thus, there is a detailed review of 18 services that relate to homeless men. The author also gives a brief history of various change efforts with regard to such services in the past few years. One of those was the unsuccessful attempt to develop a small supportive residence for older homeless men (ROOTS) which did not get funding. Coming partly out of the ROOT's effort was the development in 1978, of the Homeless Men's Support Network. This group of workers has been reflecting on the situation of homeless men and developing ways to coordinate their efforts. After this review of change efforts and services, the author then develops an analysis of the needs of homeless men and a substantial list of recommendations with regard to those needs. The thrust of those recommendations is that homeless persons are "whole" persons who cannot be fragmented into problem areas and whose self-respect and personal power must be encouraged. They are seen as having a right to "shelter, safety, food, clothing, health and respect". Thus, social services should be based on their perception of their needs and aspirations and should be evaluated on the extent to which they do this. The author recommends that service delivery must also be developed and coordinated in relation to the above. A list of the various recommendations for everything from housing options to service evaluation is available on request. Subject Headings |