Survey of Perceptions of Homelessness Finds Evidence of Stigma

Newswise — Treatments for homelessness are increasingly community-focused, yet little is known about whether those who are currently or formerly homeless are accepted by their communities. A new exploratory survey by Albright College investigating how individuals perceive homelessness and community integration finds evidence of stigma, but reports that many see the causes and solutions of homelessness as multifaceted and many argue for compassion towards individuals who are homeless. “Participants identified multiple sources as being likely reasons for homelessness: lack of a livable wage or limited availability of jobs, drug or alcohol problems, mental illness,” says Lindsay Phillips, assistant professor of psychology in the degree completion program at Albright College in Reading, Pa. and author of the study. “But in spite of believing that many factors play a role in homelessness, some stereotypes remain.” The study, which questioned 115 adult undergraduate students in an online survey, found that nearly 60% of participants viewed “being lazy” as a source of homelessness. Twelve participants attributed homelessness to choice in qualitative responses. Most participants, however, reported that they would not be socially distant from those who were previously homeless. “This may mean that there are low levels of stigma towards individuals who are formerly homeless,” says Phillips, “and may indicate some support of community integration programs.” One unexpected finding was that though most participants (82.61%) indicated a willingness to volunteer to work with this population, only 58 participants – 43.48% -- actually have. “There’s a gap there,” says Phillips. “It should be a wake-up call to the organizations that work with those who are homeless. How can we educate the public as to how they can help?”