Of Pemns Who Use an Emergency Food Program

Characteristics and SelCPerceived Need~of Pemns Who Use an Emergency Food Program BY Pemy L-Lang A Thesis Submitted to the Facuity of Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Education Faculty of Education University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba Acquisitions and Acquisitrons et Bibliogmphii Services senrices bbliographque~ The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant à la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distriiute or sell reproduire, prêter, distn'buer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronk formais. la fome de microfiche/film, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retaias ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts fiom it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or othdse de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. COPYRIGHT PERMISSION A ThmracOmlabmittcd to tbe Fa- ofGduate Studies ofthe Uaivemîty of Manitoba in partir1foinnment ofthe tcqoinments for the degret of Permission buben gnattd to the WBRARY OF TEE UNIVERSïTY OF MANïTOBA to lend or seIl copies of tbis thesWprrctScam, to the NATIONAL LfBRARY OF CANADA to microfilm this tb~Wpracticumand to tend or scU copies of the film, and to UNIVERSITY MICROFILMS INC. to pubiisb an rbstract of tbir thesis/pncticum.. This reproduction or copy of thir thcris buben made avrilable by autbority of the copyright ometsolely for the purpose of private study and resarcb, and may only be reproduceâ and copiai as permitteâ by copyright Lam or witb cxprrss written autborintion fmm the copyright 0WIIer. Abmaa An emergency food seruice was evaluated to deveiop a prde of the seM= wrs, to identity their ~e~perceivedneeds and to risses their suppart for the developmeat of 0thservices and programs. The data wiil be incorporated by the service provider into the process of program planning A screening for general demographic data mis completeâ of al1 secvice users on three evenings-DM intewiews were completed with nine ïhe data were analysed using qualitative analysis- The results indicated that the food service uses tiad characteristics consistent with homeless populations descnbed in other midies. While this population had a number of material ne&, the desire for incdsocial support was also identifid Respondents generally did not mongly support the possibility of the provision of other programs or seMces that would encourage socializing, build skills, provide information or enhance self-esteem and empowement They did strongly support the development of an informal, safe meeting place that wodd provide some social interaction and access to some specific services such as a phone and laundry facilities. Acknowledgements Thanlcs are due in large portions to the individuals who used the Soup Van and who became a special part of my life for two years. They taught volumes about courage, fortimde, and dignity in their daily efforts to manage their lives within challeagiug circwnstances. Many thanks to the memben of my thesis cornmittee for their direction and support: Dr. Winston Rampaul and Dr. Ray Henjum of the Faculty of Education at the University of Manitoba, and Dr. Jim Read, Director of the Ethics Centre of the Salvation Amy in Canada and Bermuda I am gratefd, as well, to Lorraine Hart, a fiend and CO-workerwith the Soup Van Minimy, for her support and encouragement of this study and for typing this manuscript TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS LIST OF TABLES INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY REVIEW OF RELATED LiTERATWRE Historicai perspective of homelessness Methodological concmis De finition Measurement Precipitating factors Characteristics Responses to homelessness Social Support and empowennent METHODS Sam ple Monnation sought Methods of data collection Data analysis FINDINGS GeneraI characteristics of the sample Questionnaire results Persona1 information Housing Shettet use Nutrition Educat ion Employment Income Heal th Community contacts Discussion of findings Themes and threads PowerIessness Stigma Values Independence Family Social support SUMMARY CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Summary of study Limitations Conclusions Recommendations Further Research REFERENCES APPENDIX A Defining the homekss APPENDIX B Coumiag the homelem APPENDIX C General approaches to counting the homeless APPENDIX D A sample of sampling methods APPENDIX E Notice posted iequesting volunteers APPENDE F Interview-Guide APPENDIX G Information for survey participants APPENDIX H Consent fonn APPENDIX 1 Summary of interest demonstrated in program possibilities AFTENDIX J Summary of questionnaire responses LIST OF TABLES Table 1 Gender, estimated age, and semice usage ofall Soup Van cIients on one evening Table 2 Summary of direct desired Table 3 Similarities and Différences Between Study Population and Homeless Populations Descn'bed in the Literature Table 4 Calcuiation of disposable incorne Table 5 Allocation of incorne CHAPTERI btroduction to the Study Homelessness in Canada bas been incrrasùig significantly for more than a decade. Initially this increase was perceived to be a manifestation of a dowmwing in the economy and the beiief at the time was tbat the numkn of homeless individuais would diminish as the ecoaomy improvd In response to what was thought to be a temporary situation, a number of goverment and private agencies and organizations implemented strategies to address the short-tenn needs of the homeless. One of these was a program developed by the Salvation Amy in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The Soup Van Ministry was developed to provide a hot meal da-ly to those who were unable, by their circumstances, to meet this basic need. The program has been operating since 1989 and it has become apparent that, for a number of individuals who make use of this program, their situation has not been temporary- Many have been caught up in an existence hmwhich there appears to be no way out While the Salvation Amy has been able to meet a basic nutritional concem, these individuals have other ne& that they are not able to manage themselves because of their circumstances. The prnpose of this study was to identify the gencral characteristics of those who use the Soup Van and their self-perceived needs in order to detennine whether there are ways in which the Sdvation Amy could work collaboratively with them to address some ofthe concems of their life situations. A recent estimate is that one hdedmillion people on earth have no shelter of any kind. When those who have inadquate shelter and those who are at risk of loshg their shelter are added to this estimate, the nimiber extends to one billion worldwide, that is, one pemn in four. (Lewis, 1987, p.7). While al1 wmtries have always ôad some individuais who "lived mugR widespnad homelesmess was once believed to be a phenornenon found in Third World counnies. The mlity is that the developed and affiuent corntries are in the mi& of a rapid and alamhg in- in homelessness. The last two decades have witnessed an unprecedented increase in the number of penons who are wmpletely homeless. Canada is no exception but *le it has just been wïthin the past few years that governmental and pnvate agencies have become aware of the need to adcùess the issue, the response by these agencies for the most part has ken disjointed and ineffktive. Attempts have ken fewer stïll to engage homeless Fonsin a process to addms their situation. This is not to say that nothing has been done. A number of studies have been undenaken by local communities, non-profit organizations and volunteer agencies that were related to specific commwities or pa~?jcularpopulations and a number of initiatives et the local level bave been implemented in an attempt to provide some aid to homeless individuais- These initiatives for the most part have addressed present needs rather than long-terni solutions. There mis a hop that homelessness in Canada was an unfortunate, tempom'y setback that would right itself when the economy improved. This has not been the case and it has become necessary to revisit the ways in which assistance has been provided and to look for more appropiate approaches to address immediate ne& and discover long-terni solutions. One program that was developed at the local level was in Thunder Bay, 9 Ontario. in 1989, the city of Thunder Bay app~oacbedthe Salvation Amy with its recognition of the growing number of penoas who were ~peadingmuch of theic time on the srnets seemingiy without access to regular wals. In response, the Salvation Amy dcveloped a program to meet this need. Initiaily the clients were aimost exclusively males of al1 ages, often living in tempotary Rsidences or on the street, ofien with discernable substance abuse andlor mental health problems. The clientele has continued to be primarily male but there have been significant inmeases in the nurnber of younger males including some in their teens, single women of al1 ages including some in their teens, women with children and two parent families. The change in the client group has likely been primarily related to social and economic conditions in Thunder Bay that mimic those in other communities across Canada niunder Bay is a community in northem Ontario with a population of 1 i0,OOO.

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