Homelessness: Understanding unmet needs and identifying resources

Graduate occupational therapy students collaborated with an Area Health Education Center (AHEC) to address occupational therapy's role in intervening for individuals who are homeless.

The purpose was to provide educational resources on specific needs related to health and wellbeing to individuals who are homeless.

A variety of methods were used to gather information on common needs of the homeless population related to health and wellbeing, community integration, and development of routines. Initial data was collected through the use of a needs assessment for nine participants with thirteen questions followed with a weekly visit to a homeless shelter. The weekly visits allowed the students to build rapport and trust with the residents to gain an understanding of individual perspectives and barriers to occupation.

The students worked with residents how to best access community based resources and services related to occupational needs. Specific needs were identified, and further resources were provided to support community integration, independent living, and self-management.

Preliminary findings provided a basic understanding of the foundational needs of individuals to be used to support future research linking occupational therapy to the homeless population to achieve individual goals, improve health and wellbeing, and enhance life skills management.