Homelessness and Occupational Justice

Mary Melvin, Amy Sinclair, Cathy Healy,

Nicola Greene, Megan O’Carroll, Jessica Holland

Aim:

The aim of our presentation is:

To evaluate the services provided to homeless people in Scotland, focusing on Edinburgh and Glasgow, two of the biggest cities in Scotland

Definition of Homelessness

In the broadest sense homelessness is the problem faced by people who lack a place to live that is supportive, affordable and secure.

(ODPM (2002)

Being homeless doesn’t just mean sleeping on the streets, you don’t have to be roofless to be considered homeless (Shelter 2006)

What Causes Homelessness?

Economic factors:– Access– Location– Lack of security– Gender- women

Social factors:– Domestic dispute– Environment

Homeless in Scotland

Edinburgh as a city Homeless services OTs role Models Successful?

Homeless in Scotland

Glasgow as a city Homeless services OTs role Models Successful?

Case Study

Occupational Therapy

Intervention

Occupational Therapy

Intervention

The Model of

Human Occupation

The Model of

Human Occupation

Ann’s History

Ann’s History

AnnAnn

Occupational Justice

Occupation as a central feature of human existence

Look beyond ‘work’. Occupations are all ways in which we occupy ourselves. (Townsend 2003)

Homelessness can affect how a person carries out an occupation with fair treatment from society.

Being homeless can impact on both physical and mental health. This can affect carrying out occupations.

Social exclusion

‘Homelessness is not an isolated problem, but part of a broader phenomenon of social exclusion’ (housingrights.org.uk)

Evidence of identity required to obtain financial services or receiving benefits

Financial debt

Families: access to education problematic, potentially creating further difficulties for them in later life.

Conclusion

Comparison of services

The need for more OTs in this area

A change in society’s views

References:

Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions (2002) More than a roof: A Report into Tackling Homelessness London: HMSO. http://www.housing.odpm.gov.uk/information/homelessness/morethanaroof/index.htm.

Crisis UK- Fighting for hope for homeless people, 2005. www.crisis.org.uk

Shelter (2006)

Shelter (2007)- Homelessness fact sheets. www.scotland.shelter.org.uk

Scottish executive publications (2007) Homelessness- An Action plan for prevention and effective response report from the homelessness task force to Scottish ministers