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The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore homeless young adults' perceptions of the systemic, situational, and intrapersonal barriers they encounter across multiple systems in trying to exit homelessness and the ways these barriers are interrelated. Thirty-one homeless young adults (ages 18–26) in Phoenix and Tempe, Arizona were recruited for in-depth interviews from two resource centers serving homeless youth. Template analysis was used to systematically analyze and code participants' verbatim transcripts from the interviews into a template (codebook). Characteristic quotes from the interviews are used to illustrate the emergent themes. Findings indicate that structural barriers faced by homeless youth include inadequate homeless resources, employment challenges, discrimination by law enforcement, hot climate, lack of transportation, and legal concerns. Situational barriers include interpersonal relationships, the street environment, and lack of personal resources. Intrapersonal barriers include behavioral, mental, and physical health challenges, reluctance to reach out for help, money management, and lack of desire for stable housing. Participants also outlined multiple ways in which these barriers interact to hinder their exiting homelessness. Findings support current literature applying ecological theory to the issue of homelessness while highlighting young people's own contextual descriptions of their lived experiences. Three approaches are recommended for improving homeless services with integrated housing, employment, and clinical interventions to help young adults successfully exit homeless. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contrary to the perception that the business community can be hostile and exclusive toward individuals experiencing homelessness, local businesses can and do serve homeless populations at multiple levels. This article proposes a theoretical framework that links the versatile roles that local businesses can play in addressing various dimensions of human needs. This theoretical framework is illustrated through two models in Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles, which focus on the role of business improvement districts (BIDs) and a social enterprise intervention (SEI), respectively. These models demonstrate that the business community can meet not only physical needs but also the emotional and self-actualization goals of homeless individuals. This article suggests that social work education and field education curricula can benefit from engaging the business sector in addressing complex social issues, such as homelessness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methamphetamine use among homeless youths is an increasing problem. School officials and social work practitioners are presented with a classification problem in determining which youth are or are not using methamphetamines. The purpose of this study is to adopt a machine-learning approach to address this type of classification problem and to compare 2 models (decision rules and logistic regression) for classifying cases into methamphetamine users and nonusers. The selection of predictors in our models was guided by the risk and resilience framework. Logistic regression and decision rules analyses are used to test the models with a subset of data for 2,146 homeless youth who attend high school that was obtained from the 2007-08 California Healthy Kids Survey dataset. Results of logistic regression suggest methamphetamine use is associated with cigarette and marijuana use, having consumed alcohol, and being truant more than once per week. Results of decision rules analysis suggest a youth's being classified as a methamphetamine user depends on whether the youth has tried marijuana at least once and whether the youth has been truant more than once per week. Moreover, classification as a methamphetamine user also depends on whether a youth has tried marijuana at least once, has not been truant more than once per week, and has tried cigarettes at least once. The logistic regression and decision rules models produce similar--but not identical--results. Our findings highlight the utility of decision rules models as a complement to logistic regression when classification is the goal of a study. Such models can be used to guide social work practice decisions in making informed predictions about client outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative evaluation of the Social Enterprise Intervention (SEI), a vocational training program for homeless young adults, used summative focus-group data to understand clients' perceptions of outcomes as a result of SEI participation. Data from formative focus-group discussions were also used to assess the intervention process and make necessary changes during the program. Over four months, two process- and one outcomes-oriented focus-group discussions were conducted with street-living young adults in the SEI Program. Open-ended questions were used to explore perceptions of project implementation and client outcomes. Emergent outcomes-related themes include family respect, self-esteem, goal-orientation, labor and social networks, delinquent behavior and societal perceptions of homeless youth. Grounded theory is used to interpret findings and develop working hypotheses to guide future studies of vocational interventions for street-living youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]