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
Ann’s
History
Ann
The Model
Occupational
of
Therapy
Human
Intervention
Occupation
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/i
ndex.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