Chronic Home Challenged

In an effort to educate about homelessness, or as we term it the "home challenged" to avoid the stigma attached to the word "homeless" we will be posting insights and some psychological study results of what causes some to be without a home and shed light on the myth that it is a chosen lifestyle. 

There are 3 categories of the home challenged:

1. Young Adults - teens and those who age-out of foster care and are left to their own vices living on the streets. 
2. Situational Homelessness - this happens when one life event causes the person or family to be without a home. A serious medical condition, loss of employment, divorce are just a few of many reasons an event causes homelessness.
3. Chronic Homelessness - The CAUF (Cold And Uncared For) Society defines chronic homelessness as having been without a home for 12 consecutive months; or, having been in and out of a home more than 4 times in a 12 month period. 

We will talk about the chronically home challenged here.  

An article published by the American Psychologist (Goodman and Harvey 1991) indicates that psychological trauma and learned helplessness should  be used when understanding causes of being home challenged. 

The psychological focus being on social disaffiliation as a trauma in itself. Some of the most common causes of these traumas include sudden loss or gradual loss of income; Conditions of shelter life can contribute to causing psychological trauma and; Physical and/or sexual abuse. 

Studies show that these traumas can be prevented, or mitigated,  BY A SUPPORTIVE AND EMPOWERING POST TRAUMA ENVIRONMENT.   (American Psychologist; Homelessness as psychological trauma; Broadening perspectives edt 46(11))

Learned Helplessness is defined as  "when exposure to inescapable and uncontrollable adverse events produces passive behavior" (Maiet, et al 1969)  

This condition plays a large part in disorders such as depression and feelings of hopelessness, and low self esteem.  The chronically home challenged  person eventually believes they have no control to change a repeated stressful and difficult situation; EVEN WHEN help or opportunities become available. 

Home challenged is a mindset that needs help to be changed into self sufficient, self-worth, positive ways of thinking. This change does not happen overnight. The person feels if they can control nothing else, they can control their life within a home challenged community of peers who experience and understand the same things. Daily issues and struggles, to larger problems such as legal issues, family abandonment and substance abuse. These communities are a family of sorts who accept each other with out judgement and rejection. The community is, in fact, THEIR HOME.  

Chronic Home challenged is not a choice, it is a mental coping mechanism to years of trauma and uncontrollable life events. Although many believe all home challenged "want free stuff" and "are all drug addicts" the complex layers to this lifestyle are many, and must be gently peeled back like an onion.   Most agencies, while offering very good,  supportive, solid help, approach the situation in an aggressive way upon initial meeting of the home challenged person, or the criteria to be admitted into an agency program is far out of reach.  This is almost like attacking the onion from the middle, rather than beginning with the outer peel.  We are here to fill the gap of initial engagement and trust building using a one-on-one method.

  This is where engagement and trust building is of the utmost importance - when approaching the "onion peel."  

IT IS THE MISSION OF Steven's Home to begin removing the "onion peel" to eventually begin removing the outer layers, and then if requested by the home challenged person - WHO IS IN CONTROL- we are here to offer assistance programs and resources. 

We hope this helps provide understanding of why we are here and what we focus on accomplishing.   Feel free to PM any questions you may have. 

author: N. Lunsford 4/2023