Homeless Shelter

Homeless Shelter

Homeless shelters are temporary residences of desperation for homeless people which seek to protect vulnerable populations from the often devastating effects of homelessness while simultaneously reducing the environmental impact on the community. They are similar to but distinguishable from various types of emergency shelters, which are typically operated for specific circumstances and populations - fleeing natural disasters or abusive social circumstances. Extreme variants of "normal" weather create problems similar to disaster management scenarios, and are handled with warming centers, which typically operate for short duration during adverse weather.

Homeless shelters tend to be a "one-size-fits-all" model, but there is frequently a separate shelter system for families and for youth. Both "generic" and the specialized shelters typically expect clients to exit in the morning and occupy themselves elsewhere during the day, returning for an evening meal and to sleep. Curfews vary widely but tend to be at an earlier hour than adults typically might return to a home.

There are also daytime-only homeless shelters, where the homeless can go when they cannot stay inside at their nighttime sleeping shelter during the day. Such an early model of a daytime homeless shelter providing multi-faceted services is Saint Francis House in Boston, Massachusetts which was officially founded in 1984. It was based on the settlement house, clubhouse and community center support and social service models.

Homeless shelters are provided for those that fall on hard times and need refuge. Typically, these shelters are non-profit organizations normally associated with either churches or federal or state governments. They are designed specifically to be temporary homes providing for those that have fallen on hard times an opportunity to get back into the workforce. Circumstances for entering a homeless shelter include but are not limited to: health complications, unpaid bills, or a missed paycheck. Shelters typically have been understood by the public. They are created not to just provide shelter, but also offer a variety of services including job training, rehab for drug addicts, and soup kitchens. Throughout the world, the number of homeless shelters is increasing with each new year. In the United States the Department of Housing and Urban Development has shown in recent studies that about 5 million Americans qualify to take advantage of homeless shelters. As poverty levels continue to climb, it is estimated that the number of homeless shelters, in particular in the United States, will continue to rise.

In Australia, due to government funding requirements, most homelessness services fill the role of both daytime and nighttime shelters. Shelters develop empowerment based "wrap around" services in which clients are case managed and supported in their efforts to become self reliant. An example of such a service provider in this area in Australia is Najidah.