homeless presentation

Underrepresented Underrepresented Population: The HomelessPopulation: The Homeless

James D. Worsley, MS, LRT/CTRSJames D. Worsley, MS, LRT/CTRSFacility ManagerFacility ManagerPast Homeless CoordinatorPast Homeless CoordinatorMecklenburg County Park & Rec.Mecklenburg County Park & Rec.

What’s in store for you?What’s in store for you?

Common Stereotypes of the Common Stereotypes of the HomelessHomeless

What does it mean to be homeless?What does it mean to be homeless? How many people are homeless?How many people are homeless? Where do homeless people typically Where do homeless people typically

live?live? Why are people homeless?Why are people homeless?

What’s in store for you? What’s in store for you?

Therapeutic recreation programs Therapeutic recreation programs for the homelessfor the homeless• PartnershipsPartnerships• Program sponsorsProgram sponsors

Common stereotypes of Common stereotypes of the homelessthe homeless

Most homeless people are single men Most homeless people are single men who are drunks and/or drug addicts.who are drunks and/or drug addicts.

Homelessness is particular to one Homelessness is particular to one ethnic, age or social group.ethnic, age or social group.

Homeless people are dangerous and Homeless people are dangerous and should be feared.should be feared.

Common stereotypes of Common stereotypes of the homelessthe homeless

Homeless people are uneducated Homeless people are uneducated and unemployable.and unemployable.

People choose to be homeless.People choose to be homeless.

Homeless people don’t want help, Homeless people don’t want help, they just want a hand out.they just want a hand out.

A homeless individual is A homeless individual is someone who:someone who:

Lacks a fixed, regular and Lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence and adequate nighttime residence and primarily resides in a temporary, primarily resides in a temporary, emergency or transitional shelter, emergency or transitional shelter, in a public or private place not in a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as designed for, or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings;for human beings;

Definition continuedDefinition continued

Is living in an overcrowded, Is living in an overcrowded, doubled up situation and who is doubled up situation and who is being evicted within seven days, being evicted within seven days, has no subsequent address and has no subsequent address and lacks the resources and support lacks the resources and support network needed to obtain access network needed to obtain access to housing; to housing;


Is living in substandard housing Is living in substandard housing that has been condemned and has that has been condemned and has no place to go or the resources to no place to go or the resources to obtain other housing;obtain other housing;

Is fleeing a domestic violence Is fleeing a domestic violence situation and has no safe place to situation and has no safe place to go.go.


Is being evicted from or forced to Is being evicted from or forced to leave a dwelling unit within a week leave a dwelling unit within a week or being discharged from an or being discharged from an institution after residence of more institution after residence of more than 30 consecutive days;than 30 consecutive days;

Resident for 30 consecutive days or Resident for 30 consecutive days or less in hospital, jail, or other less in hospital, jail, or other institution.institution.

According to HUD (Housing and Urban Development)According to HUD (Housing and Urban Development)

Demographics Demographics (Based on Census 2000; Urban Institute)(Based on Census 2000; Urban Institute)

National HomelessnessNational Homelessness• 280,527 people were counted in 280,527 people were counted in

homeless shelters, at soup kitchens, homeless shelters, at soup kitchens, on the streets, etc.on the streets, etc.

• Between 2.3 million and 3.5 million Between 2.3 million and 3.5 million people will experience homelessness people will experience homelessness at least once over the course of a at least once over the course of a yearyear

Where do the homeless Where do the homeless call home?call home?

Emergency Emergency SheltersShelters


Transitional Transitional HousingHousing

Weekly Motels & Weekly Motels & Boarding HousesBoarding Houses


Doubled or Tripled Up With Family Doubled or Tripled Up With Family or Friendsor Friends

On the StreetsOn the Streets• Under bridgesUnder bridges• In carsIn cars• Camps in wooded areasCamps in wooded areas• Abandoned buildings and Vacant lotsAbandoned buildings and Vacant lots

Why are people homeless?Why are people homeless?

Leading causes of homelessnessLeading causes of homelessness• Lack of safe, decent and affordable Lack of safe, decent and affordable

housinghousing

• Poverty/low wage earningsPoverty/low wage earnings

• Addiction to alcohol and/or drugsAddiction to alcohol and/or drugs

Why are people homeless?Why are people homeless?

Leading causes of homelessnessLeading causes of homelessness• Mental illnessMental illness

• Domestic violenceDomestic violence

• Chronic health issues and disabilitiesChronic health issues and disabilities

Therapeutic Recreation Therapeutic Recreation Programs for the Programs for the HomelessHomeless

Services provided Services provided to approximately to approximately 200 participants 200 participants monthlymonthly

Partnerships with Partnerships with approximately 15 approximately 15 agenciesagencies


Journeys of DiscoveryJourneys of Discovery• Ages 5 to 18Ages 5 to 18• Purpose is to provide Purpose is to provide

educational drama educational drama experiencesexperiences

• Program activities Program activities – Plan stage productionsPlan stage productions– Attend live playsAttend live plays– Leisure education in Leisure education in

reference to culture reference to culture and heritageand heritage


Journeys of Journeys of DiscoveryDiscovery• 2005 NACo Award2005 NACo Award

• GoalsGoals– Team buildingTeam building– Increase self-esteemIncrease self-esteem– Positive behaviorsPositive behaviors– Respect for self and Respect for self and

respect for othersrespect for others– Creativity & Creativity &

individualityindividuality


Outer LimitsOuter Limits• Ages 7 to 17Ages 7 to 17• Purpose is to Purpose is to

provide extreme provide extreme recreational recreational programsprograms

• Program activitiesProgram activities– Carolina PanthersCarolina Panthers– Bob CatsBob Cats– Rock ClimbingRock Climbing


Outer LimitsOuter Limits

• GoalsGoals– Offers cultural Offers cultural

enriching enriching opportunitiesopportunities

– Positive role Positive role modelsmodels

– Increases self-Increases self-esteemesteem

– Positive behaviorsPositive behaviors



• CircusCircus

Therapeutic Recreation Therapeutic Recreation Programs for the HomelessPrograms for the Homeless


• Rock climbingRock climbing


Healthy StridesHealthy Strides• AdultsAdults• Purpose is to Purpose is to

provide a health & provide a health & wellness programwellness program

• Program activitiesProgram activities– Fitness equipmentFitness equipment– SwimmingSwimming– Therapeutic hot tubTherapeutic hot tub


Healthy StridesHealthy Strides

• GoalsGoals– Improve physical & Improve physical &

mental healthmental health– Increase self-esteemIncrease self-esteem– Team building skillsTeam building skills– Leadership skillsLeadership skills– Social skillsSocial skills– Problem solving skillsProblem solving skills


Healthy StridesHealthy Strides


There’s a writer in There’s a writer in meme• AdultsAdults• Purpose is to Purpose is to

express self through express self through creative writingcreative writing

• Program activitiesProgram activities– Journal writingJournal writing– PoetryPoetry– Short StoriesShort Stories


There’s a writer in There’s a writer in meme

• GoalsGoals– Creativity & Creativity &

individualityindividuality– Written & verbal Written & verbal

communication skillscommunication skills– Computer skillsComputer skills– Social skillsSocial skills– Team buildingTeam building


Young AchieversYoung Achievers• Grades K – 5Grades K – 5thth

• Purpose is to Purpose is to provide an after-provide an after-school and school and mentorship mentorship programprogram


Young AchieversYoung Achievers• 2005 NCRPA Innovative 2005 NCRPA Innovative

Program AwardProgram Award

• 2006 Community 2006 Community Service Award given by Service Award given by A Child’s PlaceA Child’s Place

• 2006 NACPRO Program 2006 NACPRO Program AwardAward

• 2006 NACo Program 2006 NACo Program AwardAward


Young AchieversYoung Achievers

• GoalsGoals– Increase self-Increase self-

esteemesteem– Increase leisure Increase leisure

awarenessawareness– Improve Improve

appropriate social appropriate social skillsskills

Therapeutic Recreation Therapeutic Recreation Programs for the HomelessPrograms for the Homeless

Additional Additional ProgramsPrograms

• Camp OutreachCamp Outreach• Little League Book Little League Book

ClubClub• Alpha AcademyAlpha Academy• Project AlphaProject Alpha• Giving ThanksGiving Thanks• Project SantaProject Santa

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?

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