A STRENGTHS PERSPECTIVE: An Ethnographic Study ofHomeless Women

Homeless womenwith children have been oneof thefastest growing homeless subpopulations duringthepast decade. However, research in thisarea haspaid scantattentionto the needs of these homeless families. The ethnographic study ofhomeless women with children described in thisarticle captures the prevailing strengths of thispopulation. The women's strengths were identified in seeking housing, caring for children, and remaining connected to social contacts to keep theirfamilies together. The authors suggest that ethnography provides guideposts for social workers as they search for practice models. Keywords children ethnography homelessness shelters women I ncreased research on homelessness during the past decadehas underscored the presence of mental health problems,alcohol and substance abuse, and psychological distressamong homeless people (Bassuk & Rosenberg, 1988;Bassuk,Rubin, & Lauriat, 1986;Dail, 1990;Fischer & Breakey,1991; Goodman, Saxe, & Harvey, 1991;Milburn & D'Ercole, 1991;Mills & Ota, 1989). Homeless families present special concerns, espe-cially because they have become the fastest growing segment of the homeless population. In a survey of 27 cities conducted by the U.S.Conference of Mayors in 1989, approximately one-third of the overallhomeless population were families (Bassuk & Cohen, 1991), and in some cities-for example, New York City; Port