Perceptions on the Homeless

Karina Alvarez
Loyola Marymount University
CMST 452: Qualitative Methods
Professor Kristo Gobin

RUNNING HEAD: PERCEPTIONS ON THE HOMELESS

Introduction
Through this research project, I will be analyzing perceptions on homelessness
from two different viewpoints by conducting interviews. The first viewpoint will be from
individuals that identify as not knowing very much about homelessness and have never
done work with the homeless, mainly volunteer service. From this stance I will be
looking for what their view on homelessness is and how they react to seeing homeless
people out on the streets. I also hope to gather information on what they find is the most
important need of homeless people and if the resources put in place for them are doing a
good job of covering these needs.
The second group I will be analyzing are individuals that have done service work
directly with the homeless. This group comes from the service organization Belles, here
on Loyola Marymount Universitys campus. This group does service at a placement
called Bread and Roses Caf in Santa Monica, California. Through focus groups I will
delve deeper into the specifics of their service and how they think it is benefiting the
homeless people that take advantage of what is being offered at this placement.
Typically, through observation and interactions with the homeless, I have
observed that people do not give a smile or even a look to homeless people, they are
usually just ignored. The significance of this study is to see if this reaction to the
homeless is an effect of individual opinions of the reason behind homelessness. Further,
to see if having experience with the homeless is cause for a change in this perception.
The study is important because the homeless community is only getting larger and
they need our help. Many psychological issues occur due to the lack of social interaction,
both verbal and nonverbal, amongst homeless people. Whether it be by not getting a

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smile by people walking by or if they have isolated themselves from their homeless
community. We like to think we, as a society, are helping with the development of all
these programs and shelters put in place with the goal being to help the homeless. I want
to see if it is really working. Further, whether or not it makes a difference in the way
people perceive the homeless once these people walk out of the shelter.
Research Questions:
RQ1: How does perception influence the way in which individuals socialize with the
homeless?
RQ2: Do the needs of the homeless differ in opinion from those that have done
service with the homeless vs. those who have not?
RQ3: Is it popular opinion that these needs are being met by the resources put out to
help the homeless?
Literature Review
What is Homelessness?
The term homelessness has become a widely used term to describe the residents
of shelters or, in the case of people living on the streets, people deciding to opt out of
such institutions (Culhane & Metraux, 2008). The various reasons for homelessness are
tied to the social roles that are prescribed to the individual, due to gender, age, being a
parent, etc., which then create different points of vulnerability (Tessler, Rosenheck, &
Gamache, 2001). According to Tessler et. al (2001), in many important ways homeless
men and women share common experiences. Both genders suffer from extreme poverty,
unemployment, and a shortage of housing (p. 245). It is the poverty, unemployment, and
housing that helps us define what constitutes being homeless to the general public.

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Goetz and Schmiege (1996) take this a step further and discuss how the homeless
are perceived once they are associated with the homeless identity. They are often,
perceived as insane, lazy, addicted individuals and, therefore, their poverty may be seen
as a consequence of personal weaknesses rather than the result of the larger
socioeconomic forces of unemployment, low wages, and lack of affordable housing (p.
375). When people think homelessness, it is someone living in poverty, with no job and
no home (Tessler et. al, 2001). Further, we think of this person as lazy and at fault for
their suffering (Goetz & Schmiege, 1996; Shields, 2001; Penner, M., & Penner, S., 1994).
Who is Homeless?
According to The 2014 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress (2014),
on a single night in January 2014 there were 578,424 homeless people in the United
States. Nearly two-thirds of these people were individuals over the age of 24 (AHAR
2014). The state of California, accounted for 20 percent of the nations homeless
population in 2014 (AHAR 2014, 8). 62.7% of the homeless in California are
unsheltered homeless people, meaning that these are people who stay in places not
meant for human habitation, such as the streets, abandoned buildings, vehicles, or parks
(AHAR 2014, 2).

Los Angeles is one of the largest major cities with unsheltered

homeless people with there being 34,393, that makes up 65.7% of LAs homeless
population (AHAR 2014).
In the report, there are various categories of homeless people: homeless
individuals, homeless families, unaccompanied homeless children and youth, homeless
veterans, and chronically homeless people.
Homeless Individuals

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On a single night in January 2014, 63% of all homeless people were homeless
individuals (AHAR 2014). 58% of this homeless population were staying in sheltered
locations, individuals who are staying in emergency shelters, transitional housing
programs, or safe havens (AHAR 2014, 2). 87% of the homeless individuals were over
24, 11% between 18 and 24, and 2% were under 18% (AHAR 2014). The report states
that, California accounted for 25% of the nations population of homeless individuals
(AHAR 2014, 16). Los Angeles in particular had the largest number in the nation with
28,164 homeless individuals (AHAR 2014).
Homeless Families
Homeless families represented 37% of all homeless people in the United States in
2014, with the average being three people in a homeless family household (AHAR 2014).
New York holds the highest population of homeless families at 22% with California right
behind it with the second highest population with 11% (AHAR 2014). Los Angeles is the
second major city on the list with the most people in homeless families with 6,229 people
in families (AHAR 2014).
Unaccompanied Homeless Children and Youth
There were 194,302 homeless children and youth in 2014, representing about one
third of the entire homeless population, 76% of which were part of a homeless family
(AHAR 2014). California holds 30% of the national total of unaccompanied homeless
children and youth, making it the state with the largest numbers (AHAR 2014). Within
California, Los Angeles has the highest total at 4,323 of unaccompanied children and
youth.
Homeless Veterans

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More than one in ten homeless adults was a veteran in 2014, many of which
experienced unsheltered homelessness, the rate being 36% (AHAR 2014). California had
the largest number of veterans representing almost a quarter of the national homeless
veteran population at 24%, 63.2% of which are unsheltered (AHAR 2014). Los Angeles,
California holds the largest number with there being 3,739 homeless veterans out of the
national population (AHAR 2014).
Chronically Homeless People
The report defines chronically homeless as people experiencing homelessness
who have a disability and have either been continuously homeless for a year or more or
have experienced at least four episodes of homelessness in the last three years (AHAR
2014, 2). 84, 291 individuals experiencing homelessness in 2014 had chronic patterns of
homelessness, almost two-thirds being unsheltered (AHAR 2014). One-third of this
population was located in California and Los Angeles has the largest number with 7,947
chronically homeless individuals.
Reasons for Homelessness
Papa, W., Papa, M., Kandath, Worrell, and Muthuswamy state that, attempts to
understand the causes of homelessness have produced a number of insights (2005, p.
243). The main cause of homelessness is unaffordable housing for the poor, and after that
come secondary causes which include: mental illness, physical illnesses, substance abuse,
lack of incentives to work, poor work ethics, and lack of decent education (Papa et. al,
2005). A study done to find what caused a growing number of homeless adults in the
1980s and 1990s suggested that it was due to societal factors such as the reduced
availability of affordable rental housing, declining personal incomes, the loss of industrial

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jobs, and the reduced purchasing power of public support payments (Tessler,
Rosenheck, & Gamache, 2001, p. 243-244).
Tessler et. al (2001) conducted their own study to find out the main reasons for
homelessness given by mentally ill homeless men and women. There were different
reasons given by each gender. Males were more likely to give the reason of losing a job,
discharge from an institution, mental health problems, and alcohol/drug problems while
women were more likely to say eviction, interpersonal conflict, and someone no longer
able or willing to help (Tessler et. al, 2001). Further, males were more likely to cite ADM
(alcohol and drug dependence) as a reason and women were more likely to cite
interpersonal reasons (Tessler et. al, 2001).
Outcasting the Homeless
The poor have traditionally been isolated from mainstream American society
(Goetz & Schmiege, 1996; Papa et. al, 2005). Papa et. al (2005) believe that, the
problems of the homeless are compounded by the fact that they are so often shunned by
people who could afford to offer their time and resources but choose not to (p. 243). The
lack of having a home sets homeless people apart and isolates them from the rest of
society which makes it difficult or even impossible to reenter into mainstream society
(Goetz & Schmiege, 1996). Wealthier members of society often cast poor people as
different in relation to middle and upper classes and this is what separates the poor from
other people in our culture (Papa et. al, 2005).
Effects of the Media on Perceptions of the Homeless
The way news is covered in our media can give us a look into why our
perceptions of the homeless, and their continued isolation, have become so normalized

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(Shields, 2001, Penner, M., & Penner, S., 1994). Shields says that while the day to day
flow of news may appear to have both a critical and dynamic element when covering
political problems, the overall patterns of routines actually distract attention and prevent
deliberation concerning the consistent patterns of value allocation (2001, p. 197). The
way the media gives news is done so that the issues are reported, but there is no
encouragement to consider and find a solution to the issue (Shields 2001). In relation to
homelessness, the media either portrays it as the persons problem (victim blaming) or as
societal responsibility rather than an individual responsibility to help (Shields, 2001;
Penner, M., & Penner, S., 1994).
One medium this is seen is through comic strips. Comic strips neutralize
stigmatized groups (Penner, M., & Penner, S., 1994). Neutralization focuses blame on the
homeless themselves for their condition, rather than on the need for government action to
help the homeless (Penner, M., & Penner, S., 1994). Homelessness is being normalized
by portraying the homeless as a normal urban characteristic, as part of a downtown
scene (Penner, M., & Penner, S., 1994, p. 767).
News coverage of homelessness during the 1980s allowed viewers to sympathize
with the homeless while also celebrating volunteer efforts as appropriate ways to solve
the problem of homelessness (Shields, 2001). What was being celebrated was the effort
put forth by individuals, volunteers, to temporarily relieve the suffering of the homeless
instead of focusing on systemic, institutional, or historic causes (or treatments) of
homelessness (Shields, 2001; Penner, M., & Penner, S., 1994). The news coverage of
homelessness creates a boundary of us and them, us being the general public that has
a home, and them being homeless people that need our help (Shields, 2001). The overall

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depiction of the homeless in the media through news coverage is that they are different
than us and our volunteering is enough to help them even though there should be a call
for institutional and governmental change (Shields, 2001; Penner, M., & Penner, S.,
1994).
Each Homeless Person is Different
The varying reasons people give for their homelessness can shed light on how
homelessness is subjectively experienced (Tessler et. al, 2001). Goetz and Schmiege
(1996) state that the homeless are not a homogeneous population; therefore, it is
important to provide homeless individuals with services that are targeted to their specific
needs (p. 376). When homeless people feel like they are understood by those trying to
help them, they are more receptive to professionals and the services they broker
(Tessler et. al, 2001, p. 252). Tessler et. al gives an example of this when saying that
family therapy serves as an option to restore former networks for a female whose
homelessness arose out of interpersonal issues (2001). Culhane and Metraux (2008) state
that homeless aid services could be delivered more efficiently and effectively by
matching the persons specific needs to the corresponding resource that would work best
for their situation.
Since each homeless person is unique in their own way, individual organizations
are not able to provide the range of services necessary for survival on the street and longterm recovery off the street (Miller, et. al, 1995, p. 679). Not every homeless persons
needs can be met at a soup kitchen or a shelter, each persons needs are unique therefore
the services that would be most effective for them are different (Tessler et. al, 2001;
Culhane & Metraux, 2008; Miller, et. al, 1995; Goetz & Schmiege, 1996). Since the

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problems of homelessness run the gamut from food and shelter to economic assistance,
to health care, to job training and counseling, it is little wonder that single agencies do not
have the human or fiscal resources to adequately address the issue of urban
homelessness (Miller, et. al, 1995, p. 680). Even though there are many programs out
there that provide food and shelter, very few address the underlying issues of poverty,
unemployment, and lack of social services that are the cause of homelessness in the first
place (Goetz & Schmiege, 1996). It is important to address the issue of homelessness to
be unique to the person and not only for health needs, but also psychosocial and
economic needs of the homeless (Goetz & Schmiege, 1996).
Being Social Helps
A community only exists through the communication among group members
(Papa et. al, 2005). Since the homeless are marginalized and isolated from mainstream
society, forming a community outside of this is important for the social needs of the
homeless (Papa et. al, 2005; Goetz & Schmiege, 1996). By connecting with one another
and talking about shared personal problems, isolated people are offered hope and a
community to participate in (Papa et. al, 2005). Papa et. al (2005) believe we need to
transform our cultural conversation about the problem of homelessness through dialogue
(p. 266).
Mental Illness and Homelessness
Fiske (1991) states that homelessness is structural and that the majority of the
homeless population are not inadequate. If the homeless population contains more
mentally and physically disabled or dysfunctional people, than the population at large it is
because they are the most vulnerable to systematic deprivation (Fiske, 1991).

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Even though we have a good understanding of the social forces that cause
homelessness and the individual risk factors involved, we know little about what
homeless people with mental illnesses believe is the main cause of their homelessness
(Tessler et. al, 2001). It is thought that mental illness amongst the homeless in
comparison to the general public is much higher; however, that is not the case (Shields,
2001; Fiske, 1991). This belief comes from the way the homeless is portrayed on the
news (Shields, 2001).
According to the article by Miller, Scott, Stage, and Mirkholt (1995), about one
third of the homeless have a serious mental illness and 20% of the homeless report a
history of mental hospitalization and a similar percentage of homeless people have
attempted suicide. Scientific accounts put the number of mentally ill in the homeless
population at one third and the number of mentally ill found in the general population is
23% (Shields, 2001). In the media, 41% of the homeless presented were identified as
mentally ill giving off the perception that the percentage of mentally ill amongst the
homeless population is higher than what is scientifically found (Shields, 2001).
Helping the Homeless
Organizations providing services to the homeless vary in terms of what services
they can provide (Miller, et. al, 1995; Culhane & Metraux, 2008). Papa et. al (2001) say
that the homeless deserve support and assistance so they can become self-sufficient. Yet
we understand relatively little about the types of programs that can help (p. 243).
Government assistance proves to be insufficient in providing assistance to the homeless
population (Culhane & Metraux, 2008). Mainstream social welfare services are able to
ignore their clients housing problems, which both limits their effectiveness and lessens

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their accountability (Culhane & Metraux, 2008). According to Culhane and Metraux
(2008), even though several government programs with welfare benefits have been linked
to job training and job search, these programs have not successfully reduced the
dependency of the homeless on welfare assistance or poverty levels.
The long-term goal of getting out of homelessness cannot be met by the
organizations, both local and governmental, since they only serve short-term needs
(Culhane & Metraux, 2008; Miller, et. al, 1995; Shields, 2001; Fiske, 1991). Extra
services, like child care, on-site health care, etc., are not provided by most organizations
and a homeless person is often shuttled to various agencies to deal with basic problems of
survival, never meeting their long-term goal of getting off the street (Miller, et. al, 1995).
Public shelters have become institutionalized and only draw in the vulnerable and
marginally housed people (Culhane & Metraux, 2008). This vulnerability comes with the
inability to get off the streets and find a stable and consistent living environment
(Culhane & Metraux, 2008; Miller, et. al, 1995).
By ignoring the social forces that cause homelessness, soup kitchens and
temporary shelters are the answer to homelessness; however, these institutions are only
temporary relief for those who are powerless (Shields, 2001). The soup kitchens and
shelters also are contributing factors that perpetuate the plight of homelessness
(Shields, 2001, p. 196). A rule of temporary shelters is that an individual can only stay for
thirty consecutive nights (Fiske, 1991). For the socially privileged, shelters provide
comfort because the rule signifies that homelessness is temporary and is best met by
helping out a man until he can get back on his feet (Fiske, 1991). This same comfort is
found through charity and volunteerism of those not homeless. While charity and

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volunteering do at least cover short-term needs of the homeless, they both serve to a
hegemonic state of mind. Fiske (1991) says that charity and volunteerism reify social
privilege; so too, in a different way, does social welfare. All work to produce what has
become known as the dependency mentality in which the homeless consent to the
position that the dominant social order wishes them to occupy (p. 462). Charity alone
will not lead to a change in homelessness and even denies the possibility for change by
implying that the poor are less competent and able than those of a higher social, cultural,
and economic status (Papa et. al, 2005).
Methodology
Qualitative research is important for this study because it is based off of opinion.
The answers and insights needed cannot be found through close-ended survey questions
or rely solely on statistical evidence. Open-ended answers will explain how people react
to the homeless and the reason behind their reactions. The answers will be unique to the
person and their experiences. It is important to keep these statements unique instead of
putting them all together and creating my own statistic. I will rely on a focus group,
which will consist of 3 people, and interviews, which will be one-on-one.
The participants I will be interviewing are students at Loyola Marymount
University ranging from the ages of 18 22. These students will be used for my sample
of people not in regular contact with the homeless. I will gather these participants by
posting on my social media profiles, asking for volunteers that do not have experience
working with the homeless. The interviews were conducted at a coffee shop, outside on a
grassy lawn, and at one of the participants homes. All locations were semi-private in

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order to prompt more honest answers without the fear of someone listening in and casting
judgment.
The participants for the focus group will come from a service organization called
Belles. The organization was chosen because one of their service placements is Bread and
Roses Caf:
The caf provides up to 150 meals for the homeless everyday. The caf is set up
like a restaurant with tablecloths, flowers, and waiters. Bread and Roses Caf also
serves as a training site for students enrolled in St. Joseph Centers culinary
training program, which offers 10 weeks of training in food service skills to adults
with barriers to employment. At this site I hope to see how the volunteers interact
with the homeless and how the homeless people react (stjosephctr.org).
These focus groups will also be conducted in a private setting on Loyola Marymount
Universitys campus for the same reasons as the interviews, to prompt more honest
answers.
The sampling strategy I am using for focus groups is criterion sampling. The
criteria for the samples are Loyola Marymount student in a service organization whose
placement is at a center that works in direct contact with the homeless. My focus group
will be conducted with members of the Belles service organization. This will consist of 1
focus group with 4-6 participants in each group. A total of 1 hour will be the time allotted
for the focus group discussion.
The interviews will be conducted with people that volunteer to be interviewed,
this makes the sampling strategy a mix of criterion and convenience sampling. The
criteria for my sample are Loyola Marymount student and someone that identifies as not

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having done service or been in constant contact with the homeless. It is also convenience
sampling because I am getting the sample through social media. Whoever volunteers and
is willing to participate, but also meets the criteria, will be chosen. I will interview 3-5
people.
Interview Results
The first interview, Participant 3, was conducted in a coffee shop on the Loyola
Marymount University campus, Lions Den on April 6, 2015 at 7pm. The participant is a
20-year-old junior from Upland, California. The second interview, Participant 2, was also
conducted on the Loyola Marymount University campus in Sunken Gardens. The
interview took place on April 14, 2015 at 12:15pm. The participant is a 19-year-old
sophomore from Bakersfield, California. Participant 3, is a 20-year-old junior from
Laguna Niguel, California. The interview was conducted at the participants home in
Westchester, California. The last participant, Participant 3, is a 21-year-old from Santa
Monica, California. The interview was conducted in the participants home in
Westchester, California. For the full interview questions please refer to appendices (1).
The most prominent definition to the term homelessness was the lack of shelter of
an individual. All respondents agreed that not having a place to sleep or go to at the end
of the day constitutes being homeless. For example, Participant 2 said, not having your
own place to go to, not even having a friend to stay with. All of the participants had
similar definitions when using words such as no income, living on the street, not
your own, and no steady home.
All participants also identified a similar image of what picture enters their mind
when they think of a homeless person. Middle aged and older, worn out clothes, and

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unshaven were all characteristics of their image. Interestingly, they all tended to lean
towards the description of a male over a female. This is shown in the description of
unshaven and lots of facial hair being a characteristic of a homeless person.
The immediate reactions of the homeless differentiated amongst those from Los
Angeles, California and the participants who are from other cities. Participant 1 comes
from Laguna Niguel, California and stated that she rarely sees homeless people in her
hometown. Participant 3 says her hometown of Upland, California has some homeless
people but it isnt as apparent as it is here. These two participants said that they typically
will give a smile when encountering a homeless person. In contrast, Participant 2 is from
Bakersfield, California where she says she encounters homeless people a lot. Participant
4 is from Santa Monica, California and she has encountered homeless people all her life.
Both of these participants said they typically will walk right by a homeless person
without any acknowledgement. None of the participants said they give money and/or
food to the homeless.
The reactions of the participants, especially Participant 1 and Participant 3,
change depending on the intimidation factor. Much, if not all, of this comes from male
homeless individuals. Participant 1 identified intimidating being if the individual is
talking to himself, signaling that they may be schizophrenic. Participant 2 said if it is a
male and at night then it can be intimidating and safer in general to not say anything.
Participant 3 said that it is especially around menI would go out of my way to go
around them, this is because you never know the mental state they are in. She also
stated the only time I feel scared is if there is an indication of something not being

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right. Participant 4 said that homeless people can be very intimidating and I am unsure
of what mental state they are in.
When asked what their perceptions of the homeless are, all respondents identified
as feeling badly for the homeless. This is seen in responses given using words and
phrases such as: sad, empathy, try to not be judgmental, and sympathy. All participants
also said they think about the situation these homeless people are in. Participant 1 said
she wonders what happened and how they got here, whether it be mental illness,
addiction, or drugs. Participant 3 wonders what makes my situation so different from
them?. Participant 4 thinks of their situation a little bit differently, she tends to think
about whether or not they are hungry.
Although there were only four interviews conducted, mental illness was still
prevalent in the responses on leading causes of homelessness. Participant 1 and
Participant 4 both identified mental illness as the leading cause immediately after the
question was asked. Participant 3, on the other hand, said she studied psychology and
believes that some of the studies conducted on homeless people are skewed and there is
a bias against homelessness. She stated that she is sure some people are mentally ill but
I dont think they are homeless due to that mental illness.
The main resource that all the participants identified were volunteer efforts.
Participant 1 listed non-profits, volunteers, and individual efforts for resources available
to the homeless. Participant 2 said shelters and volunteers, Participant 3 mentioned a
program offered at Loyola Marymount University where students give peanut butter and
jelly sandwiches to the homeless on Skid Row. Participant 4 mentioned soup kitchens
and other volunteer efforts. All of these resources typically rely on volunteer participation

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and efforts. While volunteering was a main resource identified, so was the lack of
government assistance. When asked about resources offered to the homeless, all
participants immediately listed off non-profits or privately owned establishments. It was
only after the interviewer asked specifically about government resources that the
examples of the affordable housing program was brought up by Participant 1. The other
participants did not list any specific programs or resources offered by the government at
either a state or federal level.
Another theme common amongst all the participants was the belief that more can
be done to help homelessness. While both Participant 2 and Participant 4 stated that it is a
two way street meaning that we need to help the homeless but the homeless also must
seek and make the best of the help being given there is also more that needs to be done.
Participant 2 stated, the responsibility goes to the government. The government is
supposed to be a support system to us and help us. Participant 4 said, we should
volunteer and help [the homeless] out but also they need to actively use the resources
given to them. Both of these participants feel that the homeless need to seek out help
just as much as we should provide help and that there is more we can provide. Participant
1 agreed with the point of there being more that needs to be done when she said these
resources do help get some people off the street but we need to get more off.
Participant 3 said something very similar when she stated the [resources mentioned] do
help because they are getting that certain number off the streets, its just a matter of
getting more.
Lastly, all participants had ideas on how to fix homelessness that do not coincide
with their reactions to the homeless. Participant 1 was open about the fact that she smiles

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at the homeless only if they arent intimidating. If they are intimidating then she does not
smile or look at them. After saying this, she then goes on to discuss that more needs to be
done to help homelessness. She says that anything can help from giving money to buying
food to volunteering, however, she does not acknowledge that she has done any of these
things. Participant 2 was very open about not acknowledging the homeless but also said
she feels empathetic towards them and tries not to judge them because you dont know
how they got into this situation. After stating this she also said she doesnt give the
homeless money because she doesnt know what they would do with it, this is a
judgement in itself.
Participant 3, like the participants before her, believes we need to figure out a way
to keep people off of the streets however, she lists intimidation as a factor for avoiding
the homeless. Participant 4 acknowledged that we should be volunteering and helping in
any way possible but does not do either of those things. There is a disconnect between
what the participants say ought to be done and what they are actually doing.
Focus Group Write-Up
The focus group consisted of three participants from the service organization
Belles. 5-7 participants was the ideal number, however, not enough Belles members were
able to contribute to the conversation and make the meet-up time. The three participants
names are Rachel, Monica, and Phoebe. I have used pseudo names for all the participants
because using Participant (#) may get confusing when comparing my analysis of the
interviews and focus group. All participants are juniors at Loyola Marymount University
. Monica is 19 years old, while Rachel and Phoebe are 20 years old. The focus group was

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conducted on April 7, 2015 in a library study room, on Loyola Marymount Universitys
campus, and took place at 12:30pm.
The first topic discussed was the definition of what it means to be homeless. The
overall consensus was that you could be homeless even without a home. The definition of
the focus group went past just the lack of a physical home, it could even mean if the
person feels unwelcome in their home. Phoebe said they might have a home but are
unable to pave a way from themselves like other people have. Even being uncomfortable
in your living environment could make you homeless, according to the participants in this
focus group.
There was also a differentiation between their definition of homelessness and
what they referred to as textbook homelessness. Textbook homelessness is the
definition of homelessness that they believe a majority of society has. Phoebe defined this
as people think of someone pushing a shopping cart and someone who looks dirty.
There is a stigma around homelessness that they are drug addicts. This is a large contrast
from their definition being a lack of hope or the feeling of being loved and welcome.
When asked about the image they get when they think of homelessness, each
participant gave an example of a homeless person they have a personal connection with
or the environment they work in. Monica discussed the service site being full of rowdy
and goofy people. It reminds me of the Lair. She then discussed one man that comes in
who looks like George Clooney and is a songwriter. She said, I just think of the
individual stories that come to mind when I think of homeless people know. She states
that when she walks down Venice Beach, she even knows some of the homeless people
by name.

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RUNNING HEAD: PERCEPTIONS ON THE HOMELESS

Phoebe said that working with the homeless puts a life behind the face. She
says that they may have the qualifications of a rocket scientist but somehow they got into
the situation theyre in now and just couldnt find a way out. Rachel also only spoke
positively of the image she gets when thinking of homeless people. She says you may
think of someone who is bitter and anti-social but these people have feelings and they
want to be happy and celebrate life just as much as anybody else.
When discussing the resources offered to assist the homeless, the participants
guided the conversation into what is lacking in the resources. Monica discussed the
hesitation of the homeless to accept help. First comes the issue of it not being publicized
enough, and through that the resource isnt getting talked about enough to the point
where they feel comfortable enough getting help. She says that what is missing is the
rehabilitation aspect. She states its not that we are running out of food, it is that we
have a system in place where people arent getting treated as people.
Phoebe pointed out the flaw in resources like soup kitchens when saying at soup
kitchens they are constantly shown that they are homeless but they need places that they
are treated the same. Rachel took this point further when discussing another resource
called Midnight Mission where volunteers go to Skid Row and feed the homeless. She
says it takes a toll on your view of yourself as a human being [referring to homeless
people]. Thats all you are, is part of an assembly line. She goes further to say life isnt
worth living alone, you have to have someone there with you. All participants view the
main flaw in current resources being that it can be dehumanizing and there should be
more of a social aspect.

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RUNNING HEAD: PERCEPTIONS ON THE HOMELESS

Another main point was the homeless need to know that they are loved. When
asked what our job is in helping the homeless, all participants discussed giving them a
positive outlook on life through socialization. Rachel says that once you go beyond basic
needs, such as food and shelter, what you need is people and confidence. Phoebe says
they need to know that they are not just going to be a number in a statistic. They
believe that socialization will build the confidence in a homeless person and this will
motivate them to move forward. Monica acknowledges that they are survivors and they
know how to live, it is the social aspect that should be focused on more.
All the participants discussed their work as being fulfilling and beneficial to both
the homeless utilizing their resources, but also to themselves as volunteers. While they
acknowledge that their work helps, they still believe more can be done. Rachel called
their work a stepping stone. Monica says its not enough. We wont reach everyone
and save the world on our own but its a good way to show that 30 minutes a day, week,
or month really can change someones life. Phoebe says volunteer service with the
homeless should be introduced earlier in education. She did not do work with the
homeless in high school and believes it should be more talked about and introduced
earlier in life so that people get experience with it. It not only makes a difference but it
changes that persons life if they want to continue doing it.
Lastly, working with the homeless has given each of the participants a more
positive view on homelessness in general. Phoebe and Rachel mentioned that they used to
have negative perceptions on homeless people. Phoebe discussed that she used to walk
around a different path and would avoid homeless people. When she was younger she
thought they were all drug dealers that decided to not get a job. Rachel was taught to

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RUNNING HEAD: PERCEPTIONS ON THE HOMELESS

lock the car doors when a homeless man would walk by. Now their perceptions are very
different.
Rachel says that it is up to the individual person to get to know these homeless
men and women on a personal level. She previously discussed the social aspect of
service work is what makes the largest impact on the life of the volunteer and the
homeless person. She states that by putting in the effort, the work becomes fulfilling and
your perception changes. Now, she views locking the car door as viewing the homeless as
lesser. She says dont avoid them, smile and they will appreciate you. Monica agrees
with the point of the individual making an effort. She says that our experience is very
fulfilling but people that just do it one time to get a requirement done have a very
different experience.
Phoebe, someone that previously would consciously avoid the homeless, has been
asked out by a homeless woman before and it has never made her uncomfortable. She has
seen friendships flourish amongst volunteers and the homeless that have given her a more
positive outlook on homelessness. Phoebe still, however, acknowledges that she is
working on her reactions to homeless people on the streets and makes an effort to at least
give a smile.
Conclusion
The main purpose of this study was to find if reactions to the homeless are rooted
in whether the subject has a positive or negative perception. Through the interviews and
focus group conducted, it can be said that perception is linked to the type of interaction
initiated. Overall, the participants in the interviews were hesitant to make eye contact
with a homeless person or even smile. Intimidation was a very large factor that was listed

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in whether or not they would even walk close to the homeless. The participants in the
focus group were very open about how their perception has changed due to their close
work with the homeless at Bread and Roses Caf. Through their work they now perceive
the homeless as equal human beings. They believe it is very important to take on this
view in order to give them the confidence needed to move forward. In contrast, the
participants in the interviews all had a sympathetic view on homeless people. They all
said they try to imagine how that person got to where they are which establishes an us
vs. them mentality. This perception can be seen as negative due to the fact that since the
participants are sad over seeing the homeless person, this insinuates that they are lesser.
The difference in perception between the interviews and focus group is
highlighted when the participants in the focus group acknowledge that they had negative
perceptions before working with the homeless. They used to do the same thing as the
interview participants, avoid eye contact, walk further away, etc. However, now they are
not phased by the fact that these people are homeless. They even get asked out on dates
and do not view it as uncomfortable. On the contrary, they are actually flattered by the
approach the homeless people take on asking them out. The interview group shows the
perceptions before working first hand with the homeless, while the focus group shows the
after.
The second purpose of the research conducted was to see if the needs of the
homeless differ in opinion from those that have not done work with the homeless vs.
those that have. The answer to this is yes. Those that identify as not having done work
with the homeless list the main needs as being shelter and food. The focus group
respondents agreed on social necessity being the top need. They do mention the basic

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RUNNING HEAD: PERCEPTIONS ON THE HOMELESS

needs of homeless people but say that they are survivors and would find that anywhere.
The most important thing is to make sure they know that they are being seen in the world
and are not invisible. The root of homelessness, in their eyes, is the social need. Their
definition of homelessness is feeling uncomfortable in the place you are staying or
feeling unwelcome, and when you are identified as being homeless we should strive to
restore the social needs that the homeless individual has been deprived of.
Lastly, there is a shared belief that the needs of the homeless are not being met by
the resources given. Although the groups of participants listed different reasons for
homelessness and needs of the homeless, both agreed that more should be done. All
participants stated that what is being done does help, but it does not help enough. The
interview participants believe both the government and individuals can do more to help
out. The focus group think that the social rehabilitation of the homeless must be a
collective effort. Friendship is what they strive for and in order to do this we must
introduce service work with the homeless earlier on in life in order to gain more
exposure. Also, the resources implemented need to have the social aspect. They list soup
kitchens and Midnight Mission as places where this need is not being met but it is
important that it is integrated into the system.

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Works Cited
Culhane, D.P., & Metraux, S. (2008). Rearranging the Deck Chairs or Reallocating the
Lifeboats?: Homelessness Assistance and Its Alternatives. Journal of the
American Planning Association, 74(1), 111-121.
Fiske, J. (1991). For Cultural Interpretation: A Study of the Culture of Homelessness.
Critical Studies in Mass Communication, 8(4), 455-474.
Goetz, K.W., & Schmiege, C. (1996). From Marginalized to Mainstreamed: The HEART
Project Empowers the Homeless. Family Relations, 45(4), 375-379.
Miller, K., Scott, C.R., Stage, C., & Mirkholt. (1995). Communication and Coordination
in

an Interorganizational System: Service Provision for the Urban Homeless.

Communication Research, 22(6), 679-699.

Palmatier, R.W., Dant, R.P., & Grewal, D. (2007). A Comparative Longitudinal Analysis
of

Theoretical Perspectives of Interorganizational Relationship Performance.

Journal of Marketing, 71(4), 172-194.

Papa, W.H., Papa, M.J., Kandath, K.P., Worrell, T., & Muthuswamy, N. (2005). Dialectic
of

Unity and Fragmentation in Feeding the Homeless: Promoting Social Justice

Through Communication. Atlantic Journal of Communication, 13(4), 242-271.

Penner, M., & Penner, S. (1994). Publicizing, Politicizing, and Neutralizing

Homelessness: Comic Strips. Communication Research, 21(6), 766-781.
Schneider B. (2014). Homelessness: Emotion Discourse and the Reproduction of Social
Inequality. Canadian Journal of Communication, 39(2), 235-248.

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Shields, T.G. (2001). Network News Construction of Homelessness: 1980-1993.
Communication Review, 4(2), 193-218.
St. Joseph Center. (n.d.). Retrieved March 4, 2015, from
http://www.stjosephctr.org/bread_roses.html
Tessler, R., Rosenheck, R., & Gamache, G. (2001). Gender Differences in Self-Reported
Reasons for Homelessness. Journal of Social Distress and the Homeless, 10(3),
243-254.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (October 2014). The 2014
Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress. Washington, DC: U.S.
Government Printing Office.
Vostanis, P., Grattan, E. &Cumella, S. (1998). Mental Health Problems of Homeless
Children and Families: Longitudinal Study. British Medical Journal, 316(7135),
899-902.

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Appendices
(1) Interview Questions
1. What constitutes homelessness/being homeless?
2. When you think of homeless what image do you get in your head?
3. How often do you encounter homeless people and in what setting?
4. When you encounter a homeless person, do you make eye contact, smile, give
them money?
5. If you are alone do you react in a different way to homeless people than you
would if you are with friends?
6. Why do you think your reaction would change/does change?
7. What are your perceptions of homeless people? (Lazy, do they make you sad,
etc.)
8. What do you think is the leading cause of homelessness?
9. What resources (local, state, federal) are available to help those in need?
10. Do you think these places do a good job of satisfying the needs of the homeless?
11. Do you think it is our job, as people not homeless, to help those in need?
12. When it comes to homelessness what is our job?
(2) Focus Group Questions
1. What constitutes homelessness/being homeless?
2. When you think of homeless what image do you get in your head?
3. What resources (local, state, federal) are available to help those in need?
4. Do you think it is our job, as people not homeless, to help those in need?
5. When it comes to homelessness what is our job?

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6. What service do you do to help the homeless?
7. What do you think are the primary needs of homeless people?
8. Do you think your service placement and the work you do serves those primary
needs?
9. If no, then what needs are being met?
10. What do you think can be done to take care of these primary needs?
11. Since you work with the homeless, have your perceptions changed of them?
12. Do you think more can be done to help the homeless?
13. Do you think these programs help build a positive view of homelessness?
14. What can be done to help get the negative stigma detached from homelessness?
(3) Interview Transcription
Interview with Participant 1
April 13, 2015
Length: 16 minutes, 10 seconds
K Karina, the interviewer
P1 Participant 1
K: So what constitutes homelessness or being homeless? How would you define being
homeless?
P1: So I define being homeless as if someone is living on the street, usually thats the first
thing that comes to mine, and doesnt have any income to provide any shelter for
themselves or anotherbasically themselves.

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K: So is it just people that dont have somewhere to live, what if they dont have a stable
home. Would you consider that as homelessness or is it more of like you really have
nowhere to stay?
P1: I think its if you really have nowhere to stay that would be homelessness because
sometimes it happens like I know one of my friends, she doesnt have somewhere to stay
for the summer and I dont consider her being homeless. You know? Because I know
shes going to find somewhere because she even asked me. She was joking like oh Im
going to be homeless for this summer and I was like mmm not really being homeless
K: So when you think of a homeless person, what image pops into your head?
P1: Okay so, I usually think of, this is a stereotype, but if its a male a long beard or
because unshaven. Maybe dirty clothes, you know like the really big baggy ones because
I know that theres only a certain amount of clothes they can have so its usually long for
the night. And then just kind of like raggity.
K: What do you see them doing? In your head do you just see them sitting down?
P1: Yah, I usually just see them sitting down. When Ive been around it just holding up a
cardboard sign you know? With something saying like please help or any kind of text
and then sometimes shopping carts. You see shopping carts with all the stuff that theyve
acquired.
K: What population do you think constitutes most homeless people? Age group and you
can say like, I dont want to guide you, but what population do you think has the most
homeless people?

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P1: Do you mean demographic? Because usually I think it can range from 30s to 50/60s.
Yah 30s to 60s because usually when I think of homelessness I think of people who have
addiction, people with addictive behavior, and thats usually what I think of at first.
K: So how often do you encounter homeless people and in what kind of setting?
P1: I think now that Im living up in LA I encounter homeless people more. I know
definitely in Venice, I went there and there was just a ton like when Im driving through
LA. But my hometown its not very prevalent.
K: Where are you from?
P1: OC area, Laguna Niguel. So Ive seen probably like a couple on the street corners.
But its honestly not like you see them very often. But here its very prevalent. So I see it
almost everyday, I feel like, when Im driving out.
K: What do you think is the cause of there being so many homeless people in LA but
once you reach the suburban area theres not as many?
P1: I think cause, Laguna Niguel, is usually where income is higher. In LA theres so
much diversity because where Im from its honestly not very diverse and so, not saying
one racenothing, its just like income. So LA I think its very, you know well be in
Marina Del Rey where its a little bit nicer and then youll go a little west I think, towards
Inglewood then youll see more homeless people. Income is a big thing.
K: So when you encounter a homeless person, what is your main reaction?
P1: I feel really sad. Its just one of those things where I feel like I want to help them but
I know I cant so I always think like if I have food with me then I want to give them food
or like change but you just never know. It was actually really sweet, my boyfriend, we
were at Subway one time and there was this homeless person outside and I remember I

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was thinking to myself oh I want to do something and he actually did something though
and I felt so bad because he actually went inside and bought him soup. And then I was
just like, you know what we need more people like this instead of me being like I wish I
could do something but then someone actually executes it.
K: So when you see them do you ever, do you kind of walk away or do you smile at
them? Would you give them change? So whats your reaction?
P1: Sometimes, depending on who it is, if I feel like not as intimidated, as bad as that
sounds. Because Im sure theyre more intimidated by us than we are of them. Sometimes
Ill smile but most of the time Ill usually walk past. If Im by myself too. Sometimes Ill
just walk past or walk on the other end because I just feel bad. I feel terrible!
K: So you kind of answered this but if youre alone do you react in a different way than
you would with say your boyfriend or with friends?
P1: Yah, I think when Im alone is more of when I just walk past because when Im with
friends maybe Ill just smile because I know I have more people with me and you have
more of a safety net. Just like with anybody. But normally when Im alone Ill walk past
or walk faster.
K: What are usually the factors that end up making them more intimidating when you go
by

them?

P1: Usually if theyre talking to themselves. Because then I immediately jump to the
conclusion of maybe theyre schizophrenic or something like that, maybe mental issues.
That makes me a little more apprehensive or like if they talk to you first about something
random, you know, Im sure thats happened to you where they come up to you and say

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something completely weird and youre just like uhh I dont know what to say to that so
that sometimes can be intimidating.
K: Obviously the way they look contributes to that so is there a male/female difference?
P1: Hmm Im trying to think with the female. Usually, I think because clothing wise the
males only difference is the beard and the womans hair is maybe a little more unruly but
nothing to drastic.
K: So what are your perceptions of homeless people? I know you mentioned it makes you
sad. So when you see them other than that initial feeling of sad, how do you feel about
them?
P1: I wonder what happened for them to get to this point. Because theres some people,
maybe it was just the recession and it was out of their control, lost their job. You just
dont know what theyre story is. Maybe it is mental illness, maybe its addiction. The
drugs got them to that point. It can be any factor so you just wonder what happened to
them because some are very very sweet. Ive definitely come across some that are so
nice. The one we ran into at Subway was so gracious but then seeing how he was treated
by one of the subway workers. It was jus really awful because I remember my boyfriend
bought him soup and he came inside to eat the soup, or before when he was about to
purchase it. One of the workers was like no you need to get out and he was like no this
boy is buying my soup and the worker was like you need to get out, you need to get
out. Then Zach gave him the soup and the employee immediately stopped talking, it was
silence, and I was like you didnt believe him? Let him sit there. I didnt see a big deal
about it and I was just looking at him like what are you doing. Thats terrible.
K: So what do you think is the leading cause of homelessness?

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P1: I think mental illness.
K: How do you think they go from being mentally ill to homeless? Because obviously not
all mentally ill people are homeless.
P1: Yah, I think sometimes it could be the family. It just depends like maybe if they dont
want to accept help and theyre family just gives up in a way and thats how they end up
on the streets. I know the news reports, the media is not that reliable, but you hear oh its
someone with a mental disability and they talk about how theyre parents are all
distraught about it but then its like well, where were you? Why is he over here?.
Maybe it was to much to handle or cost or just not accepting medical treatment.
K: What sources can you think of that are available to help those in need?
P1: I just think non-profits or shelters. I think of the homeless shelters that they offer,
letting in people. I know limited space. And just everyday people can provide assistance.
Something as small as giving change or buying a sandwich or food and giving it to them
because you never know.
K: You mentioned non-profits, what kind of non-profits?
P1: Non-profits that are specifically for homeless shelters. It could even be something for
addictive behavior, something specific for whatever reason the person is on the streets it
could be a non-profit for that and targeting those people that are homeless because of that
reason.
K: What about at a state or federal level? Do you think much is being done government
wise to help them?
P1: I think more can be done, honestly. Because why are people on the streets and other
countries always say we would never allow this. I know they do have the affordable

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housing program where they try to get people of the streets and then provide them
housing and then it helps them get back on their feet. So Ive heard of those programs its
just like we need to implement those more because I know its also like us as a society
saying oh, no are all our tax dollars are going to this? but I think we can have more of
that just to get everyone off the streets. So we obviously still need more progress.
K: Do you think that these places that youve mentioned do a good job of satisfying the
needs of the homeless?
P1: I think to an extent, the ones that they are able to help but I think they do. Well if
likesorry I lost my train of thought what was the question again?
K: Do you think that these places that youve mentioned do a good job of satisfying the
needs of the homeless?
P1: Okay so the ones that they do help I think so because they are getting that certain
number off the streets, its just a matter of getting more. Obviously they cant get
everyone but I think for the most part that they do. Depending on how regulated it is. If
they keep checking on them then I think they are doing a good job.
K: What do you think is the top need of homeless people that we should be covering?
P1: Remembering their humanity. Not to dehumanize them because I know Ive done it
and Im not the only one. Just walking past I think thats a big thing. Its just like, yes you
can walk past and think its sad but that doesnt meantheyre still people so we
shouldnt be walking past them. Even if youre thinking about them and feeling sad and
you try to give them a sandwich. I feel like we should be doing more in general.
K: Kind of going off of that, do you think its our job as people that arent homeless and
have somewhere to stay, to help those in need?

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P1: I think so. Yah, because if have the capability to then we should. Maybe you cant, I
know a lot of us are in different places and we all suffer different things so if you are able
to help then you should. You dont have to give all your money but what you can. And
something as small as volunteering can go a long way.
K:

So

when

it

comes

to

the

homeless

what

is

our

job?

P1: Our job is to treat them as our equals and to make sure that they live a life that we
would want to live and do what we can to help them.

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