According to an article published in the journal of American City & County in march of 2009 found that a weak economy, lack of affordable housing, and increases in food and fuel costs contributed to marked increases in the demand for emergency shelter and food assistance
Comparing Community Services
Offered to the Homeless in Wyoming
Vincent Hochstatter
with Michelle Jarman
University of Wyoming
College of Health Science
PROPOSED RESEARCH PROJECT
Introduction
Objective of the Study
Methods and Data Analysis
Importance of the Study
An article published in the Journal of
American City &County in March of
2009 found that a weak economy, lack
of affordable housing, and increases in
food and fuel costs has contributed to
marked increases in the demand for
emergency shelters and food assistance
programs (Gentile 2009). The National
Coalition for the Homeless in 2002
estimated that there were currently
800,000 homeless people in America
and that 2.5 to 3.5 million Americans
will experience homelessness at some
point in their life (Markos et 2004).
The objective of the study is to identify
and compare the services offered in
two or more communities in Wyoming
in order to uncover services that are not
met in each community as well as
significant barriers to access for those
needing services.
Methods will include a questionnaire and
an interview with directors of homeless
shelters and agencies that serve people in
financial and situational emergencies.
Data will be analyzed by comparing the
number of services offered, financial
resources available to the agencies and
those in need, identifying the sources of
funding and common barriers faced by
each organization.
The importance of the study is to
evaluate the accessibility and
effectiveness of community services
offered in Wyoming. This study may
possibly identify the need for more
agencies as well as the need for more
funding for community services offered
in the state of Wyoming.
Statement of the Problem
This study will examine community
services offered to people who are
homeless and to people who are in
financial emergency situations in two
or more communities in Wyoming.
Interfaith Good Samaritan Laramie Wyoming
University of Wyoming McNair Scholars Staff,
Michelle Jarman PhD ; Gentile, A. (2009). More
families need help: Cities report that the foreclosure
crisis is contributing to the homeless population and
demand for food aid. American City & County, 124(3),
12. ; Markos, P., & Strawser, S. (2004). The relationship
between learning disabilities and homelessness in
adults. Guidance & Counseling, 19(2), 46-56.