Homelessness and Occupational Justice

1
Homelessness and Occupational Justice

• Mary Melvin, Amy Sinclair, Cathy Healy,
• Nicola Greene, Megan OCarroll, Jessica Holland

2
Aim

• The aim of our presentation is
• To evaluate the services provided to homeless
  people in Scotland, focusing on Edinburgh and
  Glasgow, two of the biggest cities in Scotland

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Definition of Homelessness

• In the broadest sense homelessness is the problem
  faced by people who lack a place to live that is
  supportive, affordable and secure.
• 
  (ODPM (2002)
• Being homeless doesnt just mean sleeping on the
  streets, you dont have to be roofless to be
  considered homeless
  (Shelter 2006)

4
What Causes Homelessness?

• Economic factors
• Access
• Location
• Lack of security
• Gender- women
• Social factors
• Domestic dispute
• Environment

5
Homeless in Scotland

• Edinburgh as a city
• Homeless services
• OTs role
• Models
• Successful?

6
Homeless in Scotland

• Glasgow as a city
• Homeless services
• OTs role
• Models
• Successful?

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Case Study
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Occupational Justice

• Occupation as a central feature of human
  existence
• Look beyond work. Occupations are all ways in
  which we occupy ourselves. (Townsend 2003)
• Homelessness can affect how a person carries out
  an occupation with fair treatment from society.
• Being homeless can impact on both physical and
  mental health. This can affect carrying out
  occupations.

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Social exclusion

• Homelessness is not an isolated problem, but
  part of a broader phenomenon of social exclusion
  (housingrights.org.uk)
• Evidence of identity required to obtain financial
  services or receiving benefits
• Financial debt
• Families access to education problematic,
  potentially creating further difficulties for
  them in later life.

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Conclusion

• Comparison of services
• The need for more OTs in this area
• A change in societys views

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References

• Department of Transport, Local Government and the
  Regions (2002) More than a roof A Report into
  Tackling Homelessness London HMSO.
  http//www.housing.odpm.gov.uk/information/homeles
  sness/morethanaroof/index.htm.
• Crisis UK- Fighting for hope for homeless people,
  2005. www.crisis.org.uk
• Shelter (2006)
• Shelter (2007)- Homelessness fact sheets.
  www.scotland.shelter.org.uk
• Scottish executive publications (2007)
  Homelessness- An Action plan for prevention and
  effective response report from the homelessness
  task force to Scottish ministers