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Homelessness Prevention and Intervention in Social Work pp 239–254Cite as

Multisectoral Collaborations to Address Homelessness

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Abstract

Homelessness is a multidimensional problem that requires intervention and support across sectors (e.g., businesses, government, civil society). For example, people experiencing homelessness not only need health and social services but also community-based supports to help them obtain and maintain quality housing and employment. To address homelessness from multiple dimensions and aspects, various cross-sector collaborative approaches have been developed and implemented. This chapter describes general characteristics of multisectoral collaboration and discusses two specific models: interagency collaboration and collaboration with the business sector. We discuss in depth the role of the business sector, in particular, as the business sector can be an active partner in solving homelessness, contrary to the perception that the business sector is indifferent, if not hostile, toward homeless populations. At the end of the chapter, we synthesize helpful strategies and skills for social workers engaged in collaborations across multiple sectors.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Nearly 85,000 people (15% of the overall homeless population) experience chronic homelessness, more than 60% of whom are unsheltered (i.e., living outdoors or in places not meant for habitation; National Alliance to End Homelessness 2015). A person experiencing chronic homelessness is defined as “either (1) an unaccompanied homeless individual with a disabling condition who has been continuously homeless for a year or more, or (2) an unaccompanied individual with a disabling condition who has had at least four episodes of homelessness in the past 3 years” (US Department of Housing and Urban Development 2007 p.3).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, USA

    Wonhyung Lee

  2. Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA

    Kristin M. Ferguson

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  1. Wonhyung Lee
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  2. Kristin M. Ferguson
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Correspondence to Wonhyung Lee .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Welfare, University at Albany (SUNY), Albany, NY, USA

    Heather Larkin  & Amanda Aykanian  & 

  2. School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA

    Calvin L. Streeter

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Lee, W., Ferguson, K.M. (2019). Multisectoral Collaborations to Address Homelessness. In: Larkin, H., Aykanian, A., Streeter, C.L. (eds) Homelessness Prevention and Intervention in Social Work. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03727-7_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03727-7_12

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