Richard J. First

Gender, Racial, and Age Variations among Homeless Persons

The discovery of homelessness as the social problem of our times has spawned a number of important studies of homeless people, some more empirical than others. Most of these works are based on small- to medium-sized samples, which thus prohibit much descriptive analysis of subpopulations within the methodological parameters of the same sample, the same instrumentation, and, most important, the same definition of homelessness. The Ohio Study, which included 979 interviews with homeless people, provides an opportunity for such analysis. Although no study of homeless people to date can claim a truly generalizable sample procedure, this study provides one of the most representative because of its broad definition and its comprehensive sampling design. The research included a wide range of types of homeless people; the size of the sample was large enough to conduct meaningful comparisons of subgroups.

Discouraged Older Workers: An Exploratory Study

The research literature has documented the social and psychological consequences of unemployment for individuals in our country. Unfortunately, few studies have examined the impact of unemployment on the older worker. This exploratory study examined the characteristics and experiences of seventy-three older unemployed workers, age fifty and above, who were discouraged and had stopped searching for a full-time job. The findings portray the discouraged older worker as potentially at risk of both economic and psychological difficulties. Participants reported feeling mildly depressed about their current unemployment situation, socially isolated and embarrassed, and were experiencing low life satisfaction generally. They also tended to use a low number of social and employment-related community services. Younger participants in the sample under age sixty, those with higher levels of education, and those suffering longer periods of unemployment tended to report having the greatest adjustment difficulties. These results reflect the challenges faced by the discouraged older worker and the need for targeted employment and supportive services to aid this population group.

Homeless Men and the Work Ethic

This article discusses policy development and service delivery issues for homeless men. Data from a statewide study of 793 homeless men are analyzed to identify disability and dependency levels. Three groups are defined: about a quarter are severely disabled; a third need a moderate range of services; and the remainder are displaced from the work force but capable of independence. Clearly, homeless men are not a single population, different levels of intervention are suggested.

Comparisons of Rural and Urban Homeless Women

This study explores the characteristics, coping patterns, and personal problems of 473 homeless women in 21 randomly selected rural counties in Ohio. Most of the women were homeless without partners and often attributed their homelessness to family conflict and economic hardships. Unlike homeless women in urban studies, the rural women had low incidence of mental illness and substance abuse and high levels of resourcefulness. Concerns about the impact of welfare reform on rural women are discussed.

Older Women's Adjustment to Unemployment

Few studies of unemployment have examined the impact of joblessness on older women. The exploratory study reported in this article examined the differences in adjustyriertt to unemployment of 72 women and 76 men, aged 50 and over. The results reflect the vulnerability and special challenges that older unemployed women face and the need for social work services that are targeted to this population.