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Rethink Homelessness project

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Rethink Homelessness project

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Content Running head: HOMELESSNESS 1
Rethink Homelessness Project
Intisar Chamoun
Social Work
Dr. Yarvis, Dr. Lee, Dr. Lewis
August 2019
HOMELESSNESS 2
Abstract/Executive Summary
Homelessness is a grand and universal challenge that traverses urban and rural
boundaries and is found among all races and ethnicities. Homeless individuals are faced with
overwhelmingchallenges that pose a threat to their health, well-being, and development. Among
the elderly homeless population, daunting health problems, such as mental disorders and age-
related chronic diseases, have been reported. The community at large —including service
agencies —views homeless individuals through a negative lens because of the stigma associated
with homelessness. Our innovative response to this challengeis the “ R e thi n k
Homelessness ” c a mpai g n , which uses education and multimedia as effective methods to change
public attitudes towards the homeless, specifically those who are older and who suffer from
mental illness. Our innovative idea develops a collaborative partnership with colleges in the
community —starting with La Sierra University —to launch a multimedia and social media
campaign to reduce the stigma associated with homelessness by raising awareness and
disseminating accurate information.This collaborative introducesan untapped sector of the
population, “ c oll e g e students,” who, in the process of developing the campaign, will increase
their knowledgebase and experience as it applies to this sector of homelessness, the elderly-
homeless-mentally ill(EHMI).
The "Rethink Homelessness" campaign identified education and a multimedia campaign
against stigmatization of elderly homeless individuals with mental illness as an effective meansto
change public attitudes towards this population. The student “ produ c ti on” group will engage in a
self-evaluation, which will take place in a focus group to gain insight as to their individual and
collective views of the EHMI.They willuse this information to assess how their views change (or
not) based on the information that they acquire (including classroom, research, and meeting with
HOMELESSNESS 3
stakeholders, including the EHMI) and utilize this as a foundation for developing a social media
campaign that informs and reduces stigma regarding EHMI. A comparison of pre-test and post-
test results will be performed, and this data will be useful in improving and strengthening the
program for future implementation. The project specifically targets an energetic and ambitious
social group —the young students at La Sierra University —to participate in a collaborative
partnership to develop a multimedia campaign thataddresses the stigmatization of EHMI. In
addition to promoting positive attitudes and reducing stigma and biasassociated with
homelessness, mental illness, and the elderly, the project will also impact students ’ career
choices and their future voting patterns for relevant state policies. It is anticipated that this very
public campaign will reduce stigma and bias and will increase community interest to promote
major policychangesthat focus attention on this segment of the homeless population and give rise
to innovative programs that address this challenge.
Conceptual Framework
Statement of The Problem

Homelessness continues to be a serious health and social issue in the United States. In fact,
there are almost 1.5 million homeless in the course of a year. Homelessness has detrimental effects
on personal development, health, and well-being (Henwood et al., 2015),as evidenced by the fact
that about 50% of the homeless population experiences mental health problems (Pearce, 2014).
Homelessness among elderly individuals with mental illness is becoming widespread in the United
States, and will continue to worsen in the near future as the “ g r e y in g of Ame r ica ” continues. These
individuals are highly stigmatized and victimized by others in our society(Pearce, 2014).Public
beliefs about the elderly, homeless, and mentally ill create barriers that reduce access and
utilization of resources for EHMI.
HOMELESSNESS 4
History of the Problem
Homelessness isn’t just a recent issue for the U.S., and it has affected our economy, social
structures, and even the English language. According to the National Academies of Sciences,
Engineering, and Medicine (2018), “homelessness first became a national issue in the 1870s.
Facilitated by the construction of the national railroad system, urbanization, industrialization, and
mobility led to the emergence of tramps ‘riding the rails ’ in search of jobs. ” The increasing level
of industrialization meant workers were steadily moving to various urban areas. Cities like Boston,
New York, and Philadelphia saw a noticeable “ rise in the numbers of those in search of wor k ”
(National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2018). As the number of people
flocking to the big cities grew, words began to emerge that carried stigma and social judgments
with them. Words like tramp, vagrant, and hobo became commonplace. In 1877, the dean of Yale
Law School even commented, “ As we utter the word tramp there arises straightway before us the
spectacle of a lazy, shiftless, sauntering or swaggering, ill-conditioned, irreclaimable, incorrigible,
cowardly, utterly depraved sa va g e ” (Wayland, as cited in National Academies of Sciences,
Engineering, and Medicine, 2018). After World War II, most homeless were white and male, but
over the next few decades the typical homeless individual was usually over 50 years old, disabled,
and dependent on welfare or social security (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and
Medicine, 2018). More recent homelessness, since the 1980s, has been mainly the result of
“ ge ntrific a ti on of the inner city, deinstitutionalization of the mentally ill, high unemployment rate,
the emergence of HIV/AIDS, an inadequate supply of affordable housing options, and deep budget
cuts to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and social service
a ge nc ies ” (Jones, as cited in National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2018).
All of these factors starting from the mass worker migrations in the 1800s have contributed to the
HOMELESSNESS 5
grand challenge that exists today. This research, as will be shown in the following sections, intends
to use this historical data to implement steps that will help reverse this growth of EHMI in the U.S.
Literature And Practice Review Of Problem And Innovation

TheGrand Challenge of Ending Homelessness is becoming extremely challenging and
more important every day as the elderly population grows. According to the National Health
Care for the Homeless Council (NHCHC, 2013), the elderly population will double by the year
2050, with many of these seniors expected to be homeless. In particular, the elderly
BabyBoomerGeneration is on the rise, and the number of homeless seniors is expectedto increase
as a result (Proehl, 2007).This is not just an issue for the U.S., however. The United Nations
currently estimates the global population of homeless individuals at over 100 million (De Souza,
2017). All homeless around the world are faced with overwhelmingchallenges that posethreats to
their health, well-being, and development (Johnstone et al., 2015).The result of these two
conditions (growing elderly population and the homeless epidemic) is a complex problem that
needs to be solved with the help of the broader population.
Getting the public to participate in support programs for the homeless might seem like a
natural fit within communities that have other programs such as neighborhood watch.
Unfortunately, society places direct blame on homeless individuals as the cause of their situation,
blaming the victim rather than shifting the focus to larger systems and their management and
leadership (Tracy &Stoecker, 1993). Due to a lack of understanding by the general public,
homeless individuals within a community often experience further stigma and discrimination
when they access resources and community services to find a job or obtain stable housing. Many
older adults avoid seeking treatment and services because they fear the public stigma associated
with homlessness and the response that they enounter (Tracy &Stoecker, 1993). The resulting
HOMELESSNESS 6
high level of stress among these individuals has been connected with negative stereotyping.
Stigma leads to social isolation among older adults and the lack of a support system (NHCHC,
2018). This influences the overall health of the individual, resulting in poorer health and
exacerbation of mental health symptoms, which can lead to chronic depression and, in some
cases, suicidal death (NHCHC, 2018).
Current systems addressing the homeless problem are inadequate due to the proble m’s
complexity and a lack of direct public supporting action. According to the Daily News of Los
Angeles, ending homelessness is a complex problem that involves several systems that are facing
huge challenges (Martinez, 2017). A lack of communication and coordination, both within and
among communities, is an ongoing issue that requires e ve r y on e ’s attention. Billions of dollars
are spent on emergency housing, shelters, and emergency rooms, yet there are more homeless
individuals on the streets than ever before (NHCHC, 2018). This highlights the urgent need for
national and social care systems to be aware of demographic trends, life expectancy, financial
and economic insecurity, and lack of affordable housing. The general public must be made aware
of these trends, the challenges specific to the growing homeless population, and the overall need
for the government to attend to this issue. We have accomplished relatively very little with the
billions of dollars spent to combat this issue, and we have more homeless individuals than ever
before. For example, a drive through the Inland Empire area of Southern California, especially
the downtown areas, revealsa shocking number of elderly homeless living on the streets.
The issue of homelessness is not confined to one area. For this Grand Challenge, the
study focuses on elderly homeless with mental illness in California. The State of California has
the largest homeless population in the nation with almost 135,000 homeless individuals, who
represent almost 25% of the total homeless population in the country (California State Auditor,
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2018). According to New Data in Riverside County (2017), there are almost 2,500 homeless
individuals in Riverside County, with a10% increase from 2016 to 2017, most of whom are age
50 and older. These people are the most vulnerable of the population, and yet our society has not
been able to solve this huge problem. Instead, social programs are dismantled rather than
bolstered to address the roots of the problem. These individuals are considered the primary cause
of their state of homelessness, when the cause is underlying and profound social and economic
factors, such as unemployment, kinship network breakdown, and high housing costs (Belcher
&DeForge, 2012). Pervasive discrimination against the homeless, especially restricted access to
essential goods, services, and accommodations, can further negatively impact the health of these
individuals (Johnstone et al., 2015).
Throughout history, the homeless have been stigmatized and blamed for their
circumstances. Many homeless individuals who have mental illness face not only sleeping on the
streets or in their cars, but also stigma and often discrimination because of their homelessness.
The effects of stigma are significant and debilitating for mentally ill homeless individuals and are
very difficult to overcome. Feeling rejected and isolated tremendously influences aperson ’s
perception of their life and their health (NHCHC, 2018). They often develop internal stigma,
distance themselves further from the rest of society, and delay seeking necessary
healthcare(resulting in more serious conditions that could have been prevented), which only
further prevents homeless individuals from improving their situation on their own, as many
employers will not hire them, and some employers require employees to have a physical address
before they can be approved to work (Tracy &Stoecker, 1993).
A review of the extant literature indicates that many older adults who are homeless and
have mental illness face stigma by service providers and the general public, which negatively
HOMELESSNESS 8
influences their desire to seek treatment and engage (Tracy &Stoecker, 1993). Therefore, they
become more hesitant to ask for help, isolating themselves and staying homeless. Stigma is
unjustified and terrible characterization of a group that leaves individuals feeling ashamed and
isolated, which discourages them from seeking services, getting better, and ending their cycle of
homelessness. This has been the case with our elderly homeless, causing them to distance
themselves further from the rest of society.
According to Proehl (2007), as the older adult population increases, the number of
homeless among older adults is also expected to increase, and the growth of this population will
directly affect the overall homeless population in America. Despite knowing about this
significant growth in the homeless population, we know very little about the specific causes of
increased homelessness among older adults with mental illness (NHCHC, 2013). Of particular
interest based on history of homelessness throughout the last century are the outcomes of
complex phenomena and interactions between structural issues such as negative social stigmas,
discrimination, lack of affordable housing, economic insecurity, systems failure, individual
conditions, and other related factors (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and
Medicine, 2018).
The rapid growth in the mentally ill elderly sector of the homeless population will have
serious consequences in America. Recent studies have shown an upward trend in the proportion
of older adults among the homeless in general. The Sacramento Bee daily newspaper published
an article indicating that the older one is, the poorer one becomes (Buck & Reese,
2016).Between 1999 and 2014, there was an 85% increase in the number of impoverished elderly
residents in California alone (Buck& Reese, 2016). The elderly Baby Boomer population is on
the rise, and the numbers are expected to increase as the homeless problem and the elderly
HOMELESSNESS 9
population increase (Proehl, 2007). The current system fails this population and is not capable of
handling the aging demographic. Therefore, a significant systemic change is urgently needed.
Older homeless individuals have more health issues than other homeless groups. There is
a huge gap between the need for and access to a wide range of health services. As the population
ages, people suffer from age-related illnesses, lose their jobs or retire, and live on limited income
such as social security or SSDI.As a result, they become unable to pay current-day prices to rent
a home, especially considering the huge shortage of affordable housing that currently exists. The
question then remains, are the current systems for healthcare, housing, economic aid, social
security, and social services equipped to handle such a large increase in the number of elderly
citizens? The literature review presented above suggests not.
When an elderly pe rson’ s source of income becomes inadequate to maintain their
lifestyle or live comfortably, they develop stress and may develop more mental health issues,
eventually becoming unable to maintain their social support network. This then interferes with
their social relationships, causing them to become further isolated (Buck& Reese, 2016).Seniors
are entitled to social security benefits, and many seniors rely solely on those benefits. However,
these benefits are not enough and often fail to pay for the cost of housing. According to the
Chicago Alliance to End Homelessness (2006), there is a significant problem with the processing
of social security claims, with some claims taking 500 days to process and many claims denied at
intake. When seniors do get social security income, it is frequently below the poverty line. The
average disability income is approximately $889 a month (Chicago Alliance to End
Homelessness, 2006). As a result, even seniors receiving social security or disability income
struggle to find an affordable place to live, leaving many of them homeless. This is a key aspect
of the overall issue of senior homelessness.
HOMELESSNESS 10
This level of income, under current circumstances with the shortage of affordable
housing, amounts to the most expensive and least efficient planning on the part of the
government and society. People with poverty-level income will most likely end up homeless,
unable to find an affordable home and costing the government, across all of its branches and
systems, tenfold what it would have cost if the government had provided affordable housing and
sufficient income at the planning stage. This study suggests that better planning would provide
these elderly individuals with adequate income and enough affordable homes in communities to
stop thousands of people from becoming homeless.
The lack of affordable housing is a significant factor, especially when combined with the
issue of low income. Among people aged 50 years and older, it is often impossible to afford
market rate housing. Affordable housing has been a problem for decades, and not just for the
elderly. The government response to the prevalence of homelessness has been minimal due to
deeply flawed public policies (Newman& Goldman, 2009). Housing programs like Section 8 are
effective and have helped some stay in their homes and afford the rent. The voucher pays about
70% of the individual ’s rent. However, since majorcuts were made to the Section 8 program
during the Reagan Administration —almost cutting the budget in half —the program has been
unable to meet the needs of many people. In addition, according to Scott (2014), a massive
infusion of global capital and rampant speculation in the housing market helped push home
prices up 188% from 1997 to 2006, raisingproperty values in cities and making it difficult for
low-income people to remain in their homes and communities. The government should therefore
prioritize housing infrastructure. People may be told “ y ou ’re number 400 on the housing li st,”
which means they may wait three to four years for affordable housing(Newman& Goldman,
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2009).Nationwide, thousands of poor, older individuals are sleeping on the street every night as
they wait for their number to come up.
Delving further into the causes of homelessness among the elderly, job loss and changes
in the job climate are also factors that contribute to homelessness among older individuals. As
they age, and especially since the digital revolution took place, it has become harder for the
elderly to fit into the new labor market. Finding a job requires computer skills and access to
computers, which many seniors are unable to navigate. Also, the stigma that they face when they
try to find a job is another indicator that the system fails the senior population in this area.
S oc iet y ’s image of seniors is very negative. They are often seen as slow and less productive. Add
homeless to that perception, and there is almost no chance that a homeless senior will be offered
a job.
Conceptual Framework With Logic Model Showing Theory Of Change

To help reduce these problems, the general public should be informed of these trends, as
they will affect soc iet y ’s attitude and perspectives about homelessness. Doing so can increase
awareness, reduce stigmas, change attitudes, and create hope for social change that will impact
voting results and ultimately result in new polices to support this population ’s needs. Working
together as communities can ensure that these individuals have a safe place to age in dignity, live
comfortably free of stigma and discrimination, have affordable and adequate housing, medical
care,and have sufficient income to meet their basic needs.
Homelessness is nondiscriminatory. It knows no ethnic, gender, or age limitations.
Nobody is safe from experiencing homelessness. It can happen to anyone at any time in life. No
one chooses to be homeless and, in most cases, homelessness is caused by structural factors,
outdated policies, and economic issues. Furthermore, elderly individuals who are homeless, have
HOMELESSNESS 12
mental and physical illnesses, and are on a fixed income are the most vulnerable to becoming
abused by others, as they are often victims of street crimes. Understanding the factors that lead to
homelessness is not going to be easy, considering the complexity of the problem and the fact that
there are many pathways contributing to this grand challenge (Fig.1).

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Figure 1.Conceptual framework.

The general public often misunderstands homeless individuals and the causes of their
homelessness, holding a negative stereotypical view of homeless individuals as being dangerous,
mentally ill, drug addicted, smelly, and old. The institutions that we rely upon as well as our
political structure is steeped in institutional biases toward these individuals. The stigma
associated with homelessness remains pervasive, and too often discourages and prevents
homeless individuals from seeking treatment and accessing services.
The campaign proposed here (see Fig. 2) focuses on reducing the stigma associated with
homelessness and mental illness while increasing awareness of the stigma and the individual,
institutional, and implicit biases that are pervasive. Homeless communities constantly fight an
uphill battle against stigma and institutional and implicit bias, which impairs their ability to
progress, access services, or receive treatment and move forward.
HOMELESSNESS 14

Figure 2. Project model.
HOMELESSNESS 15
Partnerships need to be developed with specialty programs to increase awareness of what
is causing our elderly to lose their homes and address the increase in mental illness in this
population. By creating more integration between the aging population, programs for the elderly,
and programs for the homeless, many more people will have access to proper mental health
treatment, be able to maintain their housing, have economic security, and receive overall
healthcare that meets their needs thus overcoming negative social, health, and mental health
consequences. Together,these efforts will ultimately lead to healthier, responsible communities
(see Fig. 3).
Within a given community, the local support and motivation for change will determine
which strategy is most likely to work. In a community collaboration model, success of a program
or proposal depends on collaborationfrom all partners and stakeholders, which in some cases
control key resources. Without their support and involvement, it is significantly more difficult to
effect changes in the community. Effecting a real sustainable change in the elderly homelessness
mentally ill population will require much collaboration, greater effort in forming alliances, and
strong advocacy with key stakeholders, to meet the needs of EHMI and reduce the numbers of
homeless on the streets.
HOMELESSNESS 16

Figure 3 Project Action-Logic Model
AREA 3 Problems Of Practice And Innovative Solutions
Proposed Innovation And Its Effect On The Grand Challenge
These issues all contribute to homelessness as a grand and universal challenge that
traverses urban and rural boundaries and is found among all races and ethnicities. Homeless
individuals are faced with massive challenges that posethreats to their health, well-being, and
personal and financial development. The community at large —including service agencies—
views homeless individuals through a negative lens because of the stigma attached to
homelessness. Mental illness also has its own stigma, and when that stigma is added to the
stigma for homelessness, the impacts are nearly impossible to overcome. The "Rethink
Homelessness" project identified education and multimedia campaigns against stigmatization of
elderly homeless individuals with mental illness as effective methods for changing public
attitudes towards these individuals.

HOMELESSNESS 17
Evidence And Current Context For Proposed Innovation

According to the National Academies of Sciences (2016), educative and informational
interventions portray facts regarding the stigmatized condition. The main aim of these
interventions should, therefore, be to correct misinformation, contradict beliefs and negative
attitudes regarding the condition and the individuals stigmatized by it. For instance, these
educative social media campaigns should debunk the stereotypes and myths that homeless
individuals are criminals. This can be done by providing information indicating that homeless
individuals a re n’t any more likely to be involved in criminal activity than the general population,
and that homeless individuals are far more likely to be victims of crimes than members of the
general public (Ganeva, 2015). Therefore, the aim of this project is to create awareness through
educative social media campaigns, to provide much-needed information to enhance the
acceptance of the homeless into communities, and reduce their stigmatization and the challenges
associated with it.
Comparative Assessment Of Other Opportunities For Innovation

The pilot project “ R e thi n k Home lessne ss” aims to create positivity and care towards the
homeless within the Riverside County community in California as a means to combat the stigma
attatched to the elderly mental ill and homeless. The project specifically targets an energetic,
innovative, and ambitious social group of college students, their faculty, and administration,
specifically those at La Sierra University in Riverside. The project is based on the belief that
these individuals can be key influencers in reducing stigma against homeless and mentally ill
individuals by devising innovative ways to do this. Furthermore, targeting this group will create
a generation of individuals with positive energy and attitudes towards the homeless, who can
influence their communities as they mature.
HOMELESSNESS 18
Homelessness among older Americans is the result of multiple failures in social and
support systems, in particular with respect to adequate income, available jobs, changes in the job
climate, the housing market, healthcare, access to mental health programs, and flaws in policies
and government. The government response to the prevalence of homelessness has been minimal
over the years due to deeply flawed public policies (Newman& Goldman, 2009).Additionally,
community responses to this grand challenge need to be amplified. In the work to end
homelessness, there needs to be a strategy to create social connectedness and systemic
communication to successfully tackle homelessness. Community collaboration and interventions
focused on reducing stigma are necessary.
This innovative proposal will focus on community collaboration to increase awareness
and reduce stigma associated with mental illness and homelessness among elderly individuals. A
collaborative partnership with colleges to assist in the development of a campaign to inform and
address stigma associated with elderly homelessness and mental illness will be put in place. The
project will also attempt to build links within college divisions to maximize faculty expertise and
promote student learning throughout participation in film, animation, journalism, psychology,
sociology, health, and applied digital media as part of service learning. The writer will assist in
the development of material that students can incorporate in their messaging and will assist in
connecting students to organizations that serve the elderly homeless and mentally ill to build a
collaborative relationship with a common goal. Therefore, this proposal is innovative and will
have college/university students and teachers who participate in digital media and printing
programs —or similar classes—be part of the development of campaign materials. This is an
opportunity for colleges and teachers to provide information for communities so they all become
part of the solution —an advocacy campaign that addresses on a real social problem and Grand
HOMELESSNESS 19
Challenge. Students will work for a meaningful cause and participate in civic engagement, all
while using their creativity to host workshops, develop editorials and public service
announcements, introduce a bill to the county commissioner, use media to educate the public
about the elderly mentally ill homeless through various forms of media and design poster
presentations. This will also give colleges and their students an opportunity to publish their work
and to build their resumes, anticipating that this experience and social and civic engagement will
broaden their career opportunities and also leverage positive community support for the students
and the university.
How Innovation Links To Proposed Logic Model And Theory Of Change

This project will engage the education sector with the aim of integrating positivity
towards the homeless in the population at colleges and universities. Through these programs,
students will be educated on the topic of homelessness and its effects, such as mental illness, and
the corresponding practical measures that they can undertake to assist these individuals. Other
than promoting positive attitudes and reducing stigmatization of the homeless and mentally ill
elderly, the project will impact the students’ career choices and their future voting patterns for
relevant state policies. Further, this project is based on the belief that understanding mental
health will help students positively handle vices in their own schools, such as shootings and
suicide (Berry & Workman, 2007). This innovative project will further encourage education
partners to incorporate service learning into their curriculums, enhancing student learning and
benefiting the community, the states, and the country (Berry & Workman, 2007).
Students at the Art and Design Department of La Sierra University will first learn about
the homeless population in their community through readings, videos, and lectures, as well as
interactions with homeless shelters, mental health programs, and the Office on Aging. Then, the
HOMELESSNESS 20
students will develop online and traditional campaign materials to counter the idea that homeless
individuals are to blame for their state of homelessness: that they are lazy, crazy, and old.
Educational interventions and social media have been proven to be effective in changing the
publi c ’s view of mental illness and associated negative stereotypes, for example stigma of
substance use disorders (Livingston, Milne,Fang,&Amari, 2012). The effectiveness of the
“ R e thi nk Homelessness ” campaign will be maximized by working with a multimedia and
marketing consultant, a research design and analysis consultant, and an information technology
consultant.
This innovative project suggests that the content of an anti-stigma multimedia campaign
run by youth needs to focus on informing the public about the causes of homelessness and
promoting positive changes in attitudes toward the homeless. By reducing the stigma associated
with mental illness, the elderly, and homelessness, communities can edge towards voting and
policy changes that will improve the systemic issues that have contributed to the increase of
homelessness across the U.S. Starting with a group of students in Riverside County, California,
the project will examine effective methods for solving this Grand Challenge.
AREA 4 Project Structure, Methodology, and Action Components
Description Of Capstone Deliverable/Artifact
The aim of the proposal is to correct misinformation, disseminate accurate information,
increase knowledge, improve attitudes, reduce stigma, and change behavior. The framework
model that is utilized to implement the proposed innovation campaign is a community-based
collaboration model. The "Rethink Home lessne ss ” project has identified that education and
multimedia campaigns against stigmatization of elderly homeless individuals with mental illness
are effective methods when trying to change public attitudes towards these individuals. To
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explain the research design for this proposal, a campaign behavior change model was chosen.
The campaign ’s approach will support the goal of having a community with fewer stigmas
towards elderly individuals who are experiencing homelessness and mental illness.
Project Implementation Methods
In the process of program development, this writer assisted in the development of
material that students will be able to incorporate into their messaging. This includes the
educational materials like a PowerPoint presentation(PPT) provided to La Sierra together with
the resource packet/curriculum to assist the college in developing the project. The writer
provided a packet of material to the designated partner representative. The writer will
furtherdevelop a syllabus that introduces the information in thePPT and courseworkreferring to
project reference material and developing assignments that include options for reaching out to
the stakeholders including the advocates for the EHMI as well as members of this group.The
innovation will increase education partners to incorporate service learning into their curriculum
and enhance students’ learning and benefiting the community, the states, and the country. The
writer will create a letter of interest to send applying for a grant to fund the program and will also
work with students to come up with poster presentation to give colleges an opportunity to
publish the students’ work. Students will also be asked to host workshops, develop editorials or
series of editorials and work on advocacy campaigns on this issue out in the community (e.g.,
OPED –where to send, letters to the editor, speaking engagements, media distribution, AARP,
professional organizations (NASW), conferences, PBS, PSAs, etc).
Students will call the program an advocacy campaign and do an introduction of the
solution. Eventually, they will introduce a bill to the county commissioner and learn about the
issue by going to shelters and communicating with members in the community using media to
HOMELESSNESS 22
inform the public about mental illness among the homeless elderly to help design the advocacy
campaign information and solution.
For delivery of the project, La Sierra University will include mentions of this program in
their curriculum and will expand to other social issues in the community. This will be made
available for other universities in the future as well in the hopes that every college or university
picks up the program based on the foundation laid out here in this proposal.
Stakeholder Engagement Plan
Empowering Students to Educate the Community
April 2019 – At the beginning of the project, the focus will be on providing materials to
educate college students about homelessness. These materials will include a PPT on the different
causes of homelessness, including the lack of affordable housing, the high cost of living,
economic trends, and mental illness. We will also incorporate the stories of people who have
experienced homelessness by including film excerpts and YouTube videos. The goal is to raise
awareness and increase understanding of the causes and effects of homelessness.
July 2019 – Once college students have been educated about homelessness, the second
phase of the project is for them to develop materials and messaging for the “ R e thi nk
Homelessness ” campaign. A blog for “ R e thi nk Homelessness ” will be created and linked to
social media accounts on Facebook (www.facebook.com/rethinkhomelessness) and Twitter
(www.twitter.com/rethinkhomelessness). Using their creativity, skills, and connections within
the community, students will create blog posts with proposition statements such as, “ W e must
reduce stigma against homelessness to end homelessness,” “ W e must stand united against the
stigma of homelessness and help our seniors,” and “ Home less individuals should be recognized
by all of us; they need us .”
HOMELESSNESS 23
The students will also design and produce a YouTube video to share the stories of elderly
homeless in Riverside County —some with mental illness —with the goal of engaging website
visitors and putting a face to the problem. Through these videos, people should better understand
the stigma attached to elderly homelessness and the proposed solutions. Students will also create
messaging for billboards and posters, containing messages such as "Rethink Homelessness," "Be
Kind," "It could be you!" or "211 for resources in your c omm unit y .” These pages, blogs, and
posters will be reviewed by facilitators to ensure quality, accuracy, and consistency.
September 2019 – Once students have developed material with the help of facilitators, the
third phase of the campaign will be to launch the pilot program from La Sierra University.
Expenses will include services required to optimize, market, and analyze the effectiveness of the
online resources created. For the first year, the cost will be no more than $100,000 for expenses
associated with launching the social media presence for “ R e thi nk Homelessness,” and to cover
some student expenses for campaign material. For the second year, La Sierra University has
agreed to share the cost of sustaining the program.
Website pages and blogs will be monitored to evaluate their effectiveness. The objective
will be for 500 people in Riverside County to see each post within a month. One way to evaluate
the effectiveness of the blog and website pages is to count the number of people who visit and
engage with them in one month. For example, “1000 residents in Riverside County visited social
media websites for Rethink Homelessness Campaign. ”
The Role of the Facilitators (Intisar Chamoun)
The “ R e thi nk Homelessness ” campaign will be run by four staff members. The program
coordinator is a licensed clinical social worker. The team will also include a faculty coordinator,
HOMELESSNESS 24
2 faculty facilitators, a multimedia and marketing consultant (as needed) who will help identify
and implement strategies to maximize exposure and engagement. A research design and analysis
consultant (part time) will analyze data, monitor the success of the program, and make sure the
program meets the outcome goals. An IT consultant (as needed) and intern stipend will round out
the team.
As facilitators, we will build connections between college departments to maximize
faculty expertise and promote student service learning through the production of traditional, film,
animation, and applied digital media for the “ R e thi nk Homelessness ” campaign. We will
coordinate with the university and work closely with students to help them develop material. We
will also assist in exposing students to agencies in the community like homeless shelters, mental
health programs, and the Office on Aging. We will communicate effectively with community
agencies to develop agreements that clearly define roles and responsibilities with respect to the
elderly homeless with mental illness. The goal is to build a collaborative relationship among
organizations with a common goal, and to develop relationships with homeless elderly who have
a mental illness. We will work with students to distribute their campaign material through
traditional sources such as TV, newspapers, and brochures, as well as social media and other
platforms.
Project Details
Social media will play a huge role in correcting information and increasing awareness of
the stigma attached to homelessness and mental illness among elderly individuals. In addition,
using social media has the benefit of reaching a broad audience with a limited budget. For
example, Facebook allows users to post campaign content in a variety of ways, including videos,
photos, images, and written messages. Facebook has more than a billion and a half users, so the
HOMELESSNESS 25
distribution of content will be wide. A Facebook page will be created
aswww.facbook.com/rethinkhomelessness.For Twitter dissemination, a Twitter account at
www.twitter.com/rethinkhomelessness will also be created. A blog with the clear objective,
“500 people in Riverside County should see this poster about Rethink Homelessness within one
month ” will be created. Blogs are to be created using a proposition statement of, “We must
reduce stigma against homelessness to end homelessness, ” and “Homeless individuals should be
recognized by all of us; they need us .” Website pages and blogs will be reviewed and monitored
to evaluate their effectiveness.
A YouTube video of real/personal stories of elderly homeless experiencing stigma will
also be put into place to better engage with visitors and to put a face to the problem. In the effort
of raising awareness of the stigma attached to elderly homeless with mental illness, people
should understand, through the media, what the issue is and what the proposed solutions are.
Examples of a proposition statement would be something like, “We need to end stigma attached
to the homeless in our community. We must stand united against the stigma to end homelessness
and help our seniors. rethink homelessness.”
Communication Strategies And Products
In the beginning stages of the project, key team members will be identified, and
guidelines and rules will be into place. Those team members will be developing new content
with positive and strength-based messaging, and they will be engaging with users, creating
inspirational quotes, promoting stigma reduction awareness events and local events, following
HOMELESSNESS 26
posts and responses, and also making sure post engagements are monitored and examined to
analyze data at a later time.
It is important to identify the target audience and participants in the community who are
involved or not involved in the issue. Most of them can be considered stakeholders, such as
programs and agencies that focus on mental health, homelessness, aging, and elderly and faith-
based institutions. A profile should be created for each of the partners or stakeholders that
includes details such as what is the issue, what are the needs for project, what are the solutions,
how that they can assist and be part of the solutions. These stakeholders have the power to
influence the campaign and help make change. The campaign approach also focuses on targeting
people who have a negative attitude toward the homeless in the hopes that they become a part of
the campaign, changing their perceptions and beliefs.
Project Impact Assessment Methods
The project “Rethink Homelessness ” aims to create positivity and care towards the
homeless within the Riverside County community as a means to combat stigma attached to being
homeless. The project specifically targets the engagement of an energetic, innovative, and
ambitious social group of young individuals in colleges and high schools, specifically La Sierra
University in Riverside. The project believes that these individuals could be key influencers in
reducing stigma against homelessness and mentally ill individuals, and that the students will be
able to create innovative ways to do so. Further, targeting this group will create a generation of
individuals with positive energy and attitudes towards the homeless as they mature. This writer
will assist in the development of the material that students will be able to incorporate in their
messaging and will assist in bringing exposure to students and elderly mentally ill homeless
HOMELESSNESS 27
agencies to build a collaborative relationship with a common goal. Therefore, this proposal will
use the college students ’ skills and learning opportunities to have them build part of the
campaign materials by involving teachers and their students who participate in digital media and
printing programs, or similar classes, in the development of the campaign ’s materials. The
message that will be created is “educating and informing to help break the stigma.”
In the initial stage, the project will identify stakeholders and education partners in the
community to be engaged in the project, utilizing community networks to identify community
leaders from homeless agencies, behavioral health programs, and elderly services who can and
are willing to serve on the advisory board with key representatives of these agencies and
organizations in the community. Also, the needs, target population, customers, and concepts will
be identified, along with evaluating the feasibility of the project, including funding, staff, and
skill sets. Having a clear vision statement is necessary to reach positive outcomes. Our vision
statement for the Rethink Homelessness campaign is, “We passionately believe in changing the
community ’s perception toward homelessness to ultimately reduce stigma. ”
Data gathering will be performed regularly to continue to measure success. Based on the
project ’s success, the next steps will be determined as mentioned above. The overall hope for the
next few years is national dissemination of the campaign, with the overarching goal to reach as
many people as possible, helping more people to understand the positive impact of the campaign,
getting people to respond to the message, and inspiring them to join and take action. The
significance of the project will most likely be felt in the long term through policy changes,
government appropriations decisions, and other local community efforts.
HOMELESSNESS 28
The objectives, scope, and location will be discussed and determined during
implementation. Having a strategic form of networking is necessary to gain stakeholder and
partner support. Effective communication with educational partners at La Sierra University, Art
and Design Department, and related majors, will not emerge overnight. It will take a significant
amount of time to develop a productive working relationship with education partners at the
college, to get everyone involved to agree on project design and activities, to engage students,
and to reflect on the meaningfulness of the project with students and faculty. Developing a
working agreement between community agencies in order to clearly define roles and
responsibilities with respect to the elderly homeless with mental illness are necessary. Also, in
creating roles and assigning responsibilities, forming clear roles for participating members
regarding what they are responsible for, who is the lead person, and what they are expected to do
will alleviate confusion and create a pathway of accountability.
During this stage, students will be engaged in their classes to help develop the graphics
and textual materials for the campaign. This process will be a significant part of the project, and
students will be included in the decision making process regarding materials for the campaign.
Crafting messages after being informed and educated on the issue will help make planning easier
with the students and will help establish positive working relationships between this writer
(project coordinator) and students so they can share ideas and be creative. Therefore, an open
and supportive communication path is essential for fostering mutually beneficial partnerships.
This partnership represents a major foundation of leadership and collaboration in the
modern era, but a partnership is not an easy thing to achieve. It is necessary in a community for
successful system change if all of the stakeholders share a common goal of increasing awareness
of the issue, and are open to make changes. Some of these stakeholders including colleges,
HOMELESSNESS 29
schools, office on aging, mental health and homeless programs and shelters. It is likely that
several of the key stakeholders will not be at the table at the beginning of the process, and they
will need to be encouraged to participate. All stakeholders do not have to be involved from the
beginning, nor do all stakeholders need to be involved in all aspects of system change.
Comparative Market Analysis
It requires a lot of work and patience to involve and keep partners or stakeholders in your
work. A lack of time to spend with the students (partners) to participate, advocate, conduct
surveys or develop materials for the project can create problems. Also, resistance from partners
to modify current or existing skills, lack of ability to collaborate and lead in decision making
regarding project design or intervention and low interest and motivation can all be issues that
will hinder the project. Trust is a mutual relationship and fear of the unknown on both sides can
be an issue. Resistance to institute change as needed in membership teams or committees
throughout the process along with a lack of recognizing strengths and weaknesses may
jeopardize new ideas and cause difficulties. The lack of a clear purpose or missing information
can create unnecessary difficulties that could be avoided. Therefore, being aware of qualities
that make up effective partnerships is crucial in developing the right partners and choosing the
right strategy. Having a clear vision will lead to fewer difficulties and problems (see Table 1).
HOMELESSNESS 30

Table 1: Barriers and Facilitators for Project Success
It would be helpful for students to participate in and attend community talks by inviting
guest speakers who are knowledgeable on the issue to build understanding and provide education
on the community issue of homelessness. Building links within the college divisions and
departments to maximize expertise of faculty and staff and to develop students ’ learning in other
divisions, such as journalism, communication, animation, health, and sociology, will also help
build a structure of learning and development between all parties involved. This writer will assist
in promoting students and organizations that provide services to the homeless individuals and
building a collaborative common goal. This writer will also assist in the development of
materials that students will be able to incorporate in their messaging. All of the above activities
will be completed in year one. In year two, the campaign will be launched in a small/local pilot
program at the La Sierra University. Finally, the campaign materials will be distributed through
YouTube and other social media.
The project model for the proposal is a collaborative community model that will focus on
developing partnerships with colleges and organizations in the community. Therefore, a
community collaborative-based model was chosen to be utilized in the project. See Fig. 4
HOMELESSNESS 31
(Communication Plan)
Figure 4. Communication Plan
Financial Plans And Staging
The effectiveness of the Rethink Homelessness campaign will be maximized by
collaborating with La Sierra College. La Sierra will provide In-Kind Contributions of $55,000
of faculty time (coordinator/teaching staff) as well as software and media applications of $5,000
and technology (computers/equipment) of $5,000. The project coordinator (Intisar Chamoun)
will provide project coordination of $25,000 In-Kind. Multimedia, marketing, research, design
& analysis and information technology will be provided by part time ($40,000) and intern
stipends will be provided to La Sierra students, who are selected to actively work on this project.
When combined with miscellaneous non-personnel expenses ($13,000) and In-Kind
HOMELESSNESS 32
contributions of $20,000. The budget for Rethink Homelessness is a total of $100,00 with an
additional contributions of $100,000 In-Kind. See table 2. (Budget).

Table 2. Budget
Ethical Considerations
HOMELESSNESS 33
Evaluating the success of the pilot program will be measured by conducting pre-test and
post-test surveys measuring students ’ perception toward the homeless. Participants will be asked
to complete a self-administered instrument survey built as a Likert-type scale (Attitude Towards
Homelessness Inventory) with 11 questions at the beginning of the project. The Attitudes
Towards the Homelessness Inventory appears to be a valid and reliable instrument for measuring
students ’ attitudes towards the homeless, according to Critical Synthesis Package: Attitudes
Towards Homelessness Inventory (ATHI) ( Foster, 2013). Before and after students receive
educational training, we will administer a pre-post survey. The ATHI has been shown to be a
valid and reliable instrument to measure students ’ attitudes and knowledge towards the homeless
(Foster, 2013). At the end of the pilot project at the college, we will also convene a focus group
of participating students to obtain additional feedback. All ethical requirements for privacy will
be followed.
Measuring if the public is aware and informed of the issue will be done by measuring the
number of people in Riverside County who will visit campaign ’s website pages and blog. This
method can insure greater anonymity and honesty of the results. Evaluations can be done at the
beginning and final phases of project for the purposes of evaluating progress and implementing
corrections throughout the project, while also determining final impact. For example, a media
impact includes “over 500 people visited the websites in one month, and there was an increase in
media coverage of the issue. ” The more people know about the positive impact of the campaign,
the more likely they are to be informed, inspiring others to join, take action, and change attitudes.
Based on the evaluation and feedback from the pilot program, we will consider the next
steps. The hope is to develop a curriculum with education partners and maximize student
learning and involvement through connections with film, animation, journalism, psychology,
HOMELESSNESS 34
sociology, health, and art and design as part of service learning. We also hope to expand from
local to statewide, then nationwide, in year three and beyond. We will sustain the project through
a strong collaboration between partners to secure funding and will ask participating schools to
share the cost. As with any successful new venture, we will be flexible and make changes as
necessary along the way.
In the sustainment stage, it will be necessary to sustain the multimedia campaign by
ensuring continued funding and bringing other members with ties in the community together,
utilizing those who have the power to strengthen relationships and bring other partners to the
table. It will require extensive work to add on more partners and maximize efforts with other
divisions and other colleges to create comprehensive and effective strategies that will advance
project goals for larger dissemination. It is crucial to formulate a framework for partnership long-
term issues, but the significance of the project will most likely be felt in the long-term.
In evaluating project outcomes and measuring impact, a great amount of effort will be
required to ensure that others remember the campaign message and take action on it
appropriately, including reviewing the number of people who visited the websites, people ’s
responses to messages, and people ’s online post engagements. After gathering data, an analysis
of media being used in the outreach process will be in place to collect information to measure the
impact and effectiveness of the campaign. Data will provide information, such as how many
people the campaign was able to reach, if the right message was sent, if that message created the
desired impact, and if there will be an increase in the media coverage of the issue. The next step
will be to continue gathering information. Impact measurements should be made on an ongoing
basis to determine if the chosen strategies have and will continue to work, with the team making
changes as needed accordingly throughout. The students and project leads will be responsible for
HOMELESSNESS 35
accurate evaluations of the data and coming up with appropriate responses and changes for
maximum effect.
The aim of the campaign is to change community perceptions about the homeless. In
addition to enhancing positive attitudes and reducing stigma, we can tell you that the project will
also impact students’ career choices and their future voting patterns for state policies. We believe
that empowering students to help the elderly will create a generation of individuals who will
develop and maintain a positive attitude towards the homeless as they thrive. As a society, we
need to think differently about how we respond to and treat the homeless. Please consider
“ R e thi nk Homelessness.”
Conclusions, Actions, and Implications
Project Implications For Practice And Further Action
This partnership represents a major foundation of leadership and collaboration in the
modern era, but a partnership is not an easy thing to achieve. Such partnerships require a lot of
work and patience to be able to involve and keep partners or stakeholders interested in the work.
Project Limitations
The lack of time to spend with the students (partners) to participate, advocate, conduct
surveys, or develop materials for the project can create problems and limitations for the project
goals. Ensuring that the number of people involved can balance their time effectively to cover all
areas will be important to project success. Another potential issue will be resistance from
partners to modify their current or existing skills, their lack of ability to collaborate and lead in
decision making regarding project design or intervention, and low interest and motivation.
Current Practice Context For Project Conclusions
HOMELESSNESS 36
Trust is a mutual relationship and fear of the unknown on both sides can be an issue.
Resistance to institute change as needed in membership teams or committees throughout the
process along with a lack of recognizing strengths and weaknesses may jeopardize new ideas and
cause difficulties. The lack of a clear purpose or missing information can create unnecessary
difficulties that could be avoided. Therefore, being aware of qualities that make up effective
partnerships is crucial in developing the right partners and choosing the right strategy. Having a
clear vision will lead to fewer difficulties and problems overall.
Summary of Project Plans
To help reduce issues as they occur, the general public should be informed of these
trends, as they will affect soc iet y ’s attitude and perspectives about homelessness. Doing so can
increase awareness, reduce stigmas, change attitudes, and create hope for social change that will
impact voting results and ultimately form new polices supporting this popula ti on’s needs.
Working together as communities can ensure that these individuals have a safe place to age in
dignity, live comfortably free of stigma and discrimination, have affordable and adequate
housing, and sufficient income to meet their basic needs.

HOMELESSNESS 37
Plan for communication
Developed, emails and
Phone calls made
Project implementation
stage and kickoff, education
material and portfolio to
prepare
Feb, March, April 2019
First Quarter
Milestone, resource
planning and cost
share approved
Second meeting,
crafting messages,
facilitating students
materials developing
Aug
15
Finalproject,materials
developed, &
Launch small
community pilot
/Thanksgiving week
May 5
Rethink Homelessness Project Timeline
Apr
20
June
20
May, June, July 2019
Second Quarter
Meeting with partners
Proposal discussed &
approved
August, Sep, Oct 2019
Third Quarter
Nov, Dec, Jan 2020
Fourth Quarter
Sep
20
Milestone, Third
meeting with
partners, material
developing
Nov
18

Figure 5. Project Timeline

HOMELESSNESS 38
PROJECT ARTIFACTS:
Digital Info-graph Poster #1
HOMELESSNESS 39

HOMELESSNESS 40

References

Belcher, J.,&DeForge, B. (2012). Social stigma and homelessness: The limits of social change.
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Buck, C., &Reese,P. (2016). Poverty rate jumps among California seniors. The Sacramento Bee.
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aging/article68427482.html
California State Auditor. (2018). Report 2017 112:Homelessness in California. Retrieved from
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homelesspopulation. Retrieved from: https://www.nhchc.org/wp-
content/uploads/2011/10/homeless_Over_50_Report.pdf
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scared-homeless-people-homeless-people-should-be-scared-you
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Johnstone, M. (2015). Discrimination and well-being amongst the homeless: The role of multiple
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&Uretsky, M. (2015).Grand challenges for social work initiative [Working
paper].American Academy of Social Work& Social Welfare. Retrieved
fromhttp://aaswsw.org/grand-challenges-initiative/12-challenges/end-homelessness/
Livingston, J. D., Milne, T., Fang, M. L.,&Amari, E. (2012). The effectiveness of interventions
for reducing stigma related to substance use disorders: a systematic review. Addiction,
107(1), 39–50. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3272222/
Martinez, N. (2017). No more feel-good, temporary measures-we need effort that help homeless,
neighborhoods. Daily News of Los Angeles, 25.
National Institutes of Health.(2016). The evidence of stigma change. Washington, DC: National
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fromhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK384914/#_sec_000070_
Newman, S., & Goldman, H. (2009). Housing policy for persons severe mental illness.Policy
Study Journal,37(2),299 –324. Retrieved fromhttps://search-proquest-
com.libproxy2.usc.edu/docview/210546276/fulltext/993FBBCFA1DE43AAPQ/2?accoun
tid=14749
NHCHC. (2013, September). Aging and housing instability: Homelessness among older and
elderly adults.A QuarterlyResearch Review of the National HCH Council,2(l).Retrieved
fromhttps://www.nhchc.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/infocus_september2013.pdf
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NHCHC. (2018, May). Suicide and homelessness: Data trends in suicide and mental health [Fact
Sheet]. Retrieved from https://www.nhchc.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/suicide-fact-
sheet.pdf
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2016). Approaches to reducing
stigma. In Ending discrimination against people with mental and substance use
disorders: the evidence for stigma change (pp. 69 –92). Washington, DC: The National
Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/23442
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of homelessness in the United States. In Permanent supportive housing: evaluating the
evidence for improving health outcomes among people experiencing chronic
homelessness.Washington (DC): National Academies Press.
Pearce, M. (2014, January). Better treatment for the mentally ill will reduce homelessness.
TheGazette.Retrieved
fromhttp://countyofriverside.us/NewsHighlights/TabId/96/ArtMID/487/ArticleID/362/Ne
w-data-show-homelessness-has-increased-in-Riverside-County.aspx
Proehl, D. (2007). Social justice, respect, and meaning-making: Key to working with the
homeless elderly population. Health & Social Work, 32(4),301 –
307.https://doi.org/10.1093/hsw/32.4.301
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challenges the purging of poor communities from U.S. cities. Columbia Human Rights
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https://www.nesri.org/sites/default/files/HRLR_Spring2014_Making%20Way%20for%2
0the%20Wealthy.pdf
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HOMELESSNESS 44
TABLE OF CONTENTS

 Title Page
 Abstract
 Conceptual Framework
 Problems of Practice and Solution/Innovation
 Project Structure, Methodology, and Action Components
 Conclusions, Actions, and Implications
 Figures 1. (Conceptual Framework)
 Figure 2. (Project Model)
 Figure 3. (Project Action and Logic Model)
 Figure 4. (Communication Plan)
 Figure 5. (Project Timeline)
 Table 1. (Barriers and Facilitators for Project Success)
 Table 2. (Budget Sheet)
 Project Artifact: Digital Info-graph Poster
 Power-point Presentation Available
 Mini Grant Writing Proposal available
 Attitude Toward Homeless Inventory Survey Available
 Reference Page

Abstract (if available)

Abstract Homelessness is a grand and universal challenge that traverses urban and rural boundaries and is found among all races and ethnicities. Homeless individuals are faced with overwhelming challenges that pose a threat to their health, well-being, and development. Among the elderly homeless population, daunting health problems, such as mental disorders and age-related chronic diseases, have been reported. The community at large—including service agencies—views homeless individuals through a negative lens because of the stigma associated with homelessness. Our innovative response to this challenge is the “Rethink Homelessness” campaign, which uses education and multimedia as effective methods to change public attitudes towards the homeless, specifically those who are older and who suffer from mental illness. Our innovative idea develops a collaborative partnership with colleges in the community—starting with La Sierra University—to launch a multimedia and social media campaign to reduce the stigma associated with homelessness by raising awareness and disseminating accurate information. This collaborative introduces an untapped sector of the population, “college students,” who, in the process of developing the campaign, will increase their knowledge base and experience as it applies to this sector of homelessness, the elderly-homeless-mentally ill (EHMI). ❧ The “Rethink Homelessness” campaign identified education and a multimedia campaign against stigmatization of elderly homeless individuals with mental illness as an effective means to change public attitudes towards this population. The student “production” group will engage in a self-evaluation, which will take place in a focus group to gain insight as to their individual and collective views of the EHMI .They will use this information to assess how their views change (or not) based on the information that they acquire (including classroom, research, and meeting with stakeholders, including the EHMI) and utilize this as a foundation for developing a social media campaign that informs and reduces stigma regarding EHMI. A comparison of pre-test and post-test results will be performed, and this data will be useful in improving and strengthening the program for future implementation. The project specifically targets an energetic and ambitious social group—the young students at La Sierra University—to participate in a collaborative partnership to develop a multimedia campaign that addresses the stigmatization of EHMI. In addition to promoting positive attitudes and reducing stigma and bias associated with homelessness, mental illness, and the elderly, the project will also impact students’ career choices and their future voting patterns for relevant state policies. It is anticipated that this very public campaign will reduce stigma and bias and will increase community interest to promote major policy changes that focus attention on this segment of the homeless population and give rise to innovative programs that address this challenge.

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Asset Metadata

Creator Chamoun, Intisar (author)

Core Title Rethink Homelessness project

School Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work

Degree Doctor of Social Work

Degree Program Social Work

Publication Date 08/15/2019

Defense Date 08/14/2019

Publisher University of Southern California (original), University of Southern California. Libraries (digital)

Tag elderly,homeless,mental illness,OAI-PMH Harvest,stigma

Format application/pdf (imt)

Language English

Contributor Electronically uploaded by the author (provenance)

Advisor Lee, Nani (committee member), Lewis, Charles (committee member), Yarvis, Jeffery (committee member)

Creator Email ICHAMOUN@USC.EDU,INTISCHAM@MSN.COM

Permanent Link (DOI) https://doi.org/10.25549/usctheses-c89-212024

Unique identifier UC11662499

Identifier etd-ChamounInt-7796.pdf (filename),usctheses-c89-212024 (legacy record id)

Legacy Identifier etd-ChamounInt-7796.pdf

Dmrecord 212024

Document Type Capstone project

Format application/pdf (imt)

Rights Chamoun, Intisar

Type texts

Source University of Southern California (contributing entity), University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses (collection)

Access Conditions The author retains rights to his/her dissertation, thesis or other graduate work according to U.S. copyright law. Electronic access is being provided by the USC Libraries in agreement with the a...

Repository Name University of Southern California Digital Library

Repository Location USC Digital Library, University of Southern California, University Park Campus MC 2810, 3434 South Grand Avenue, 2nd Floor, Los Angeles, California 90089-2810, USA