Adults and their children who have experienced homelessness are more likely to be in poor health due to the lack of access to primary care. Friends’ professionals guide families on identifying their family’s medical needs, including ensuring that they have access to medical/dental insurance or, if not, that they are still able to access care.

Families focus on the importance of mental and physical wellness, including annual doctor and dental exams; hygiene; exercise and nutrition, and having a healthy self-image. Issues such as behavioral health, domestic violence, and substance use are tackled through outside referrals and on-site workshops.

Facts:

• Almost half of the families in our programs enter with a diagnosed medical or behavioral health condition. 
• Through referrals to community providers, Friends Association connects parents, caregivers, and their children to physical and behavioral health services each year.

Intake screening reveals that the majority of adults entering our emergency shelter have long histories of traumatic stress, including Adverse Childhood Experiences. In addition to challenging behavioral responses stemming from trauma, people experiencing homelessness also suffer from depression, substance use disorder, and severe behavioral health conditions and we see this in the families we serve.

This combination of issues leaves families even more vulnerable, interferes with their ability to work, impairs their social networks, and further complicates their service needs. We will be unable to solve the issues of homelessness without addressing the underlying trauma that is so intricately linked to housing instability.

Many of the children in our programs have also experienced trauma prior to becoming homeless, and homelessness can exacerbate the consequences of trauma or re-traumatize a child, resulting in a cycle that is tragically damaging and
costly to both individuals and communities.

Friends staff work diligently to create an environment of safety, trust, respect, and choice while promoting self-advocacy. Caseworkers work one-on-one with our families to help them set their own goals and empower them by building family resilience.

Facts:

Following the SAMSHA model, there are Six Guiding Principles of Trauma-Informed Care:

• Safety
• Trustworthiness and Transparency
• Peer Support and Mutual Self Help
• Collaboration and Mutuality
• Empowerment, Voice, and Choice
• Cultural, Historical, and Gender Issues

Research has consistently shown that when the right supports are in place, the majority of young people who grow up amidst extremely challenging circumstances not only survive but end up as thriving adults.

Children in our programs are assessed by trained professionals through our partnerships with the Chester County Health Department’s Home Visiting Nurse Program, the Chester County Intermediate Unit Head Start and Early Head Start Programs, and A Child’s Light Trauma Counseling Program.  Referrals are coordinated with community agencies based on individual needs.  Additionally, our programming during summer breaks prevents learning loss, which often occurs over the summer.

Facts:

• Homelessness is traumatic for children because they often experience frequent moves, family split-ups, and living in crowded places before using homeless shelters. (National Center on Family Homelessness)
• Ten percent to 26% of homeless preschoolers have mental health problems requiring clinical evaluation. This increases to 24% to 40% among homeless school-age children—two to four times higher than low-income children aged 6 to 11 years. (The Bassuk Center on Homeless and Vulnerable Children & Youth)