COUV ACTES - Psychologie communautaire

Community Psychology: Common Values, Diverse PracticesEmpowering strategies in health and social servicesfor homelessby Patrizia Meringolo 1 , Alessandro Morandi 2 , Nicola Paulesu 3 & Mirella Riccardi 4IntroductionHomelessness is a multidimensional problem characterized by powerlessness and social exclusion, poverty, lackof affordable housing, lack of public assistance and health care (Freire, 2002; Tinsley Li, Nussbaum & Richards,2007; Toohey, Shinn & Weitzman, 2004). Homelessness is shown as a step in a descending spiral process(Garzia & Kazepov, 2004, p.117), where it’s possible to enter through different paths, owing to financial difficultiesor to a life event which becomes a decisive factor for lack of suitable resources (Atkinson, 1998; Bagnasco &Negri, 1994; Zupi, 2003). So homelessness comes with the risk of getting chronical, and with a negativeperception of one’s personal and social identity (Toohey, Shinn & Weitzman, 2004). Psychological approachestherefore play an important role to understand the factors that enable people to escape homelessness and toreduce chronicity (Epel, Bandura & Zimbardo, 1999; Haber & Toro, 2000; Philippot, Lecocq, Sempoux,Nachergael & Galand, 2007; Shinn, 1992; Toro, 2007; Toro, Trickett, Wall & Salem, 1991). Empowerment theoryand networking based interventions in health care services, public and private shelters, public authorities andNGOs interventions seem to be important to promote the transition from institutional and temporary housing tosocial inclusion, to improve capability in maintaining a stable accommodation and well-being (Calysn, Morse,Klinkenberg, Yonker & Trusty, 2002; Fisk & Frey, 2002; Zimmerman, 2000).AimThis study is related to a wider research area aimed at increasing knowledge of the condition of homelessnessand of social services. The aim of this step is to highlight the theoretical and empirical model which supportinterventions of homeless services, and to gather qualitative data on the key informants’ perceptions aboutempowerment-oriented practices in social services.The research was carried out in Florence. Local public and private shelters have different schedules, from a 3 dayshelter to 3 years or more, and they have 355 beds in all. In 2008, when inhabitants in Florence were 369.659,53% female, 11% migrants (Municipality of Florence, Municipality Statistical Office, 31 December 2008), thenumber of sheltered persons was 1051, (15% female and 60% migrants -Municipality of Florence, LocalCouncilor for Social Affaires and Social Inclusion, 2009)1Department of Psychology, University of Florence (Italy) meringolo@psico.unifi.it2Department of Psychology, University of Florence. PhD student3ASP Fuligno – Municipality of Florence4Department of Psychology, University of Florence. Trainee student186