Analysis of Service Provider Interviews

Due to the small number of informants interviewed and the brief time spent in the community cultivating relationships, it is not appropriate to make broad generalizations about these diverse individuals, service providers or those in need. It is not uncommon to find that people express different opinions on almost any subject, within and between categories. Still, some common threads seem to emerge from these interviews, and at times service providers shared stories of former hard times and experiences of being homeless. Many providers expressed empathy for those they were serving. The line one might expect between insider and outsider points of view was not always distinct. Some differences exist between their perspectives, however, and some homeless interviewees expressed resentment towards what they perceived as paternalistic attitudes expressed by service providers, and a general lack of respect and acknowledgement. These differences and similarities will be noted, along with the following brief overview of service provider and homeless perspectives.

Emergency Services

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Providers' Definitions of Homelessness