Between 2015 and 2024, the United States saw a steady increase in unsheltered homelessness—people living in locations not intended for human habitation. Encampments, or groups of people who are staying in temporary structures or other enclosed places on an ongoing basis, are a highly visible manifestation of unsheltered homelessness. The growth of homeless encampments nationwide has triggered policy debates on how to best address unsheltered homelessness.
This course explores the drivers and scope of unsheltered homelessness followed by an in-depth look at the types and effectiveness of resolution strategies, with a focus on housing, health, and safety outcomes.
Details
Course Dates:
Session 1: Mondays, Nov. 16 – Dec. 7, 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM ET
Session 2: Thursdays, Jan. 14 – 28, 12:00 – 1:15 PM ET
Format: Live Online
Cost: Free
Credits (CEUs): 3
Session 1
- Monday, Nov. 16 | 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM ET
- Monday, Nov. 23 | 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM ET
- Monday, Nov. 30 | NO CLASS
- Monday, Dec. 7 | 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM ET
Session 2
- Thursday, Jan. 14 | 12:00 – 1:15 PM ET
- Thursday, Jan. 21 | 12:00 – 1:15 PM ET
- Thursday, Jan. 28 | 12:00 – 1:15 PM ET
Learning Objectives:
Review definitions of homelessness and trends regarding people experiencing unsheltered homelessness
This course will examine strategies to reduce unsheltered homelessness and their effectiveness. Strategies to be described in depth, with case study examples include:
- Housing-focused street outreach
- Low-barrier emergency shelters (including non-congregate shelters)
- Sanctioned encampments, safe camping sites, safe parking programs
- Criminal-legal responses (e.g. camping bans, sit-lie policies, arrest, fines, court diversion)
Course Instructors:
Sara Shuman
She is an Associate Research Professor with the Southwest Institute for Research on Women (SIROW) at the University of Arizona. She holds a Ph.D. in Public Health from Temple University and has over 10-years of community-based experience in community-based research, program planning, and evaluation. Dr. Shuman’s work uses mixed-methods, qualitative methods, and participatory approaches to reduce homelessness and improve the health of individuals, families, and communities. She is interested in policy-relevant and actionable research. She is currently working on projects to better understand what works house people living in homeless encampments, the impact of flexible funds to prevent homelessness, and how physical activity opportunities can improve the health of people incarcerated in jails. Sara is also part of the Arizona Housing Analytics Collaborative (AzHAC), a tri-university research project focused on using data analysis and translation to prevent and reduce homelessness across Arizona.