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This paper is a critique of recent service-intensive shelter programs for homeless mothers and the policies that underlie these shelters. We first document the process by which mental health problems and family homelessness became so closely but mistakenly linked. We then demonstrate empirically that shelter programs for homeless families nonetheless presume that mental health problems are part of the causal nexus of family homelessness and indiscriminately deliver mental health services to homeless mothers. Simultaneously, shelter programs encourage the isolation of their residents from what they presume to be their "problematic" social networks. We show that, while mental health services had little impact on depression levels among homeless mothers, isolation from social networks did increase depression among homeless mothers. Our findings suggest that policy should put more emphasis on rapid reintegration into the community through providing housing, and it should put less emphasis on providing services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Very little is known about one of the most common mental health problems facing the homeless: high levels of depressive symptomatology. This paper explains variation in the prevalence of depressive symptoms (CES-D) for a random sample of 150 shelter- and street-based homeless persons in the Birmingham metropolitan area. Fifty-nine percent of the sample show the signs of "probable clinical caseness"; yet there is significant variation in the level of symptomatology. A modified version of the social resources model explains 31 percent of the variation in CES-D scores. Although psychological resources play an important role in the distress outcome, as predicted, social supports are found to have limited impact on depression. Life circumstances have significant direct effects on depression. Persons with previous histories of mental illness and with extensive life event histories are more susceptible to distress. Younger persons, the chronically homeless, the street-based homeless, the sick, and the less educated are also more likely to experience depression. This study suggests the importance of understanding homelessness both as a psychological condition and as a complex set of life circumstances and physical deprivations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Influences on psychological distress and suicidal thoughts are evaluated with a sample of 218 sheltered homeless adults. Levels of distress and suicidal thoughts are much higher than in the general population, and are comparable to those found by Rossi (1989). Perceived social support lessens distress and suicidal thoughts directly and also buffers homeless persons from the distress associated with traumatic experiences. There is little indication of a mediating (intervening) role of social support. Distress and suicidal thoughts are also associated with increased health problems; homeless history and sociodemographic characteristics are less important as predictors. Distress itself increases suicidal thoughts-directly, and also in interaction with low levels of social support. We conclude that distress among homeless persons is explained by the same types of influences as those that account for distress among the general population--the gravity of homeless persons' economic situation does not preclude sensitivity to the benefits of social support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]