LENGTH OF TIME SPENT HOMELESS - IMPLICATIONS FOR EMPLOYMENT OF HOMELESS PERSONS

This study investigated the relationship between the length of time spent homeless and employment outcomes for homeless participants in job training programs. Participants furnished information about their psychological resources (internality and learned resourcefulness) and social support when they entered employment training programs. Employment outcomes were status as employed or unemployed at termination from the programs and the level of employment at follow-up, approximately 3 weeks after termination from training. Participants reported on the number of weeks they had been homeless prior to program entrance. Psychological resources and social support were expected to buffer against a negative influence of a greater duration of homelessness on the employment outcomes. For persons who had lower levels of psychological resources and social support, endurance of a greater period of time homeless was associated with less successful employment outcomes. Implications for the provision of employment services to homeless individuals are discussed.