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Access Type
WSU Access
Date of Award
January 2024
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Paul Toro
Abstract
The current study sought to explore changes in experiences with homelessness and housing instability as well as public opinions on homelessness from 2001 to 2023, and to explore the relationship between homelessness and the COVID-19 pandemic. Online data collection was used to recruit a sample of 399 participants across the U.S., and their responses were compared to a random digit dial sample (n = 435) collected by our research team in 2001. It was hypothesized that both experiences of homelessness and empathy for homelessness would have increased over the past two decades, and that experiences of homelessness and housing instability would be related to job/financial losses incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. As predicted, findings revealed overall homelessness and literal homelessness increased significantly over the twenty years, and COVID-19 job and income losses were significantly associated with experiences of homelessness and housing instability. Finally, attitudes towards homelessness seemed to have shifted towards more empathy and support for structural intreventions than previous samples. These findings may have important policy implications.
Recommended Citation
Gibbins, Katey, "Changes In Public Attitudes On And Prevalence Of Homelessness In The Context Of The Covid-19 Pandemic" (2024). Wayne State University Dissertations. 4094.
https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/oa_dissertations/4094
