Narratives from Staff at an LGBTQIA+ Shelter: Applying Ecological Systems Theory to a Homelessness Intervention in Cape Town, South Africa
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25159/2708-9355/14918Keywords:
LGBTQIA populations, homelessness, emergency shelter, interventionAbstract
Internationally, LGBTQIA+ people are at increased risk of homelessness and housing instability. Literature on this topic emerging from the Global South has been less prominent. This article explores LGBTQIA+ homelessness in Cape Town, South Africa. Cape Town is a unique local context, given the post-apartheid political landscape and prevalent negative attitudes towards LGBTQIA+ people in South Africa. Grounded in the ecological systems theory, this article explores staff perspectives about emergency shelter interventions with the population of LGBTQIA+ people experiencing homelessness. An international team of scholars coordinated this research effort to interview staff at an LGBTQIA+ focused shelter in Cape Town. Interview data were analysed using narrative analysis strategies. Results show that the shelter seeks to provide a safe and structured environment for LGBTQIA+ people who may have experienced family rejection, educational or economic challenges and mental health concerns. Researchers recommend that there be a shift in focus to macro socio-economic forces when considering LGBTQIA+ homelessness. Researchers also discuss the need for more robust social work training for staff of shelters who serve this vulnerable and resilient population.
References
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DeChants, Jonah P, Jama Shelton, Yolanda (Yoli) Anyon, and Kimberly Bender. 2022. “‘It Kinda Breaks My Heart’: LGBTQ Young Adults’ Responses to Family Rejection.” Family Relations 71 (3): 968–86. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12638
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Gattis, Maurice N., Neil Henderson, Aaron Kemmerer and Johan Fourie. 2024. “Psychosocial Experiences of LGBTQIA+ Youth Experiencing Homelessness in the Cape Metropole, South Africa.” South African Journal of Social Work and Social Development. https://doi.org/10.25159/2957-3645/13124
Hudson, Kimberly D, and Vanessa Bruce-Miller. (2023). “Nonclinical Best Practices for Creating LGBTQ-Inclusive Care Environments: A Scoping Review of Gray Literature.” Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services 35 (2), 218–40. https://doi.org/10.1080/10538720.2022.2057380
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Lyons, Tara, Andrea Krüsi, Leslie Pierre, Adrienne Smith, Will Small, Kate Shannon. 2016. “Experiences of Trans Women and Two-Spirit Persons Accessing Women-Specific Health and Housing Services in a Downtown Neighborhood of Vancouver, Canada.” LGBT Health 3 (5): 373‒378. doi:10.1089/lgbt.2016.0060
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McCann, Edward and Michael Brown. 2019. “Homelessness Among Youth who Identify as LGBTQ+: A Systematic Review.” Journal of Clinical Nursing 28(11–12): 2061–2072. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.14818
McCann, Edward and Michael J. Brown. 2021. “Homeless Experiences and Support Needs of Transgender People: A Systematic Review of the International Evidence.” Journal of Nursing Management 29(1): 85–94. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.13163
Meyer, Ilan H. 2003. “Prejudice, Social Stress, and Mental Health in Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Populations: Conceptual Issues and Research Evidence.” Psychological Bulletin 129 (5): 674–697. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.129.5.674
Montalvo, Anthony. 2019. “Stakeholder Input to the Development of the Santa Clara County LGBTQ-Focused Shelter: A Process and Policy Analysis.” Master’s Projects. 831. https://doi.org10.31979/etd.8gf3-7rf3
Miranda-Mendizábal, A., P. Castellví, O. Parés-Badell, J. Almenara, I. Alonso, M. J. Blasco, A. Cebrià, et al. 2017. “Sexual Orientation and Suicidal Behaviour in Adolescents and Young Adults: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.” The British Journal of Psychiatry 211 (2): 77–87. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.116.196345
Müller, Brian M. 2019. “The (Un)promised Land: Queer Identity and South Africa’s Post-apartheid Urban Landscape.” Gender, Place, and Culture 26 (11): 1609–1631. https://doi.org/10.1080/0966369X.2019.1586650
Nyeck, S.N., Debra Shepherd, Joshua Sehoole, Lihle Ngcobozi and Kerith J. Conron. 2019. “Historical and Sociopolitical Context.” In The Economic Cost of LGBT Stigma and Discrimination in South Africa. UCLA School of Law: The Williams Institute. https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/Impact-LGBT-Discrimination-South-Africa-Dec-2019.pdf
Padgett, Deborah K. 2020. “Homelessness, Housing Instability and Mental Health: Making the Connections.” The BJ Psych Bulletin 44 (5): 197–201. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjb.2020.49
Poteat, Tonia, and Shauna Stahlman. 2020. "Global health/LGBTQ health." In LGBTQ Health Research: Theory, Methods, Practice, edited by R. Stall, B. Dodge, J. A. Bauermeister, T. Poteat, and C. Beyrer. 37-48. Baltimore: JHU Press.
Reid, Graeme. 2022. “Letter to South African Authorities Regarding LGBTI Murders and Assaults.” Human Rights Watch, LGBT Rights Programme, January 18. https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/01/19/letter-south-african-authorities-regarding-lgbti-murders-and-assaults
Reismann, Catherine K. 1993. Narrative Analysis: Qualitative Research Methods Series. Newbury Park, California: Sage Publishing.
Schofield, Gillian, Jeanette Cossar, Emma Ward, Birgit Larsson, and Pippa Belderson. 2019. “Providing a Secure Base for LGBTQ Young People in Foster Care: The Role of Foster Carers.” Child and Family Social Work 24 (3): 372‒381. https://doi.org/10.1111/cfs.12657
Shelton, Jama and Twiggy P. Garçon. 2021. “Trans/Nonbinary Individuals and Homelessness.” In Social work and health care practice with transgender and nonbinary individuals and communities: Voices for equity, inclusion, and resilience, edited by S. K. Kattari, M. K. Kinney, L.
Kattari, L., and N.E Walls, 134‒147. New York: Routledge.
Shelton, Jama, Jonah DeChants, Kim Bender, Hsun-Ta Hsu, Diane Santa Maria, Robin Petering, Kristin Ferguson, Sarah Narendorf, and Anamika Barman-Adhikari. 2019. “Homelessness and Housing Experiences among LGBTQ Young Adults in Seven U.S. Cities.” In CityScape 26. US Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Research and Development.
Shelton, Jama, Jeffrey M. Poirier, Coco Wheeler, and Alex Abramovich. 2018. “Reversing Erasure of Youth and Young Adults who are LGBTQ and Access Homelessness Services.” Child Welfare 96 (2): 1‒28.
Shultz, Kristopher. 2015. “Community Building(s): Creating Accessible Homeless Shelters For LGBT Youth. Mather’s Thesis, Dartmouth College.
Statistics South Africa. 2011. Census Data. https://www.statssa.gov.za.
Stratton, Samual J. 2021. “Population Research: Convenience Sampling Strategies.” Prehospital and Disaster Medicine 36 (4): 373‒374. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1049023X21000649
Tubertini, Elena, Agostino Carbone, and Massimo Santinello. 2023. “Staff Members’ Experience of Italian Shelters for LGBTQIA+ Homeless and Runaway People: An Exploratory Study.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 20 (13): 6214. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20136214
Wilson, Bianca, Soon Kyu Choi, Gary W. Harper, Marguerita Lightfoot, Stephen Russell, and Ilan H. Meyer. 2020. Homelessness Among LGBT Adults in the U.S. Los Angeles, CA: Williams Institute.
Alessi, Edward J., Brett Greenfield, Dean Manning, and Meredith Dank. 2021. “Victimization and Resilience among Sexual and Gender Minority Homeless Youth Engaging in Survival Sex.” Journal of Interpersonal Violence 36 (23-24): 11236‒11259. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260519898434
Arnett, Jeffery Jensen. 2006. “Emerging Adulthood: Understanding the New Way of Coming of Age.” In Emerging adults in America: Coming of age in the 21st century, edited by J. J. Arnett & J.
L. Tanner, 3–19. American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/11381-001
Bhagat, Ali. 2018.” Forced (Queer) Migration and Everyday Violence: The Geographies of Life, Death, and Access in Cape Town.” Geoforum 89: 155–163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2017.07.028
Bradlow, Josh, April Guasp, Viki Cooke, Holly Wicks, Lucy Bush, Rowan Douglas, Eleanor Langdale, and Chantal Aberdeen. 2020. Shut Out: The Experiences of LGBT Young People Not in Education, Training or Work. London: BritainThinks and Stonewall. https://www.stonewall.org.uk/system/files/shut_out_2020.pdf
Bronfenbrenner, Uri. 2000. “Ecological Systems Theory.” In Encyclopedia of Psychology Vol. 3, edited by A. E. Kazdin, 129–133. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1037/10518-046
City of Cape Town. 2019. “Street People Enumeration 18/19. Social Development and Early Childhood Development.” Accessed July 12, 2023 https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre%20Assets/Enumeration%20Presentation-Janine.pdf
DeChants, Jonah P, Jama Shelton, Yolanda (Yoli) Anyon, and Kimberly Bender. 2022. “‘It Kinda Breaks My Heart’: LGBTQ Young Adults’ Responses to Family Rejection.” Family Relations 71 (3): 968–86. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12638
De Fina, Anna and Alexandra Georgakopoulou, eds. 2015. The Handbook of Narrative Analysis.
Chichester, West Sussex: John Wiley & Sons. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118458204
Gattis, Maurice N., N. Alexander, N., and Neil Henderson. 2023. “(Un) Belonging in the City: Research, Theory, and Practice Highlighting, LGBTQIA+ Youths Experiencing Homelessness in Cape Town, South Africa.” Social and Health Sciences. https://doi.org/10.25159/2708-9355/13496
Gattis, Maurice N., Neil Henderson, Aaron Kemmerer and Johan Fourie. 2024. “Psychosocial Experiences of LGBTQIA+ Youth Experiencing Homelessness in the Cape Metropole, South Africa.” South African Journal of Social Work and Social Development. https://doi.org/10.25159/2957-3645/13124
Hudson, Kimberly D, and Vanessa Bruce-Miller. (2023). “Nonclinical Best Practices for Creating LGBTQ-Inclusive Care Environments: A Scoping Review of Gray Literature.” Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services 35 (2), 218–40. https://doi.org/10.1080/10538720.2022.2057380
Institute of Medicine (US), ed. 2011. The Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People: Building a Foundation for Better Understanding. Washington, DC: National Academics Press.
International Federation of Social Workers. 2018. Global Social Work Statement of Ethical Principles. https://www.ifsw.org/global-social-work-statement-of-ethical-principles/
Lyons, Tara, Andrea Krüsi, Leslie Pierre, Adrienne Smith, Will Small, Kate Shannon. 2016. “Experiences of Trans Women and Two-Spirit Persons Accessing Women-Specific Health and Housing Services in a Downtown Neighborhood of Vancouver, Canada.” LGBT Health 3 (5): 373‒378. doi:10.1089/lgbt.2016.0060
Mallon, Gary. 2010. LGBTQ Youth Issues: A Practical Guide for Youth Workers Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Youth. Child Welfare League of America (CWLA), 2nd edition.
Marnell, John, Elsa Oliveira, and Gabriel H. Khan. 2021. “‘It’s about Being Safe and Free to Be Who You Are’: Exploring the Lived Experiences of Queer Migrants, Refugees and Asylum Seekers in South Africa.” Sexualities 24(1–2): 86–110. https://doi.org/10.1177/1363460719893617
McAdams-Mahmoud, Ayesha, Rob Stephenson, Christopher Rentsch, Hannah Cooper, Kimberly J. Arriola, Geoffry Jobson, Glenn de Swardt, Helen Struthers, and James McIntyre. 2014. “Minority Stress in the Lives of Men Who Have Sex with Men in Cape Town, South Africa.” Journal of Homosexuality 61(6): 847–867. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2014.870454
McCann, Edward and Michael Brown. 2019. “Homelessness Among Youth who Identify as LGBTQ+: A Systematic Review.” Journal of Clinical Nursing 28(11–12): 2061–2072. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.14818
McCann, Edward and Michael J. Brown. 2021. “Homeless Experiences and Support Needs of Transgender People: A Systematic Review of the International Evidence.” Journal of Nursing Management 29(1): 85–94. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.13163
Meyer, Ilan H. 2003. “Prejudice, Social Stress, and Mental Health in Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Populations: Conceptual Issues and Research Evidence.” Psychological Bulletin 129 (5): 674–697. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.129.5.674
Montalvo, Anthony. 2019. “Stakeholder Input to the Development of the Santa Clara County LGBTQ-Focused Shelter: A Process and Policy Analysis.” Master’s Projects. 831. https://doi.org10.31979/etd.8gf3-7rf3
Miranda-Mendizábal, A., P. Castellví, O. Parés-Badell, J. Almenara, I. Alonso, M. J. Blasco, A. Cebrià, et al. 2017. “Sexual Orientation and Suicidal Behaviour in Adolescents and Young Adults: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.” The British Journal of Psychiatry 211 (2): 77–87. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.116.196345
Müller, Brian M. 2019. “The (Un)promised Land: Queer Identity and South Africa’s Post-apartheid Urban Landscape.” Gender, Place, and Culture 26 (11): 1609–1631. https://doi.org/10.1080/0966369X.2019.1586650
Nyeck, S.N., Debra Shepherd, Joshua Sehoole, Lihle Ngcobozi and Kerith J. Conron. 2019. “Historical and Sociopolitical Context.” In The Economic Cost of LGBT Stigma and Discrimination in South Africa. UCLA School of Law: The Williams Institute. https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/Impact-LGBT-Discrimination-South-Africa-Dec-2019.pdf
Padgett, Deborah K. 2020. “Homelessness, Housing Instability and Mental Health: Making the Connections.” The BJ Psych Bulletin 44 (5): 197–201. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjb.2020.49
Poteat, Tonia, and Shauna Stahlman. 2020. "Global health/LGBTQ health." In LGBTQ Health Research: Theory, Methods, Practice, edited by R. Stall, B. Dodge, J. A. Bauermeister, T. Poteat, and C. Beyrer. 37-48. Baltimore: JHU Press.
Reid, Graeme. 2022. “Letter to South African Authorities Regarding LGBTI Murders and Assaults.” Human Rights Watch, LGBT Rights Programme, January 18. https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/01/19/letter-south-african-authorities-regarding-lgbti-murders-and-assaults
Reismann, Catherine K. 1993. Narrative Analysis: Qualitative Research Methods Series. Newbury Park, California: Sage Publishing.
Schofield, Gillian, Jeanette Cossar, Emma Ward, Birgit Larsson, and Pippa Belderson. 2019. “Providing a Secure Base for LGBTQ Young People in Foster Care: The Role of Foster Carers.” Child and Family Social Work 24 (3): 372‒381. https://doi.org/10.1111/cfs.12657
Shelton, Jama and Twiggy P. Garçon. 2021. “Trans/Nonbinary Individuals and Homelessness.” In Social work and health care practice with transgender and nonbinary individuals and communities: Voices for equity, inclusion, and resilience, edited by S. K. Kattari, M. K. Kinney, L.
Kattari, L., and N.E Walls, 134‒147. New York: Routledge.
Shelton, Jama, Jonah DeChants, Kim Bender, Hsun-Ta Hsu, Diane Santa Maria, Robin Petering, Kristin Ferguson, Sarah Narendorf, and Anamika Barman-Adhikari. 2019. “Homelessness and Housing Experiences among LGBTQ Young Adults in Seven U.S. Cities.” In CityScape 26. US Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Research and Development.
Shelton, Jama, Jeffrey M. Poirier, Coco Wheeler, and Alex Abramovich. 2018. “Reversing Erasure of Youth and Young Adults who are LGBTQ and Access Homelessness Services.” Child Welfare 96 (2): 1‒28.
Shultz, Kristopher. 2015. “Community Building(s): Creating Accessible Homeless Shelters For LGBT Youth. Mather’s Thesis, Dartmouth College.
Statistics South Africa. 2011. Census Data. https://www.statssa.gov.za.
Stratton, Samual J. 2021. “Population Research: Convenience Sampling Strategies.” Prehospital and Disaster Medicine 36 (4): 373‒374. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1049023X21000649
Tubertini, Elena, Agostino Carbone, and Massimo Santinello. 2023. “Staff Members’ Experience of Italian Shelters for LGBTQIA+ Homeless and Runaway People: An Exploratory Study.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 20 (13): 6214. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20136214
Wilson, Bianca, Soon Kyu Choi, Gary W. Harper, Marguerita Lightfoot, Stephen Russell, and Ilan H. Meyer. 2020. Homelessness Among LGBT Adults in the U.S. Los Angeles, CA: Williams Institute.
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Published
2024-10-04
How to Cite
Kemmerer, Aaron, Johan Fourie, Jason Schaub, Neil Henderson, and Maurice Gattis. 2024. “Narratives from Staff at an LGBTQIA+ Shelter: Applying Ecological Systems Theory to a Homelessness Intervention in Cape Town, South Africa”. Southern African Journal of Social Work and Social Development 36 (3):19 pages. https://doi.org/10.25159/2708-9355/14918.
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