NDLI: “They made me feel like I mattered”: a qualitative study of how mobile crisis teams can support people experiencing homelessness

Content Provider	Springer Nature : BioMed Central
Author	McDaniel, Megan Sundaram, Siva Manjanatha, Deepa Odes, Rachel Lerman, Paige Handley, Margaret A. Coffin, Phillip O. Myers, Janet J. Goldman, Matthew L.
Abstract	Background Mobile crisis teams (MCTs) can be important alternatives to emergency medical services or law enforcement for low-acuity 911 calls. MCTs address crises by de-escalating non-violent situations related to mental health or substance use disorders and concurrent social needs, which are common among people experiencing homelessness (PEH). We sought to explore how an MCT in one city served the needs and supported the long- and short-term goals of PEH who had recently received MCT services. Methods We conducted 20 semi-structured interviews with service recipients of the Street Crisis Response Team, a new 911-dispatched MCT implemented in San Francisco in November 2020. In the weeks after their encounter, we interviewed respondents about their overall MCT experience and comparisons to similar services, including perceived facilitators and barriers to the respondent’s self-defined life goals. We analyzed interview transcripts with thematic analysis to capture salient themes emerging from the text and organized within a social-ecological model. Results Nearly all respondents preferred the MCT model over traditional first responders, highlighting the team’s person-centered approach. Respondents described the MCT model as effectively addressing their most immediate needs (e.g., food), short-term relief from the demands of homelessness, acute mental health or substance use symptoms, and immediate emotional support. However, systemwide resource constraints limited the ability of the team to effectively address longer-term factors that drive crises, such as solutions to inadequate quality and capacity of current housing and healthcare systems and social services navigation. Conclusions In this study, respondents perceived this MCT model as a desirable alternative to law enforcement and other first responders while satisfying immediate survival needs. To improve MCT’s effectiveness for PEH, these teams could collaborate with follow-up providers capable of linking clients to resources and services that can meet their long-term needs. However, these teams may not be able to meaningfully impact the longstanding and complex issues that precipitate crises among PEH in the absence of structural changes to upstream drivers of homelessness and fragmentation of care systems.
Related Links	https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/counter/pdf/10.1186/s12889-024-19596-2.pdf
Ending Page	10
Page Count	10
Starting Page	1
File Format	HTM / HTML
ISSN	14712458
DOI	10.1186/s12889-024-19596-2
Journal	BMC Public Health
Issue Number	1
Volume Number	24
Language	English
Publisher	BioMed Central
Publisher Date	2024-08-12
Access Restriction	Open
Subject Keyword	Public Health Medicine Epidemiology Biostatistics Vaccine Environmental Health Mobile crisis teams Homelessness Qualitative research Social-ecological model Medicine/Public Health
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Journal Impact Factor	3.5/2023
5-Year Journal Impact Factor	3.9/2023

Sl.	Authority	Responsibilities	Communication Details
1	Ministry of Education (GoI), Department of Higher Education	Sanctioning Authority	https://www.education.gov.in/ict-initiatives
2	Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	Host Institute of the Project: The host institute of the project is responsible for providing infrastructure support and hosting the project	https://www.iitkgp.ac.in
3	National Digital Library of India Office, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	The administrative and infrastructural headquarters of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in
4	Project PI / Joint PI	Principal Investigator and Joint Principal Investigators of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in Prof. Saswat Chakrabarti will be added soon
5	Website/Portal (Helpdesk)	Queries regarding NDLI and its services	support@ndl.gov.in
6	Contents and Copyright Issues	Queries related to content curation and copyright issues	content@ndl.gov.in
7	National Digital Library of India Club (NDLI Club)	Queries related to NDLI Club formation, support, user awareness program, seminar/symposium, collaboration, social media, promotion, and outreach	clubsupport@ndl.gov.in
8	Digital Preservation Centre (DPC)	Assistance with digitizing and archiving copyright-free printed books	dpc@ndl.gov.in
9	IDR Setup or Support	Queries related to establishment and support of Institutional Digital Repository (IDR) and IDR workshops	idr@ndl.gov.in

Physical therapy interventions for people experiencing homelessness to improve pain and self-perceived health status

“COVID knocked me straight into the dirt”: perspectives from people experiencing homelessness on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic

Oral health of people experiencing homelessness in London: a mixed methods study

COVID-19 vaccine attitudes among youth experiencing homelessness: a qualitative analysis with opportunities for action

The implementation of a smoking cessation and alcohol abstinence intervention for people experiencing homelessness

Factors determining the quality of life of homeless people staying in support centers for people in the crisis of homelessness. Pilot study

Appropriate and acceptable health assessments for people experiencing homelessness

Unmet health needs and barriers to health care among people experiencing homelessness in San Francisco’s Mission District: a qualitative study

Electronic cigarette use patterns and chronic health conditions among people experiencing homelessness in MN: a statewide survey

“They made me feel like I mattered”: a qualitative study of how mobile crisis teams can support people experiencing homelessness

Similar Documents

Physical therapy interventions for people experiencing homelessness to improve pain and self-perceived health status

“COVID knocked me straight into the dirt”: perspectives from people experiencing homelessness on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic

Oral health of people experiencing homelessness in London: a mixed methods study

COVID-19 vaccine attitudes among youth experiencing homelessness: a qualitative analysis with opportunities for action

The implementation of a smoking cessation and alcohol abstinence intervention for people experiencing homelessness

Factors determining the quality of life of homeless people staying in support centers for people in the crisis of homelessness. Pilot study

Appropriate and acceptable health assessments for people experiencing homelessness

Unmet health needs and barriers to health care among people experiencing homelessness in San Francisco’s Mission District: a qualitative study

Electronic cigarette use patterns and chronic health conditions among people experiencing homelessness in MN: a statewide survey

“They made me feel like I mattered”: a qualitative study of how mobile crisis teams can support people experiencing homelessness