One of the greatest issues experienced in cities across the United States is the rise of homelessness. Despite efforts to address this growing crisis, more and more people continue to find themselves living on the streets, facing painful circumstances that can be difficult to overcome.
If you wish to provide support to homeless individuals and families that can help people get back on their feet at their lowest, you may find your calling as a homeless prevention social worker.
In this role, you will engage directly with people who are struggling to support themselves, providing a range of services that can include coordinating essential resources, providing counseling, and creating long-term plans to achieve financial stability. Though not always easy work, the rewards of working with homeless populations are tremendous, offering you the opportunity to uplift people in dire need.
So how can social workers help the homeless? Read on to learn everything you need to know about this deeply valuable work.
Homelessness Prevention and Intervention in Social Work
From its foundations, the social work field has been focused on aiding and uplifting those experiencing insurmountable poverty. As time has gone on and social services have expanded, the available support systems for homeless people have become more refined to provide care that comprehensively addresses the many factors that lead individuals and families to end up on the streets.
In their work, social workers have been responsible for contributing invaluable insights into the causes of homelessness and the strategies that can truly make a difference in turning peoples’ lives around.
There are few professionals who are more deeply attentive to the experiences of homeless populations than social workers.
Because of this, as the social work profession has evolved, so too has public awareness of the homeless experience. These observations and analyses have also impacted public policy, providing better support for unhoused populations in cities and states as well as nationwide.
The Role of a Social Worker in Homelessness Causes
Social workers who work in homeless shelters and related organizations can provide a wide range of services that respond to the various causes of homelessness. After all, different individuals and families end up on the streets for different reasons.
Some of the top causes homeless shelter social workers address include the following:
- Mental health and substance abuse struggles
- Chronic unemployment
- Physical disabilities
- Eviction
- Domestic violence (for those who have escaped dangerous situations)
- Displacement due to natural disasters
- Histories of incarceration
- Veterans’ issues
- LGBTQ+ issues (for those who have escaped persecution)
As a social worker in a homeless shelter, you are likely to encounter people who have become homeless for a wide variety of reasons. But the services you provide are likely to focus on one or two responsibilities, requiring extensive knowledge of the resources available to support those in need and the protocols by which they are offered.
Social workers involved in homelessness can act as case managers, coordinating a variety of resources for unhoused people. They can also focus on one primary type of service, such as focused housing assistance, employment support, skill-building professional training, healthcare management, and mental health or substance abuse counseling.
Rates of Homelessness in the United States
In many American cities, the homelessness crisis has grown so visibly that even those who are not well-informed about the issue are witness to it in their day to day lives. Indeed, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development estimated that in 2023, the homeless population reached 653,104 individuals, an increase of a staggering 12.1% since the previous year.
In Texas specifically, rates of homelessness are lower than in many other states, in fact exhibiting a decrease in homelessness, with rates declining by an impressive 31.2% since 2007. Still, the HUD estimates a total of 27,377 homeless individuals in Texas who are in need of support.
In most states, urban centers are the primary locations of homeless populations. However, Texas is home to some of the largest populations of unhoused people in rural areas. This impacts the type of service homelessness social workers provide, as jobs, housing opportunities, and the income needed to maintain a healthy life will be greatly determined by one’s location.
While these facts might be distressing and demoralizing to those considering entering the field of homeless social work, they speak to the continued urgency of joining the front lines of care for unhoused people, who are in need of support more than ever. By becoming a social worker focused on homelessness, you will be able to make a difference in the lives of struggling individuals and contribute to desperately needed change in the country overall.
Homeless Social Worker Jobs
When you think of homelessness social work, you most likely think of homeless shelters, which indeed are the primary employers of social workers in this focus area. However, there are also opportunities for social workers to support the homeless population in larger organizations such as government agencies, nonprofits, community centers, and more.
Different job titles for social workers in the homelessness sector speak to different skill sets and areas of focus.
Most roles isolate particular aspects of the homeless experience to provide targeted support, with homeless individuals and families working with multiple experts in coordination to provide holistic support.
Below are a few of the top roles you might find at a homeless shelter or related organization.
Case Manager
Case managers hold an important intermediary role between resource providers, helping homeless individuals and families access the many different types of support they need and ensuring that each of these discrete services is providing the most extensive care possible.
Program Manager
Beyond one-on-one case management, many homeless shelters have program manager roles that oversee the overall effectiveness of their different targeted services. Those who are systems-oriented may thrive in these roles, which involve evaluating existing programs and strategizing to make them more efficient and accessible to anyone seeking support.
Outreach Worker
These social work professionals help direct unhoused people to the organizations that will help them rebuild their lives. This work can involve approaching homeless individuals and communities on the streets to raise awareness about care options, as well as providing initial assessments to determine each person’s most pressing concerns.
Housing Specialist
Finding immediate housing is one of the top priorities for homeless individuals and families, ensuring stability that will greatly ease all other rehabilitative efforts. Housing specialists can help homeless people find short-term and long-term housing options to account for their safety and allow them to focus on the next steps of rebuilding their lives.
Employment Specialist
Helping people who have been living on the streets find work is a challenging task. Employment specialists are equipped with the training and extensive knowledge to help homeless individuals find lasting work opportunities that can help them overcome their financial stresses and add recent work experiences to their resumes, improving their ability to find work in the future.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Counselor
Those who live on the streets often suffer from severe mental health challenges as well as substance addictions that can be terribly difficult to overcome. Those who hold LCSW credentials are qualified to provide therapy and counseling to help unhoused people overcome these issues, providing an attentive ear and well-studied strategies to help those who are struggling take the reins on their mental health or substance abuse problems.
Veteran Services Coordinator
Tragically, a large portion of homeless individuals are veterans whose struggles to provide for themselves stem directly from their experiences in the armed forces. Some homelessness social workers specialize in veterans’ issues, which can be distinct from others who are unhoused. These positions are often available in V.A. organizations that may not be exclusively focused on homelessness as an issue.
As you can see, there is a wide range of roles that homeless social workers can play in helping struggling individuals and families get back on their feet. Finding the one that’s right for you will require you to tap into your greatest skills and areas of knowledge so that you can make the greatest difference possible.
Requirements to Become a Homelessness Social Worker
One must hold an up-to-date Texas state social work license in order to practice in the state. In order to qualify for licensure, one must hold a Master of Social Work degree from an accredited institution.
There are not many MSW programs offering concentrations in homelessness specifically, but in many programs it will be possible to take classes focused on the connection between social work and the homeless population. If you’re sure this is the arena you’d like to work in for your career, it will also benefit you to find field work internships in homeless shelters and other organizations that serve the unhoused.
The license level you choose to pursue will determine your path upon graduation. If you wish to work as a case manager, care coordinator, or other administrative and logistics-focused roles, you will be qualified for the jobs you’re looking for with a Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW) credential. Those who want to provide counseling and therapy will need to obtain a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) credential, which requires an additional two years of supervised field work before qualifying. For more information on social work license requirements in Texas, visit our guide here.
Are you ready to take the next steps toward becoming a homelessness social worker, making a difference in the lives of some of our nation’s most vulnerable? Take a look at some of the top MSW programs in Texas to start your journey today.
FAQs
How can a social worker help a homeless person get back on their feet?
Social workers who work with the homeless can provide a huge variety of services, from coordinating essential resources like food, housing, employment, and education to providing counseling for mental health and substance abuse issues. They can also work on a broader scale as advocates, channeling their experiences in the field toward policy proposals and activist efforts to serve as a voice for unhoused people.
What degree do I need to become a homeless social worker?
You must hold an MSW to obtain a Texas state social work license of any type. This means that if you don’t yet hold a graduate degree, a master’s program is the first step in your path to becoming a social worker.
Where are homeless social workers employed?
As you might guess, social workers engaged with the cause of homelessness often work in homeless shelters. They can also work in community centers, long-term residential facilities, and both public and nonprofit organizations that help individuals find employment opportunities.
What work is required to become a counselor for homeless individuals with mental health or substance abuse issues?
Social workers in any branch of the field who practice counseling or therapy must be Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs). This requires approximately two additional years of field work following your MSW in order to qualify for your license.