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Mobile Phone Technology: A New Paradigm for the Prevention, Treatment, and Research of the Non-sheltered “Street” Homeless?

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Abstract

Individuals experiencing homelessness have disproportionately high rates of health problems. Those who perceive themselves as having greater access to their social support networks have better physical and mental health outcomes as well as lower rates of victimization. Mobile phones offer a connection to others without the physical constraints of landlines and, therefore, may make communication (e.g., access to one’s social support networks) more feasible for homeless individuals. This, in turn, could lead toward better health outcomes. This exploratory study examined mobile phone possession and use among a sample of 100 homeless men and women who do not use the shelter system in Philadelphia, PA. Interviews were comprised of the Homeless Supplement to the Diagnostic Interview Schedule, a technology module created for this investigation, and the substance use and psychiatric sections of the Addiction Severity Index. Almost half (44%) of the sample had a mobile phone. In the past 30 days, 100% of those with mobile phones placed or received a call, over half (61%) sent or received a text message, and one fifth (20%) accessed the Internet via their mobile phone. Participants possessed and used mobile phones to increase their sense of safety, responsibility (employment, stable housing, personal business, and sobriety or “clean time”), and social connectedness. Mobile phones could potentially be used by public health/health care providers to disseminate information to the street homeless, to enhance communication between the street homeless and providers, and to increase access for the street homeless to prevention, intervention, and aftercare services. Finally, this technology could also be used by researchers to collect data with this transient population.

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Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank Temple University for the study leave and grant-in-aid supporting this work, Ms. Misty Sparks at the Bethesda Project Café for supplying space for interviewing, Mr. Jacob Bowling and Ms. Tarissa Sweat for assistance with interviewing, Ms. Julie Denlinger for assistance with data entry, Drs. Nick Garg and Cheryl Hyde for reviewing prior versions of this manuscript, and the 100 men and women who graciously volunteered to participate in this research study. A prior version of these findings was presented at the 100th Annual Meeting of the American Psychopathological Association in New York City on March 4, 2010.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Work, College of Health Professions and Social Work, Temple University, 5th Floor, Ritter Annex, 1301 Cecil B. Moore Ave., Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA

    Karin M. Eyrich-Garg

  2. Department of Public Health, College of Health Professions and Social Work, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Karin M. Eyrich-Garg

  3. Department of Geography and Urban Studies, College of Liberal Arts, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Karin M. Eyrich-Garg

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Correspondence to Karin M. Eyrich-Garg.

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Eyrich-Garg, K.M. Mobile Phone Technology: A New Paradigm for the Prevention, Treatment, and Research of the Non-sheltered “Street” Homeless?. J Urban Health 87, 365–380 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-010-9456-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-010-9456-2

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