Ethnographic Perspectives on Homeless and Homeless Mentally Ill Women

The workshop brought together 10 researchers to share what has been learned about homeless women and homeless women with mental illness through ethnographic research; make recommendations for service delivery; and focus on the unique and important contributions that ethnographic research can provide in learning about and better serving this population. The report provides an overview of the colloquium, discusses the participants' studies, summarizes the issues relating to the population, and provides recommendations for future ethnographic research and improved service approaches. Included in this report is a discussion of the antecedents of homelessness for women, their social support networks, issues pertaining to their mental health, and their interactions with service systems.