Helping Older African American Women Who are Homeless through Visual Images and Creative Strategies

Abstract

This paper examines cultural and gendered perceptions of homelessness, and the Leaving Homelessness Intervention Research Project (LHIRP) aimed at helping older African American women leave and remain out of homelessness. Gendered perceptions of homelessness and the interaction between race and poor health can heighten risk of homeless-ness and exacerbate the process of emerging out of it. The use of visual images, performance, and creative strategies (VIPCS) in amplifying women’s voices along with providing social support are identified as important elements of the helping process. VIPCS—which can con-tribute to helping women leave homelessness, sustain their domiciled status, and educate the public about the exigencies of homelessness—are intervention strategies that improve the participants’ situations.