ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews what has been learned at the Urban Family Center (UFC) about homeless families, the way services should be delivered to this population, and some details about the economics of such a shelter. The UFC has been serving homeless families since 1972. The shelter, called The UFC, houses ninety homeless families, has social service staff available on a 24-hour-a-day basis, an educational program for children, and a program to help families seek alternate housing. As with homeless individuals, a major reason for homelessness among families is the lack of affordable adequate permanent housing. Most of the homeless women at UFC have problems in their own functioning, have a history of economic problems, their housing problems have been chronic in nature, and the functioning of the children is problematic. The crisis intervention approach to practice is the first model of practice that UFC staff found of value.
