Group Membership as a Predictor of Service Use-Related Behaviors for Persons “on the Streets”

Abstract

Objective: Although there is a consensus in ethnographic and service-related research that groups have an impact on service use among persons “on the streets,” to date there have been no studies directly examining this relationship. This study examines the role of group membership and service use in the service-using street population. Method: Differences on service use behaviors were compared for groups based on the streets and groups based in service systems for a sample of 146 individuals. Variables analyzed included service type (case management, group, or subsistence services) and current behaviors (substance use, illegal market involvement, current housing and employment status). Results: Findings suggest that the two group concepts are distinct and that each have use in predicting service type as well as substance use and illegal market involvement. Conclusion: Implications for service delivery and social work practice are developed from the findings, including highlighting the importance of group membership in the intervention process.